The classroom is where bonding begins.
At many schools in mountainous areas such as Ha Giang , Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien... students entering grade 1 mainly use their mother tongue such as Mong, Dao, Thai... Teaching Vietnamese therefore becomes a journey that requires patience, commitment and close support.
For many first-graders in the highlands, the first important thing is not to teach them how to read and write, but to get to know each other, talk, and create closeness. (Photo: NVCC).
Ms. Nhe Thi Phuong - a teacher at Po Qua school, Niem Tong commune, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province - shared: "The first important thing is not to teach letters, but to get acquainted, chat and create closeness. Only then will the children gradually accept Vietnamese as a familiar part of life."
She told about a young student named Tho Mi Mi whom she especially remembered during her first days of teaching: "Mi cannot speak Mandarin, and her parents do not speak Vietnamese. Teaching her is both a challenge and a motivation. Every day, just seeing her say a new word makes me happy and gives me more strength."
To help students approach Vietnamese more effectively, many teachers in highland schools have applied flexible and intuitive teaching methods. Instead of just using books, teachers take students to the school yard, point to real objects, use pictures, videos , games - all to create a friendly, natural learning atmosphere.
Ms. Phuong said: "Sometimes when teaching about chickens, I don't just explain but also let the students see a real chicken with their own eyes, hear its sounds, and describe it. Students remember faster, understand the meaning more deeply, and gradually become more confident in speaking Vietnamese."
A Vietnamese class for first graders at a highland school (Screenshot from tiktok NV).
In addition, teachers also learn the students' ethnic languages to facilitate communication and support them better. Bilingual teaching - combining the mother tongue and Vietnamese - not only helps students understand the lesson easily but also creates a sense of familiarity with their own culture.
At the school where Ms. Phuong works, students will have an additional Vietnamese lesson each week. In addition, in other subjects such as Math or Social Sciences, teachers will flexibly explain knowledge in ethnic languages so that students can understand better.
"For example, when teaching counting, I will count in Mong first, then switch to Vietnamese so that the children can understand the concept. This method helps them grasp and remember more easily," Ms. Phuong shared.
Family and community together
Not only schools, families and communities also play an important role in helping ethnic minority students overcome language barriers. Many parents, although not fluent in Vietnamese, always try to accompany their children in their own way.
At a school in Muong Khuong ( Lao Cai ), Ms. Ha - who has participated in many volunteer trips to the highlands - told about the mother of Giang Thi Pao, a first-grade student: "She can't read or speak Mandarin, but she takes her child to class on time every day. When she gets home, she asks her child to recite the new words she has learned. When she doesn't understand, she smiles and nods in encouragement. Gradually, the child becomes more confident."
Ms. Ha and students at a school in the highlands (Photo: NVCC).
In some localities, organizations such as the Women's Union and the Youth Union also organize voluntary evening classes to help students practice listening and speaking Vietnamese. Although these are simple classes without blackboards or chalk, they are places where students can practice without fear of making mistakes.
In addition, in many places, students in mountainous areas also receive support from schools and communities through practical gifts such as clothes, shoes, and necessities. These simple things contribute to creating warmth and encouragement, helping them to be more confident on the arduous journey to school.
Education is a journey of patience and sharing
According to many education experts, including researchers from Thai Nguyen University of Education and the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, language barriers remain one of the biggest challenges for ethnic minority students.
Therefore, promoting bilingual education while creating a friendly learning environment that respects cultural and linguistic differences are important solutions to help children overcome barriers.
Ms. Ha shared: "Every trip to schools in the highlands shows me that teachers here not only teach, but also inspire, create confidence and open doors for young children to enter the wider world. I just hope that one day, learning Vietnamese will no longer be a barrier for them."
Language will no longer be a barrier if there is the support of teachers, the sharing of families and the determination of students themselves. Every day in class, Vietnamese is no longer strange, but becomes a companion, helping students get closer to the words and new knowledge ahead.
Mai Phuong
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/dua-con-chu-toi-hoc-sinh-vung-cao-hanh-trinh-cua-gan-ket-va-gan-gui-20250520112027794.htm
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