For nearly 10 years, the program "Instead of Words of Gratitude" has been regularly broadcast live on television every November 20, Vietnam's Teacher's Day, as an indispensable rendezvous for the general public and those working in the field of education throughout the country.
The milestone of nearly 10 years, or even more, is a source of pride for the production team of the Educational and Scientific Program Department, Vietnam Television. For nearly a year, they have been researching all over the country to find humble yet noble stories of the teaching profession.
This year, under the theme "I Choose the Teaching Profession", Instead of Gratitude Words 2023 will honor and tell the silent stories of teachers. It will highlight their humble yet profound stories and most importantly, their pride in their chosen profession.
Instead of Gratitude Words 2023 will be broadcast live on Sunday, November 19 at 20:00 on VTV2.
HUMBLE STORIES THAT INSPIRE PRIDE IN TEACHING
According to the production team, the preparation for the program is usually divided into two phases. After this year's "Instead of Gratitude Words" season, the team has already begun preparing for next year's program by monitoring the performance of the education sector throughout the year and documenting notable stories and characters. About two months before November 20, the team sits down together to decide on the theme, character lines, and plan for shooting in the field.
Trinh Quoc Dong, Deputy Director of the Department of Educational and Scientific Programs, who has been in charge of the program for many years, said: "Two important criteria of Instead of Gratitude Words that distinguish it from others are touching details and simple and humble stories. This year, however, we have added another criterion: the pride educators take in standing at the podium to impart knowledge. To convey this pride, we ask ourselves, "How should we choose our characters?
The message of this year's program is conveyed in the theme of the program - "I Choose the Teaching Profession". The teaching profession still faces many challenges, but we all believe that with dedication and courage, educators will overcome them all and always be proud of the noble career path they have chosen. Each person may have different reasons and stories for becoming a teacher, but they will love it and commit to it once their choice is made.
For the past few years, the Instead of Gratitude Words team has aimed to bring optimism and confidence to the education sector. Educators still face many challenges in their lives, so their efforts and dedication should be recognized by society. This recognition motivates them to continue their mission of nurturing the next generation.
Nguyen Phuong, a member of the production team, added: "Initially, we had more than ten characters, so selecting four groups of characters for this year's program was quite challenging for the production team, as they all had their own interesting stories.
The first group of characters unveiled by the team are preschool teachers in the mountainous district of Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa Province. Viewers will find the teachers to be cheerful and optimistic, with "wholehearted dedication and enthusiasm" for their profession.
Teacher Ngoc Ha's approach to teaching at Thang Long Middle School in Hanoi, using encouraging handwritten letters to foster students' love of literature, promises to be an interesting highlight of the program.
Another story featured in the program is that of Do Thi Huong Tra, a teacher in Cao Bang, and her ethnic Tay students, who brought a robot to the United States for a competition. The program also features a teacher from the University of Technology who turned down offers and invitations from schools in Japan to return to Vietnam to teach.
The program Instead of Gratitude Words 2023 will also take the audience to Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) with the special story of teacher Nguyen Thi Nhu Yen. For the past 23 years, since she entered the teaching profession, Ms. Yen has devoted all her love to the Bahnar children in Krong Chro, a poor district in Gia Lai Province. For the past 23 years, she has mentored, tutored, and provided food and shelter to academically weak students without ever charging a fee.
Le Huong, a member of the production crew, said: "I have never met a person who is so humble and hesitant to accept an invitation like Mrs. Yen. What have I done? Am I worth it? Many other teachers in remote areas have made even greater sacrifices" - Ms. Yen initially humbly declined our offer. But while filming in Gia Lai and moving between locations, Le Huong and her colleagues received enthusiastic help and support from the local community to convince the teacher to join the program.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY 17 KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS
Interspersed with the poignant and emotional stories are special performances dedicated to Vietnamese Teachers' Day on November 20. "This year, we have integrated more artistic performances into the conversations with the characters. We use artistic elements to enhance emotions and highlight the stories," said journalist Trinh Quoc Dong.
The production team revealed that Instead of Gratitude Words 2023 will feature a special live performance on the television stage. Seventeen kindergarten teachers from Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa will perform a dance to a children's song.
When the idea was first proposed, the production team was concerned about its feasibility. However, as the training sessions progressed, the team gained confidence that this would be an interesting highlight in this year's program.
Editor Ninh Quang Truong from the production team has conducted several online training sessions with the kindergarten teachers. "In fact, they are already used to singing and dancing in their role as kindergarten teachers. Therefore, the performance of these teachers promises to show that our educators are very talented and passionate about the arts," he said.
In addition, the program will include other performances such as the songs "Bụi Phấn" (Powder Dust), "Người Gieo Mầm Xanh" (The One Who Plants Green Seeds), "Bài Ca Người Giáo Viên Nhân Dân" (The Song of the People's Teacher)...
In particular, the conversations with the characters are an essential part of Instead of Gratitude Words, which always touches the hearts of the audience. This year, the production team will add surprising and interesting details to these interactive segments, promising to create a special emotional experience for both the characters and the audience.
In addition, editor Nguyen Phuong revealed that the last part of the program will be dedicated to well wishes and gratitude to teachers from celebrities in various fields. It will also include messages from renowned educators to the younger generations who are embarking on teaching careers.
AFTER MINUTES OF PUTTING ALL YOUR EFFORTS INTO THE LIVE BROADCAST, IT'S A NIGHT OF DIFFICULTY SLEEPING BECAUSE OF HAPPINESS.
With 8 years of experience as a teacher and 20 years as a reporter and editor, journalist Lê Hương is one of those who have been closely involved with the "Instead of Gratitude Words" program since its inception. She mentions that she does not remember exactly when the program began to captivate her. Each year after the program aired, she asked herself the same questions: "What am I going to do this year? What will the program be like? Which characters will I follow this year?
"As I meet each character and learn their stories, I feel like I am gaining more knowledge, and I feel the need to work harder. At that moment, all the challenges and difficulties seem to disappear, leaving only a feeling of joy and happiness after each program," said editor Lê Hương candidly.
While Instead of Gratitude Words has been around for almost 10 years, Nguyễn Phương joined the program about 5 years ago.
"For us, it's a mission. When we start production, we are under pressure to innovate. Innovating an established program is a big challenge. However, as we engage in the process of reaching out to teachers across the country, we realize that our challenges are nothing compared to those of the teachers.
"I remember once walking through thorny mountain roads in the rain and strong wind, struggling to hold the camera. But for the teachers, it's their daily commute to school. When we understand their hardships, we realize that ours are minor. One thing that always impresses me when I interview teachers is that despite their difficulties, they always radiate optimism. - Editor Nguyễn Phương shared.
"When the stories of teachers are aired, we are happy because when the audience sees these aspects of education, there will be understanding." - Editor Nguyễn Phương shared candidly.
Journalist Trịnh Quốc Đông, who has been the chief director of "Instead of Gratitude Words" for many years, never forgets the memories-the tears shed by members of the production team. Listening to the stories in the reports and the heartfelt words of the guest, no one can hold back tears. From the cameramen to the editors to the technical staff on the set, everyone cries. These are tears shared in empathy with the challenges, in sympathy with the stories of the teachers who quietly dedicate themselves to the profession of education.
The "Instead of Gratitude Words 2023" program with the theme "Tôi chọn nghề giáo" (I choose to be a teacher) will be broadcast live on November 19 at 20:00 on VTV2 channel.
