Stories of young teachers

The heartfelt concerns of those who guide students, especially young teachers, have been compiled by Tran Thanh Vu in his book "Young Teachers and Stories of the Profession" (published by Dan Tri Publishing House and Quang Van Books), which has just been released to readers.

Author Tran Thanh Vu is an expert in foreign language teaching and teacher training. He holds a Master's degree in Education from the University of Southern Queensland (Australia) and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Education, Durham University (United Kingdom).

“The lectern isn't high, yet so many have stumbled there / The chalk of my heart I couldn't hold onto in my hand” (Doan Vi Thuong). Mentioning teachers brings to mind knowledge, mission, ethics, and character. But “teachers are also human beings,” carrying within them the burdens and anxieties of their profession and life.

The ten young teachers featured in the book are ten individuals with ten different personalities, backgrounds, and lifestyles. However, they share one common trait: they all experienced a shock when they first stood in front of the classroom. Driven by ambition and professional aspirations, these young teachers loved teaching with the purest love, always wanting to impart knowledge, sow the seeds of learning, inspire, and build bridges to guide their students across the river of knowledge… But their limited pedagogical knowledge, meager experience gained during their internships, and accumulated understanding from their student days were insufficient to overcome the shock of reality. Standing at the lectern with rebellious students, complex relationships, and unfamiliar school culture… many young teachers suddenly felt isolated and helpless.

Ninh Cao Huynh, who once intended to be a tour guide, changed his path to becoming a teacher because of his love for education. He thought his English class would be highly regarded, but he sadly had to watch his colleagues take away his classroom, claiming that "foreign languages ​​are just a secondary subject" for elementary school students.

People often think of students from specialized schools as diligent and academically gifted, but that's just what people think, not what teacher Thai Lien experienced. Facing her were 12th-grade students who focused solely on exam preparation for key subjects and were indifferent to the subject she taught. Standing at the lectern, Ms. Lien witnessed students yawning, falling asleep at their desks from staying up late, and even working on assignments for other subjects.

Exam pressure prevents students from focusing on all subjects. The pressure of achieving high rankings weighs heavily on young teacher Chánh Hưng, who is deeply concerned about the obsession with academic achievement. At a school where he works, the target for above-average grades in all classes is 96%, but Mr. Chánh Hưng only aims for 85%. He knows that to achieve 96%, some teachers compromise on quality education, opting for extra tutoring, rote learning, and exam preparation instead of truly focusing on teaching quality.

The stories of Mr. Huynh, Ms. Lien, and Mr. Hung are perhaps common to many young teachers. This is because the educational environment presents certain challenges that are rarely taught how to handle. Research on teacher training in Vietnam, especially research focusing on young teachers, is limited. Therefore, Tran Thanh Vu uses storytelling and evidence-based reasoning to convey educational science knowledge to readers in the most understandable way. Through "Young Teachers and Their Professional Stories," he hopes to help those who are currently or will be in the teaching profession feel less overwhelmed when they first stand in front of a classroom, and to help people learn more about the difficulties teachers face.

The beauty of the teaching profession lies not in the titles or honors bestowed by the community, but in the dedication and passion that teachers devote to understanding their students, and through that understanding, themselves. With 10 authentic stories and specific advice, it is hoped that "Young Teachers and Stories of the Profession" will help educators feel more confident on their journey of cultivating literacy, imparting knowledge, and guiding students across the river of knowledge.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chuyen-nha-giao-tre-727817.html