Mr. Pham Minh Trung instructs on swimming techniques, while Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Mai guides on wearing goggles and encourages children who are still afraid of the water at the free swimming class. Photo: MI NI
An approximately 8-year-old girl clung tightly to the edge of the swimming pool, absolutely refusing to let go. Each time she was instructed to put her face in the water, she shook her head as if about to cry. Beside her, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Mai patiently held her little hands, gently encouraging her and demonstrating each step. More than half an hour passed before the girl finally dared to put her face in the water for a few seconds. Ms. Mai smiled with relief, knowing that once the girl overcame her initial fear, the subsequent lessons would be much easier.
At the other end of the lake, Mr. Pham Minh Trung was instructing a group of students on leg movements. Occasionally, he would glance over at Ms. Mai, who was coaching the children who were afraid of the water. Without much discussion, each understood their role. This coordination had become a habit after more than 25 years of the couple teaching together. Both have been dedicated to swimming training at the Kien Giang Provincial Children's House, now the An Giang Provincial Youth Activities and Entrepreneurship Center. In each class, Mr. Trung is in charge of teaching the main techniques, while Ms. Mai assists in guiding and coaching female students, those who are afraid of the water, or those who learn slowly.
For over 10 years, in addition to regular swimming lessons, Mr. Trung and his wife have also taught free swimming classes for children during the summer. This summer alone, they taught three courses with approximately 120 students and plan to open two more classes with around 60 students in early July. According to Mr. Trung, what keeps him committed to these free swimming classes for so many years is not the compensation, but the desire to help more children learn to swim to protect themselves. "Every summer , I still hear about children drowning, and I feel even more strongly that these classes are necessary. Just teaching one more child to swim can reduce one risk for the child and their family," Mr. Trung shared.
Most of the students in the free swimming classes come from disadvantaged backgrounds; some have never been in a swimming pool before. Many live with their grandparents because their parents work far away, and attending classes depends on someone to take them to and from school, so they often miss classes. However, it is these students that Ms. Mai remembers most fondly, because they are always eager to come to class and try their best in each lesson. "Most of the children love learning to swim; they are always excited to come to class. Some have to miss many classes because their grandparents are busy or their parents work and there is no one to take them to and from class. Therefore, in each class, I try my best to guide and correct each movement with the hope that after the course ends, they will at least know how to float on the water and have basic skills to prevent and avoid drowning," Ms. Mai shared.
According to Ms. Mai, in a class of about 30 students, nearly 10 are usually afraid of water, some not even daring to put their faces in the water, clinging tightly to the edge of the pool for the entire session. For these cases, she personally supervises them. No single lesson plan is suitable for all students; each child requires a different approach. With hyperactive or autistic children, Ms. Mai has to guide them step by step, teaching and playing at the same time to help them gradually get used to the water and build trust with their teacher.
Thanks to their perseverance, many students who were once afraid of water now know basic swimming techniques and can handle dangerous situations underwater on their own. Nguyen Hai My, a resident of Rach Gia ward, shared: “My family doesn't have the means to enroll me in swimming classes, so when I learned that the local area was organizing free classes, I asked my parents to let me register. After the initial hesitant sessions, I learned to float, practice breathing, and perform basic swimming movements. I want to learn to swim so I won't drown.”
This summer, many other "tutors" are also contributing to children's education. In Giong Rieng commune, the Youth Union, in coordination with the ASK Foreign Language Center, organized free English classes for students aged 8-10. According to Ms. Le Tran Ngoc Huyen, Director of the ASK Foreign Language Center, the most meaningful aspect is creating more opportunities for students who lack the resources to attend extra classes to access knowledge. With each free class, the center joins hands with the local community to care for children during the summer. The joy of educators comes when children gain more knowledge, skills, and a healthy environment.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhung-nguoi-giu-mua-he-an-toan-a491102.html
