They study not only to keep up with the times, but also to better understand their students, to "keep the passion" for their profession alive, and to inspire lifelong learning in the younger generation.
Learn to overcome yourself.
Recalling a time when he "switched roles" and became a student again, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Bac - a Literature teacher at Lam Thao Primary and Secondary School (Lam Thao commune, Bac Ninh province) - vividly remembers his first day participating in an online training course on digital transformation.
“When the screen displayed a new task for the students, I was confused, clumsy, and made mistakes repeatedly, even producing ‘unsatisfactory results’ because I forgot some steps and hadn’t had time to practice. The instructor noticed this and guided me step-by-step, just like I used to do with my own students. At that moment, I felt like a real student, both eager and awkward. I realized that the feeling of ‘novelty’ and ‘reluctance to change’ isn’t unique to students; it’s present in anyone starting a new learning journey,” recounted Mr. Nguyen Phuong Bac.
From this experience, Mr. Bac said that he has become more patient in teaching, knows how to listen better, and is more empathetic to even the smallest mistakes of his students; at the same time, he loves his profession more and appreciates the continuous learning process that teaching brings.
Regarding his learning journey and self-study, the Literature teacher shared about the nights he diligently spent at the computer learning video design skills from Veo 3, Gemini, and ChatGPT; then practicing how to create e-learning lectures and design interactive learning activities using online support software.
“Every time I encountered a technical error, a shaky network, or uncooperative software, I had to figure out how to fix it. Sometimes I felt like giving up, but remembering the curious eyes and joyful cheers of the students when they saw my technological creation, I kept trying.” Recounting this, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Bac believes the biggest challenge wasn't just time, but overcoming himself, old habits, and the fear of new things.
And the "sweet rewards" he received were skills, the joy of seeing his students enthusiastic, receiving messages from colleagues asking, "How did you do that so well, teacher?", and recognition from the school administration… Now, confident in his ability to apply technology in modern teaching, Mr. Phuong Bac understands that every difficulty is a lesson that helps him grow. The teacher's spirit of daring to learn and change will be an example for his students to follow.
As an English teacher at Van Thang Primary School (Co Do commune, Hanoi ), Ms. Le Thi Truong always aspires to learn and innovate to bring more lively and effective lessons to her classes. A memorable experience she has had is during a training course on applying AI in teaching, where she was asked to "play the role of a student" in an interactive English lesson with a "virtual teacher".
Upon hearing the automated voice and responses in English, Ms. Truong said she was both amazed and delighted. From that experience, she better understood the students' feelings when encountering new technology and realized that, in order for students to love English, teachers must first learn and change.
“For me, the biggest challenge when juggling both teaching and student roles is time management. Teaching, preparing lessons, and organizing English Club activities take up most of my day. However, I still manage to find time to attend training courses and workshops on new teaching methods, technology, and the application of AI in teaching. After the initial awkwardness, I've progressed little by little.”
“The greatest reward is that students are becoming increasingly interested in English; they are proactive in learning, confident in speaking English, and enjoy lessons that incorporate technology. Seeing the smiles and progress of my students, I know that all my efforts have been worthwhile,” shared Ms. Le Thi Truong.
How to keep the passion for learning alive in teachers.
Emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning, Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong, a teacher at Phenikaa High School (Hanoi), suggested that to maintain this spirit, teachers should dedicate more time to reading specialized books and watching documentaries about culture, society, history, or science and technology.
Teachers need to cultivate daily self-discipline, connect with like-minded individuals to share knowledge and experiences, and encourage each other. Teacher Nguyen Trong Truong also suggests seeking out and learning from inspiring people who spread positive energy and mastering necessary skills. Finally, consistently applying knowledge to real-world situations is an effective way to retain information quickly and for a longer period.
According to teacher Nguyen Phuong Bac, maintaining a lifelong learning spirit stems not only from a love of the profession but also from a belief in the value of knowledge. When the teacher is still learning, students will see that learning has no end; when the teacher dares to change, students will also dare to step out of their comfort zone.
For me, every day is an opportunity to learn: learning from colleagues, students, small experiences in the classroom or new training courses and workshops. Sometimes, the students themselves are the "little teachers" who help me update my knowledge, better understand technology, and the way of thinking of the new generation.
Sharing this sentiment, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Bac expressed his hope that education authorities at all levels would create more environments and opportunities for teachers to learn; not only through training, but also through creative professional development models, sharing forums, or open technology spaces. Timely recognition and encouragement from school leaders also serve as a "catalyst" to help teachers "keep the flame" of learning alive. When teachers find joy in learning, they will inspire their students to learn as well.
For Ms. Le Thi Truong, what keeps teachers motivated to learn is their passion for the profession and their love for their students. With a love for their profession, teachers will always strive to improve themselves in order to provide the best possible experience for their students.
Ms. Truong hopes that teachers will continue to be given opportunities to participate in more training courses, share expertise, and learn from each other in a friendly and creative environment. With additional support in equipment, digital resources, and courses on technology and AI, teachers will be more confident in innovating and creating. Teachers who are always learning today will be the ones who inspire lifelong learning in future generations.
“To truly change themselves, teachers must overcome very common barriers. The first barrier comes from psychology and habits. Teachers are often hesitant to step outside their professional comfort zone, such as fearing noisy classrooms or students lacking the ability to filter and synthesize knowledge. Teachers also have to overcome perfectionist thinking.”
"The key to helping teachers maintain a lifelong learning spirit is to always sustain curiosity, nurture inquisitiveness, and a desire to explore the world around them to broaden their knowledge," shared Mr. Nguyen Trong Truong, a teacher at Phenikaa High School (Hanoi).
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/vai-tro-nguoi-thay-trong-kien-tao-he-cong-dan-so-thay-doi-vai-lam-tro-post755654.html
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