INTERVIEW WITH HANOI-AMSTERDAM                  EX-PRINCIPAL DAO THIEN KHAI -As a former teacher, principal whom generations of students love, can you tell us something about your teaching career? I graduated from college in 1958. I joined Mr. Hoan and some Chu Van An teachers to build Hanoi-Amsterdam School from the very first days. At first, I was Vice Principal. After Mr. Hoan’s retirement, I became Principal. I taught Math. I also used to teach our school’s Math team but had to stop as I became too busy. In addition, I used to teach Math in French at French Yersin Lycée, and Math in English at UNIS. I retired in 2000. -How many languages do you know? I know French and English. I can read in Russian and Chinese. When I taught foreign students, my French and English were fostered. As for Russian, I used to read books in Russian at college as many other students did at that time. -What do you think of teaching and administering? Administering is a difficult job. It is also a science which requires knowledge and commitment. I personally think I did not do this job well. Probably, I was more cut out for teaching and researching. So I retired after o­nly 4-5 years being the Principal. -There has been a number of articles written about you, “a scholarship hunter”.So you must be a supporter of studying abroad? Previously, I decided to take some foreign-invested scholarships our school received. Later, since the country began its open-door policy, more and more students have gone studying abroad by both scholarships and self-supported funds. Studying aboard is like an eye-opening experience, giving people knowledge and new life conceptions. However, I think, not o­nly students should study abroad. Teachers should be given opportunities, too. This will improve both the teaching and studying at school. -Many people say Hanoi-Amsterdam students tend to go abroad early, what’s the opinion? Looking back the 90s when our country was poor, study facilities were much limited, it was very good if students could study abroad. But now, everything has changed. I think studying right here in Vietnam is also very good. If students go to study abroad too early, they have to face many problems of an independent life besides the financial problems. In some countries, the school’s extremely strict regulations, and differences in curriculum, culture, religion… also have an effect o­n them - There is a hot topic o­n HAO about the fact that Hanoi-Amsterdam School has received fewer and fewer International awards. Many people think that’s because Ams students concentrate more o­n preparation for studying abroad. What do you think about this? Our school has a respecful tradition of sending students to international competitions since its foundation. Both the Hanoi Department and the Ministry have put confidence and responsibility o­n us. Nevertheless, sending students to international competitions depends o­n many factors which o­nly people in the field can understand thoroughly. Students have to sit for the University Entrance Exam. They’ve got a life and their own future hopes. Some have in mind the fear of inadequate study for other subjects which would have a bad influence o­n the University Entrance Exam. Therefore, joining competition teams is encouraged but not compulsory. International awards bring honors to our country. But there are some countries in the world which have got a small number of international awards but a strong education. For instance: Japan. Our curriculum is rather bulky, so I think o­nly students with true talents should study with a specialization while the majority do with basic teaching and basic learning. The important thing is to have the fundamental knowledge to apply what they have studied into pratice while physical calculations can be done by computers. With my own experience when I taught the foreign kids, I can say that if we taught the them what we teach Vietnamese kids, the foreign students would not be able to progress. Furthermore, society can assess a person by his self-study skills, his own ability and irrespective of mere certificates. So, wherever o­ne studies, as long as he has enough ability and the awareness to train himself, he can become a useful person. - Do you think that today’s students cannot be comparable to those of the past? In my teaching career, I have met naughty students and even some addicts. But that is not everything. School and family share the responsibilty of educating a student, which students’ awareness and personality reflect. Teachers need to care about them and be fair to them. It is the teacher that has an important inluence o­n students’s school life. If the teacher lives and works well, students will love and follow what he does. There are some students who are still in the mood of playing around but it is the youth. When we can make them realize the happiness and responsibility for their study, they will make progress. - Do you have anything to say to HAO and all the school's students? You should build a forum that can connect our students all over the world. That ahould be the place to meet, to contact, to help each other in work and to develop extracurricular activities. Our School itself cannot control what students do after class, so relations between current students and alumni can form an unique Hanoi-Amsterdam tradition. Let it be a place to exchange, to meet not o­nly within Amsers but also with interational students. There should be a Tradition room with information o­n students, teachers who are teaching or used to teach at our school. We can organize seminars, projects, extracurricular activities, science activities so that students have more knowledge about life, study and creativity. . You should promote to the fullest your study facilities. Self-study, self-research are very important. You should avoid passive learning and be hard-working, creative. Being united and helping each other will bring you more happiness and advantages. Obviously, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I believe you will succeed. Vietnamese Version by Ha Chi – H1 97-00 Translated by Nguyen Thanh Huong A1 01-04 Edited by Quynh My Posted by Nguyen Thu Hien V 98-01