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Mr. Thach Ken and his students in his special class. |
There were no tables and chairs, nor modern teaching equipment, but the classroom was warm and full of human affection and enthusiasm from the teacher, Mr. Thach Ken, a son of the Khmer people.
The teacher "without degree"
More than two years ago, Mr. Thach Ken (41 years old), a construction worker in Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province, decided to open a free bilingual class for Khmer people in the area. This class not only helps children understand and use Vietnamese fluently but also helps them not to forget the writing, language and culture of their people.
Since he was a child, Ken realized that many Khmer people in the area where he lived were very hesitant to communicate with Vietnamese people (because they were not fluent in Vietnamese). On the contrary, Khmer children when going to school mainly learn Vietnamese, and have little opportunity to learn and write Khmer properly.
Realizing this inadequacy, Mr. Ken decided to take action. Although he had not been trained in any pedagogical school, with the knowledge gained from studying at the Southern Intermediate Pali Cultural Supplementary School, he prepared his own lesson plans, researched teaching methods and the class gradually attracted more and more students.
Every day, from 5:30 to 9:00, Ken’s small house resounds with the “e” and “a” sounds of students reading their lessons. There are children just a few years old, and there are also old people over 60, all of them are passionate about learning. Boards are hung on the walls, floor tiles become seats, but the learning atmosphere is never dull.
In Mr. Ken’s class, people not only learn to read and write but also learn how to communicate, how to behave, and learn about the customs and practices of both the Khmer and Kinh people. In particular, he always tries to create interesting and easy-to-understand lectures by integrating life stories and real-life examples, helping his “students” to absorb easily. For children, he also organizes fun activities after school, sometimes even warm meals prepared by his wife.
After school hours, students can play together to create a comfortable atmosphere. Photo: Quoc Anh
The Journey of a “Special” Teacher
In the first days of opening the class, Mr. Ken encountered many difficulties. Many people were still hesitant and not used to going to school, especially the elderly. The number of students could be counted on the fingers. But he was not discouraged. Every day, after work, he went from house to house to encourage people to join the class.
He patiently explained that learning to read and write not only helps each person read and write fluently, but also helps them become more confident in life. Thanks to his perseverance, more and more people know about his class. Gradually, the small house became a place to connect the community, where people study together and share joy.
Although he needs funds to maintain the class, Mr. Ken does not accept any tuition fees. He and his friends in the neighborhood take on small construction projects and invest in buying rice cutting machines to provide seasonal services. Thanks to that, he has a stable income and can continue to maintain the class without having to worry about finances.
“Every day, after work, I rush straight to class. There are days when I feel very tired, but just seeing the eager eyes of the children and the people makes all my tiredness disappear,” Ken shared.
After more than two years of maintaining the class, Mr. Ken has helped hundreds of children and Khmer people read and write fluently in both Vietnamese and Khmer. Not only that, language barriers and communication gaps between Khmer people and Vietnamese people have also gradually narrowed.
Thach Hoang Phuc, 11 years old, a student in the class, excitedly said: “Before, I only knew how to speak Khmer, I couldn’t read or write. After a few months of studying with Mr. Ken, I knew how to write Khmer and could read books too.”
Not only children, but also the elderly thanks to this class have become more confident in communication. Ms. Thach Thi Ni (38 years old) confided: “When I was young, my family was poor so I only studied until grade 2. Because I was not fluent in Vietnamese, every time I went to the market or to a party, I was very shy to communicate. Thanks to Mr. Ken's class, now I can talk more comfortably with everyone.”
In each course, Mr. Ken organizes tests to evaluate the progress of the students. The children who meet the requirements will study the advanced program and receive incentives. This not only helps the children have motivation to study but also makes the villagers increasingly trust this class.
Although he has never officially stood on the podium, Mr. Thach Ken has done things that make people respect him and call him the “teacher” of the Khmer people. Not only does he teach them, he also helps them find confidence, break down barriers in communication, and above all, preserve the cultural identity of his people.
Mr. Ken’s bilingual classroom is not simply a place to learn. It is also a space to connect the community, where everyone is proud of their roots and ready to integrate and develop. The lessons under the simple porch have become a spiritual support, where knowledge and humanity blend together.
The story of Mr. Thach Ken’s class is a living testament to the power of passion and perseverance. An ordinary person, with a generous heart and determination, can create extraordinary changes. And in the small countryside of Soc Trang, his class continues to light up every night, bringing knowledge and hope to generations of Khmer people.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/lop-hoc-song-ngu-cua-nguoi-thay-dac-biet-post720177.html
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