Students adapt the opera 'The Glorious Hotel' into a play to learn history

Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Huong (blue ao dai), head of the history group at Ernst Thälmann High School, with her students during the report this morning (November 4).

Improve knowledge and skills

On the morning of November 4, Ernst Thälmann High School in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City held a history project report for the 2024-2025 school year with the theme "Song of Unification", aiming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification. The project was led by the history group with support from student clubs, attracting 3 grades to submit products individually or in groups.

At the event, students not only got to watch elaborate dance and flute performances by their peers, but also had the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through questions about the resistance war against the US to save the country. They also got to listen to the song Green Leaves performed by special characters who were teachers, playing the role of artists from the art troupe performing in the middle of the Truong Son mountains.

Finally, the whole schoolyard both laughed and stood still, then completely burst out with the drama adapted from the famous opera “Glorious Hotel”, which was based on the true story of Saigon commandos bombing the Caravelle Hotel in 1964. The special thing is that every line, gesture and setting were all conceived and performed by the students in the HEART drama section of the Literature Club.

Students attentively watched the performances about the resistance war against America to save the country.

Teachers disguise themselves as artists from a performing arts troupe to sing for their students.

As the main actors and also the scriptwriters of the show, Nguyen Hao Nhien (class 11A9) and Nguyen Dien Thao Tram (class 10A5) said that it took them 5 months to prepare and rehearse. Specifically, the group of nearly 20 students took 1 month to complete the script, then assigned roles, assigned logistical tasks, and spent the last 2 weeks practicing and assembling the script.

“We were inspired by the opera ‘The Glorious Hotel’ partly because it has a novel content that does not tell about large-scale battles on the battlefield, but a silent war taking place right in the ‘enemy’s heart’. Partly, we want to take this opportunity to help you understand more about the Saigon special forces, thereby loving our local history more,” the group of students confided.

The group added that thanks to this performance, the members not only improved their acting and communication skills, but also had the opportunity to explore and delve into historical content that was not covered in detail in textbooks, such as modern fashion trends in the 1960s, or fighting by disguising themselves to approach the enemy. This was also an opportunity for the students to get closer to their dream of becoming actors and directors.

Excerpt from the climax of the play "Secret Mission" by a group of students from Ernst Thälmann High School

Another highlight is that students are involved in planning and running the event. Ho Xuan Mai (class 11A9), a member of the History Club, said that the project in particular and the club's activities in general help recreate historical stories in a more youthful way, thereby spreading more widely the spirit and emotions of our ancestors who sacrificed to create the shape of the Fatherland.

“Overall, my friends and I did not encounter many difficulties during the organization process, because the teachers disseminated relevant knowledge for us to further study, and the teachers also invited experienced people to guide us on how to organize events, how to support people, and how to behave. I also learned how to filter historical information outside of textbooks appropriately, instead of just taking everything from the internet and using it,” Mai shared.

The female student added that to prepare for the event, the students usually spend about 1 hour at noon to practice or do related tasks. "Everyone always tries their best to satisfy their passion, not just do it to cope," Mai confided.

Students participate in answering history questions.

Students love history more

Responsible for the project, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Huong, head of the history department, said that she and her students "started" the project in mid-September and received the product in mid-October. According to Ms. Huong, this is a project-based teaching method, a familiar activity for students of the 2018 GeneralEducation Program. "Here, students play the role of organizers while teachers only guide and censor," the female teacher shared.

Ms. Huong said that through the projects, teachers will help students learn skills such as teamwork, document research, graphic design, model building, script writing or performing arts. And to ensure the requirements of the "subject", students also actively study more and grasp knowledge more naturally. "Thanks to that, students are very passionate about history even though this is not their choice for the high school graduation exam," Ms. Huong said.

"This is a very encouraging sign because history has now become a reality, an emotion for you, not just a study for exams," the female group leader commented.

Sharing more about teaching and learning in the coming time to adapt to the history subject illustration questions recently announced by the Ministry of Education and Training, Ms. Huong said the main focus is on skill training. However, Ms. Huong noted that it is not just about memorizing events, students now need to have additional reading comprehension skills, test analysis skills, etc. In addition, teachers also provide additional materials for students to practice outside of class.

Students learn about history through publications and models made by their peers.

Hundreds of products participating

According to Ms. Xuan Huong, the project received 421 products, including 36 models of typical battles in the fight against the US, 11 art performances, 374 art design products such as magazines, posters, brochures, infographics and many presentations made in class. The product evaluation score is used to replace the mid-term exam in the first semester.

The model table recreating the scene of a tank crashing into the gate of the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975 won first prize in the model making category.

On this occasion, the school awarded first prize in the art design category for the magazine “ Dien Bien Phu in the air” (class 12A2), first prize in the model making category for “Independence Palace” (class 12A12), first prize in the art performance category for the performance “Secret Mission” (HEART drama group). In addition, the project also awarded second and third prizes in the categories for the following groups of classes: 11A1, 12A4, 11A8, 12A5, 12A6, 11A10, 10A10.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoc-sinh-cai-bien-vo-cai-luong-khach-san-hao-hoa-thanh-kich-de-hoc-lich-su-185241104160638393.htm