NOVEMBER - A MONTH TO HONOR: TEACHER NGUYEN MANH HA AND “TALES YET TO BE TOLD”
Mr. Ha - Hanoi - Amsterdam High School Geography teacher has become quite familiar to generations of students, all thanks to his energy and charisma displayed in every lecture. On the occasion of this year’s Vietnamese Teacher’s Day, let’s spare some of our time to have a “little chat” with this beloved teacher!
Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha is one of the exemplary teachers/staff members of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School. Having just crossed age 43, he has already had 20 years of experience in the industry, 17 years of which were dedicated to his current workplace. Besides, he attained a fair amount of achievements: 2nd prize in the Provincial Excellent Teacher category, 5 years of working as French major class 2’s homeroom teacher. However, it is not only the commendable qualifications that he achieved, but also love from his pupils, respect, and admiration for being an energetic hard-worker.
Having a chance to directly meet Mr. Ha, thus gaining deeper insights into him as a person, I’ve come to recognize him as being enthusiastic, charismatic and funny, shown most evidently through the man’s recollection of how he initially became a teacher:
“The story of how I came across teaching as a job was quite an incidental one. Upon deciding between 2 colleges: Hanoi University of Education and University of Social Sciences and Humanities to continue his education, I picked the former, for it is more suited to his personality, as well as for it guarantees a better chance of getting a job.”
“Honestly, my family at that time were in a quandary in regard to financial status, and since the University of Education did not require tuition, even granting students chances of earning scholarships, I decided that this was the one. (laugh)”
So what eventually brought you to the Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted?
“A teacher recommended me to the school board of managers, as I wanted to push myself and give Amsterdam - a place filled with active, talented students both socially and academically - a try. It was not until after two years of teaching as a contracted lecturer that I was finally admitted as an official one to this day for passing the Civil Service Entrance Examination in 2005”.
So up until now, you has been going to work at the same place every day for 15 years - a very long time isn’t it? Teaching generations of generations throughout those years, you are sure to have retained lots of delightful memories with your students. Can you please share some of those today?
“To be honest, to many, being a teacher means a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun. To come to work every day to see your students grow, and to see your earlier generations of students become all-round successful people is already something worth keeping in your memories. Nowadays, pupils are really naughty, but they are cute in their own weird ways, leaving me numerous fun experiences that later I'd love to recall. (laugh)”
Mr. Hà - an amiable and respectable teacher in students' eyes
“When it comes to days like these, students are unexpectedly thoughtful, however. They gave teachers meticulously decorated postcards, many of which entail “geological features” and portraits drawn with affection for teachers that really tugged at my heartstrings”.
It is certain that by now, no one is not familiar with Mr. Ha’s enthusiasm in his lessons, sociability, charisma and some cool tricks you often shows us students. For example, he can draw all kinds of diagrams perfectly given only a few seconds to do so. Can you tell me how you happened to pick up those sorts of skills?
“To draw Vietnamese maps or international maps, it takes more than just natural talents. A lot of practice is needed as well. As for myself, I had to do research on the appearances of different countries, continents and convert them to geometric shapes so that I could remember and draw them easily”.
Besides explaining, he also taught us some “cool tricks”.
“For example, to draw maps, I will liken geometric shapes to how I picture each area in my head: Vietnam is curvy like the letter “S”, France resembles a hexagon, South Asia looks like a triangular peninsula… When I finally got that out of the way, I just make square systems I can base on to finally draw!”
On the occasion of 20/11, do you want to grant other teachers a wish as well?
“To celebrate the upcoming 20/11, I wish you all abundance in health, wealth, happiness and love for your business of mind-cultivation. To my students, I hope you will always be physically adequate, excel in your study and achieve your life-long aspirations!”
So do you have any advice for youngsters longing to become a teacher just like you?
“In regard to whether you should choose teaching as your career or not, I just want to say that every job has its own merits. Always remember to follow your dreams, because being able to choose what you want to do in the future is already a thing you should cherish. I wish you luck in your ways to achieve success!”
Thank you for this intriguing conversation today. As 20/11 is coming, we also hope you will always be healthy, cheerful and happy so that you could continue sailing through vast oceans of knowledge, bringing Amsers with you along the way!
Interviewer: Mai Phuong Linh - Literature 1922
Image Source: Teacher Nguyen Manh Ha
Translator: Nguyen Duy Nhat Huy - English 2023
