An interview with a passionate and devoted teacher
                                                                                  

Teacher Do Van Thai is the form and Literature teacher of the literature gifted class (LGC), class year 02-05. After nineteen years working for Hanoi-Amsterdam High School with thirty-four years of teaching experience, he has left his remark o­n generations of HN-Amsterdam students' hearts in his passionate devotion to the school and to the students, passing o­n the love of literature to the students. "Learn to be a human, learn to live better."



HAO's administrators have had a short interview with him about literature, about HN-Amsterdam, about the students, and about what he wants and hopes for.



1. How long have you been teaching in Hanoi Amsterdam high school? And which class year you like the most?

It has been 34 years of teaching, with 19 years in Hanoi Amsterdam high school (since the foundation of the school in 1985). Actually, I have o­nly taught LGC for 2 years: 1999-2000 class year and this o­ne - 2004-2005. Each year of class has given me many special memories.

2. Can you tell us the advantages and disadvantages of the students in the literature gifted class?

LGC students have many advantages, but still they also have disadvantages. First of all, they are mostly girl, thus they are friendly, nice and humane. Also because they are students of gifted literature class, they have the tendency toward art and culture.

Disadvantage: it's quite obvious, because most of the class is girls, therefore in some activities (which requires fast responses and energy) are not very lively. In my opinion, the class lacks the "balance of nature", where o­ne gender is dominant in class, the same thing happens in other gifted classes.

3. What do you expect from a LGC student?

In my opinion, for students in general and for an LGC student in specific, perfection should be pursued. Perfection in study, perfection in knowledge of life, must clearly show the characteristics of literature in o­ne self.

4. What do you think is the best way to care for students?

Care for students does not mean analyzing their every action, then correcting them... What's best is to care for them in small things like remember their birthdays, pay visit when they are sick, care for their interests and dreams. They kind of care for me as well (laugh). I give them the freedom to develop in their own ways. I always am o­n their sides to guide their paths, and be there for them when they need help.

5. In 19 years teaching in this school, can you give us general impressions of the previous generations of students, and what you expect from this generation of students?

Each generation of students has its own character, since our characters are greatly influenced by the society and people we live in. Thus the previous generation is different from the current generation. Before, students mostly focused o­n study, but today students' focus is shifting toward entertainment, having fun. And the next generations will change more; who knows what they'll be like in the future. However, no matter what the past or present or future students are like, my o­nly hope is this: an Amser, a gifted student, must show his best ability.

6. Students nowadays tend to satisfy their need for entertainment by playing games, chatting and other technological things rather than reading novels, books, poetry. Do you have any advice for us regarding this circumstance?

Each age has its own characteristics, so does each generation. They have different needs and wants according to the environment they're living in. In my time, I wanted to, but couldn't. Nonetheless, in my opinion, people should develop themselves to be fully balanced, not just care to develop IQ, but also o­ne should care for emotional needs.

7. Can you give us a method which you think would help us to learn literature well?

If you want to learn literature well, you must first love it, have a passion for it. A subject is just like a friend, if you are being enthusiastic to me, how could I be cold to you? In my experience, you must have passion in order to do well in something, especially in literature, plus having personality is also important.

8. Our schools nowadays have many newbie teachers (young and newly graduated), although they have graduated from universities with vast knowledge and efficient ability, they lack the deep understanding of the psychology of the students, or they feel like some experienced teachers. The problem is, there are many old teachers, and a considerable number of them are going to retire, especially in literature department. If that happens, the responsibility is up to the new teachers. What do you think about that?

It is a difficulty, and also the nature of things. The responsibility is up to our school, to train and provide a new generation of efficient and able teachers to bear the burden. I think that the new teachers had too many classes, it's kind of "overdoing it" for them.



9. What do you think about the quality of our students? Can you give us a general idea about the overall students, and students in LGC in specific? And can you talk more about the news that Hanoi Amsterdam High School is going to be considered as a gifted school? Do you think the students need to work harder and the amount of work is going to be more?

Quality - if based o­n statistic calculation of graduations and farther achievements in study of the students, then our school's quality is still very good.

However, if you look at a broader view, then in these recent years the quality of students (attitude, disciplines, cultural values) is kind of decreasing (however o­nly slightly). The reason is that they don't have enough motivation; a few students are not satisfied with being able to enter the school, and from then o­n lacking training, developing more. Obviously, it is the teacher's responsibility to come up with something to end this undesirable situation.

About literature students, I think we don't have enough activities to help learning such as extra activities, clubs, and introduction of new books. And that hinders the arousal of students' full potential.

About how to learn as a student of a gifted school, if the program's too much or too little: I think you have a better answer than I do.

I am also working in the magazine "Literature for Youngsters" (this is translated from its original name "Van hóa tu?i tr?")... I think it is a good way to learn more, broaden my knowledge; and also I can help my students to look for ways and methods to strengthen their linguistic skill.

And with no disappointment from me, class year 1999-2000, there was Truc, the o­nly male in the class who brought home third place in the national linguistic contest in two continuous years and with the top average grade: 9,0. A rarity for Hanoi Amsterdam LGC students.

LGC students class year 02-05 are hardworking and good in almost every course, a typical example of the quality of the school. They have brought home many victories in many contests, not just in literature. Although, they have left, some going to college, some going abroad, they still want to come and visit me, to hear my voice, listen to my advice or just to be able to call "master" (it's more respectful to address a teacher by "master").



Author: Ngo Thu Ly
Translator: Tran Thien Phuoc
Poster: Nguyen Thu Hien