Yesterday was just Teachers day.
Like the song, “yesterday seems so far away” this years Teachers day was a bit sad. This years Teachers day coincided with Childrens day. A time normally spent celebrating both Teachers in Vietnam and Children around the world.
Childrens Day.
Saturday, November 20, 2021, is World Children’s Day. Children’s Day is a worldwide celebration usually filled with love and laughter. On their designated dates, all UN member countries commemorate Children’s Day.
Children’s Day is usually a lighthearted occasion with a serious message. International Children’s Day provides an opportunity to promote and celebrate children’s rights, which will help them to live in a better world.
It seems to be appropriate that it falls on the same day as Teachers’ day in Vietnam.
Vietnam Teachers day.
The same day as Teachers day in Vietnam. This is when students express their gratitude and admiration for their teachers. During the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day holiday schools have concerts, recitals, and exhibitions, which are commonplace.
Students prepare food and flowers for the events. On a regular basis, classes are canceled for the day. Students, on the other hand, frequently attend school in the morning and some even spend the entire day participating in these activities.
Find out more about a normal “Teachers day” ==> HERE <==
This occasion is marked by a wide range of events.
Students have typically been practicing and planning for several weeks prior to the performance. Traditional costumes and dances will be displayed alongside the pupils’ renditions of K-pop or V-pop.
Everything is normally a lot of fun and highly entertaining. Unfortunately this year it was a bit sad.
A Sad Year
Most Vietnamese schools celebrated Vietnamese Teachers’ Day with flowers, balloons, gifts, and greetings, however, there were no pupils because of Covid-19. Without the participation of some Teachers and all the students, this year’s celebrations have become less exciting than normal.
You can read more in the ==> HANOI TIMES <==
The Hurdles of Teaching with Covid
Covid-19 has posed unprecedented hurdles to the education sector, posing significant obstacles for both instructors and students.
In Vietnam’s largest cities, the majority of schools teach online. Online lessons, on the other hand, mean a lot more effort on the part of both teachers and students.
For some parents, this means their children will be unable to participate in online lessons. Because of the high cost of computers and the lack of government subsidies, many people are forced to forego studies.
Time will tell if this generation will be known as the under-educated Covid generation.
Teachers day for foreigners in Vietnam.
Foreign instructors who have lost their jobs because of school closures face additional humiliation and loneliness because of the stigma of foreigners supposedly having Covid.
Many foreign teachers are having a terrible time right now. The majority of the workers were hourly workers who are now out of work.
For many foreign teachers, it has been nearly six months since their last paycheck, and some are even begging on the streets. What can you do if you don’t have food and no income? It is not an option to be proud.
Some are lucky and have secured jobs teaching online. Some are not so lucky and are battling with paying rent and putting food on the table.
Teaching Online.
Although many language teachers have attempted to teach online, some parents are unwilling to pay the entire amount for online sessions.
For newer teachers, online lessons can be as low as a third to half of the standard rate. And for some, finding those students can be difficult. Especially if you have no knowledge of the Vietnamese language.
The parents want their children to learn but may themselves either have a basic grasp of the language, or no English skills at all.
However, if you have a large following, parents will be willing to pay extra. And if you’re known for being a terrific teacher, you won’t have to discount anything.
“Something is better than nothing,” some are saying. “Business as usual” for others.
A Glimmer of Hope. Maybe!
Schools are starting to advertise more for online teachers. However, a lot of the English centers have closed, and finding a well-paying job is more difficult.
The airlines are just starting to re-open along with some businesses. Covid rates have increased as one would expect. Lockdowns and continued pressure on the local populace though have forced the government into slowly opening things again.
An example of the confusion at the moment is the karaoke bars were allowed to re-open. So the owners went out and re-employed staff and got everything up and working again. Only to be told 2 days later they were closing them down again.
But This is About the Students.
So who are the ones who suffer the most? Yes, the children are hurting the most, both educationally and in some cases emotionally.
This has been one of the most difficult times in Vietnam’s history for teachers and pupils.
The pandemic’s aftermath threatens to undermine this generation’s chances and limit their options well into adulthood.
The long-term consequences may jeopardize their chances of attending college and, eventually, finding a satisfying profession that allows them to support their family.
It’s not just about the learning.
During the pandemic, students lost more than just academic knowledge. Some have lost family members; others have lost employment and sources of money for their parents and caretakers, and almost all have experienced some type of social isolation.
Mental health issues also raise a huge concern.
There has been a rise in the number of people who are depressed. Social disengagement, self-isolation, tiredness, and unreasonable worries have all been reported by the parents of my students. Some students have developed an obsession with cleanliness, which they demonstrate by constantly washing their hands.
What’s the Upshot?
Schools will very certainly need to address the pandemic’s broader consequences for pupils who have been traumatized.
The teachers will once again step up to the front line and assist and support your children.
Why? Because we are teachers.
I leave you with this.
Here are some simple thoughts about what my students want to do after this horrible pandemic is contained. I wish them all the best in their wishes.
Thuy.
“I want to go to Australia because there are kangaroos there. I want to go back to Nha Trang after the pandemic. I want to be an agricultural engineer in the future.”
Ngoc.
“When I grow up I wanna be a person that can pay my bill and taxes and manage all my time I don’t really care what job I will do in the future but I hope it will be a job with decent pay but if I have to choose one job it would be a baker because my dad is a baker and I hope to make great pastries like him and create my own cakes someday.”
Vy.
“In 2025, I will be 18 years old, of course, I will send money back to my parents and then because then I am old enough to work part-time course the rent we will also split in half and if after I turn 18 I still live with my parents for example when I am 30 then sure the whole rent and including electricity bill will be paid by me and when I’m 30 years old and still living with my parents, that means I don’t have a husband or you love something, my parents will kick me out of the house.”
Simple dreams and simple ambitions like everyone around the world. I hope next “Teachers day” will be a lot happier for everyone than this one has been.
Click ==> HERE <== if you want to find out what Vietnamese students are like.
Who am I?
My name is Stephen and I have been teaching in Vietnam for 15 years and own 2 schools. I love traveling and meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. You can check out my house in Vietnam below on YouTube.
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