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The Teaching Profession and Simple Joys

19/11/2023

Teaching is a profession like any other. But unlike other professions, teaching has its own joys, its own happiness, however simple, rustic, or even out of place in modern times, that's enough, it's full and touching.

"If I could choose my profession again, I would still choose teaching"

While young people are fond of exciting and dynamic jobs, what is the real reason for going against the crowd to choose a job that is somewhat serious and formulaic? Instead of taking a few minutes to think, Ms. Nguyen Thu Thao (Literature Teacher - Greenfield School) did not hesitate and immediately gave a firm answer: "Being a teacher is a predestined opportunity that God has given me. If I could choose my profession again, I would still choose teaching."

Few people know that teaching was not Ms. Thao's initial choice. Before taking the entrance exam for the Literature Pedagogy major, Ms. Thao was a student studying Natural Sciences with the desire to study medicine to become a doctor. But due to some family upheavals and with her mother's encouragement, Ms. Thao turned to "have an affinity" with teaching.

Ms. Thao's mother was a kindergarten teacher for 10 years. To continue the family's traditional pottery business, she had to put aside her teaching career. Many years passed, and she still often told stories about her teaching days. Those stories, unknowingly, sparked curiosity about the teaching profession and further motivated Ms. Thao to continue her mother's unfinished dreams and aspirations.

And then, as "fate had it," for nearly 10 years, Ms. Thao has been gắn bó with the profession of "chalk dust on her hands." Over time, everything has helped her grow, become more vững vàng, and further convinced her of her choice. She confided: "Now, I always want to go to class, want to meet my students."

For Ms. Thao, teachers must be the ones who ignite the fire and be "higher" than students in terms of knowledge. "Only happy teachers can create the most positive lessons. To do that, teachers themselves must learn first. Because teachers must always be "higher" than students in terms of knowledge. I must be good, must be giỏi, then I will have "uy" to teach the children."

It is with that spirit of continuous learning that, in the 2019-2020 school year, when the Ministry of Education and Training organized training and fostering for core managers and teachers of general education to prepare for the implementation of the new general education program, Ms. Thao became one of 800 core teachers from 6 provinces who were sent by the Department of Education and Training to participate in training in Phu Ly City (Ha Nam).

At that time, Ms. Thao was 9 months pregnant and close to her due date. "My family was worried and advised me against it, but I still decided to pack my bags, even bringing my maternity clothes to participate in the training. That's because I didn't want to miss the opportunity to learn and absorb the true spirit of the new textbook program, master knowledge, and have solid methods to help students learn well."

From 2019 until now, through many long-term training sessions, despite being busy with family and young children, Ms. Thao has still been diligently staying up late and getting up early with her journey of "learning." "Difficulties and challenges are only temporary problems. Everyone will get used to it and see everything as normal. Busy and hard, but we still laugh and have fun. Looking back, we will see that the hardships are just experiences to help us become more vững bước."

Simple Joys

Contrary to the prejudice of many people who see the teaching profession as somewhat monotonous and formulaic, Ms. Thao believes that this job always has "land" to be creative. "Many people say that students are not interested in Literature, that they write essays without emotion. I think teachers must be the ones who bring that to their students. Teachers not only need to have solid expertise but also must have passion, love, and classroom skills. With each student, teachers must have their own handling skills to suit them."

One of Ms. Thao's approaches is to bring everyday stories into her lectures or diversify the way classes are organized, such as having students present, play games, act, exhibit, debate, hold seminars, etc. And another way to evoke special emotions from her is to inspire and motivate her students at the right time and in the right way, helping them become more confident in themselves.

Ms. Thao recounted: "I remember a student in my tutoring class. On the first test of the year, he only got 3.5 points. With the students in the tutoring class, I don't set too high standards, I teach just enough to meet the students' needs. They don't need to write well yet, just write correctly. Every time he did something right, I praised and encouraged him. He was excited to do more exercises, and then gradually increased.

At the end of the semester, his exam scores showed significant progress. The day he knew his exam scores was a rainy day, I stood on one side of the yard, and he stood on the other side. He called my name loudly and ran excitedly to me to happily show me that he got 7.75 points in Literature. That score may not be too difficult for many students to achieve, but for him, it was a miracle. Witnessing the positive changes in my students, I think that is boundless happiness for those who work in education."

For nearly 10 years, Ms. Thao has been gắn bó with the profession, and thousands of students have been nurtured and taught by her. One generation after another, students have moved to higher levels, graduated, and grown up. And the happiness and joy of teaching have continued steadily through each year. Even though the happiness and joy are simple, rustic, or even out of place in modern times, that is enough, it is full and touching.

Coming to the profession because of " duyên" and living with the profession with love and enthusiasm. Choosing the teaching profession means choosing the path to truth, the path to perfection. "I always look at the positive side and place my full trust in my students. I believe that one of my students will achieve high results in their studies, another will write better essays; and with one who is not ngoan, I believe that there will be a time when he will change. Just believe in the positive things, the good things will come, and in the end, the flowers will bloom..."

Ms. Thao's efforts and persistence, along with her colleagues, may be small and normal every day, but they have been and are contributing to making the world change in a more positive direction. And who knows, the writer wonders, during the rare breaks of a busy working day, is she listening to a really chill song:

Have you ever dreamed, dreamed of dreams, fresh green dreams When the clock stops, at four twenty Looking through the smoke, I can clearly see your heart Not knowing what to say, just sitting and singing and laughing...

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