Corner of Sun*: “Fun Mom” - the cutest Japanese teacher in Hanoi

Full name: Phuong Bich Pham

D.O.B: November 25th,1989

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Member of Global Education Unit - Sun Asterisk since July 2020

Position: Japanese teacher at  Hanoi University of  Science and Technology

Ms. Phuong, you have such a youthful appearance! Have you ever been mistaken for a student

Just sometimes (with high frequency)! (laugh)

Do you have any fun memories about it?

During my first days at school, once I entered the teacher’s room to get some water, I was told by another teacher that that room was for teachers only. There was another time when I parked my motorbike in the staff area, the security staff also reminded me not to park in the wrong area. (yaoming)

How did you feel in that situation?

I felt HAPPY!

Your fashion style when you go teaching is quite different from the majority of teachers nowadays. Can you share with us the reason why?

I have no idea either. Never have I wondered why I am so different from others.

I have noticed that you shared many intriguing stories with students on Facebook. How can you be that close to your students as if you were friends?

As a teacher, I usually remind myself to fulfill my duties of 4 roles as 4 corners of a square: a teacher sharing knowledge, a senior sharing my own experience, a friend willing to listen to stories of ups and downs, difficulties of the students without judgment, a learner studying new things from the next generation since there are numerous things that they are better at than I am. 

Perhaps thanks to the third role of mine as a teacher, I have the chance to step closer to my students. However, my attempt only would never be enough. I am grateful that my students are open to me and also step closer to me, narrowing the gap in the teacher-student relationship. 

Can you share with us some “recipe of love” or any practical stories to make such a “move”?

“We do not have a fixed formula for love as “love unconditionally” is enough. It’s my love for my students - with no condition attached. They do not need to perform well or study hard for me to love them. If they lack responsibility in their study or the attitude is not good, I will be sad yet that does not mean I do not love them anymore. That love is kind of similar to the love of the mother. Her kids can make mistakes yet she would never stop loving them.

When we love someone, we will want to know more about them, to discover what they love and hate, what their favorite kind of music is. Therefore, after school, I often talk and interact with my students on social media as I really love them. When I know more about them, I would choose more suitable content for each lesson. That is a representative way to “get close together”. Nonetheless, there is no fixed way or planned strategy. Loving unconditionally is enough."

2020 is an unforgettable year for me. After nearly 2 years of maternity leave, I have come back to work. Although being back to work, I feel at home everyday at work since having the opportunity to be near my students and stand on the podium to teach them everyday is my daily happiness. 

Can you share with us the most memorable experience in your teaching career?

The story happened when I had just graduated from university and worked as a teacher. Before saying goodbye to my first-generation students to go to Japan, we had a 2-day 1-night trip to Ha Tinh and by the way, stopped by one of my students - Linh’s house near the destination. She has a special background as her father died when she was small and her mother earned the living by doing the farming. When our class went to Linh’s house to burn the incense for her deceased father, her mother held my hand tightly and said that she recommended her daughter to my care. Though being a teacher, I was just a new graduate and a few years older than my students with superficial experience. However, the touch of Linh’s mother's hand and the heartful recommendation made me want to burst into tears at that moment. It engraved in my heart the determination to live fully with the teaching profession. 

So what is your perspective toward teaching?

I wish to see a happy generation of students. My opinion is that a learner will learn best when he/she is in a happy state. Therefore, she always tries her best to create lessons full of laughter. The teachers look forward to teaching and the students look forward to learning. Personally, I feel the need to keep going, not stopping.

In a society where things change rapidly, working in any profession requires constant learning and improvement. In particular, the teaching profession requires more learning, including learning knowledge, learning skills, and learning how to adapt to social changes, keeping yourself in a peaceful and stable position. Only by that can I stand on the podium in front of Generation Z students - a generation that is extremely dynamic and talented.

Sometimes being a teacher of talented students makes her feel a little pressure. Today’s young people have the ability to learn quickly, creative with a higher speed of moving forward than the teachers. That is pressure as well as motivation for me to continually improve myself. Good things happen even when bad things happen. And I believe on a happy day like today, we can still feel a little sad. And that’s life, isn’t it?

Good things happen even when bad things happen. And I believe on a happy day like today, we can still feel a little sad. And that’s life, isn’t it?

Do you have any plans for the new year?

I will be the same as always, starting a day by practicing gratitude towards what I have in my life. I will still live my life as I were eighteen (xxth time), do what I want to do, experience new things, spend time with my family and friends and continue to take care of more than 200 children at K65 HEDSPI (They call me “Mom Fun”!)

Can I always become a better version of myself day by day? I am not sure about that, but I will always be myself day by day, living like a flower in my own way whether I am jasmine or daisy.

As the new year has come, I wish everyone health and peace.

The universe has enough happiness for all of us!