1. CEC MINI
COLLECTION
For Teachers’ Day
COMMUNITY ENGLISH CLUB
SHARING KNOWLEDGE- CONNECTING COMMUNITY

2. “This is a collection of candidates’
writings in the writing contest held by
CEC on Vietnamese Teachers’ Day”
____ November, 2012 ____
CONTENTS
Introduction………………………………………………………….….03
You saved my life! ……..................................................................04
“Sat thu”- My dear teacher………………………………………………..05
You are my best friend forever! …………...........................................06
The teacher from poetry………………………………………………….07
My young Dad …………………………………………………………..08
About writers ……..…………………………………………………….09

3. Introduction
 What CEC writing contest?
CEC writing contests are held monthly by CEC- Community English Club. This activity is carried out in order
to promote a competitive environment for all students of Faculty of Foreign Languages to improve their
writing skills. On the occasion of meaningful days of a month, (Vietnamese Teachers’ Day, Women’s Day,
etc.) this writing contest is held and lasts for a week. There are three winners in CEC writing contest with the
prizes which are equivalent to their places.
 Who are the judges?
CEC writing contests are held by CEC. However, CECers are not the judges of this writing contest. In order
to help our contest to be fairer, the judges of CEC writing contests are teachers form Faculty of Foreign
Languages. Normally, there are three teachers are the judges. The final results of writing contest are based on
the scores of all three judges, which ensures that our competition has a perfect basis in terms of evaluation.
 Why CEC writing contest?
CEC writing competition aims to promote an environment for all students of Faculty of Foreign Languages to
improve their writing skill. Additionally, it encourages students to exchange their ideas with others and share
their abilities with the world. With a comparison of their writing quality, candidates have a chance to see
where they are and what they need to improve.
 How to take part in?
CEC writing contest has no limitation about candidates. Candidates wanting to take part in this writing have to
only wait for the announcement on our channels. Then, send your writings to our official email:
communityenglishclub@gmail.com
 Why CEC Mini Collection?
CEC Mini Collection consists of all writings of candidates taking part in the competition. With this collection,
we hope that it can keep all candidates’ memories and their contribution to this contest. Moreover, it helps
others to understand more about our contest.
________Have a good time with CEC Mini collection!___________
CEC Mini Collection|3

4. First Place You saved my life!
- Hey, you can do it - I want to talk with you after class, ok?
- How do you know? - ………yes!
- It’s your choice. I just want to know you
- Just close your eyes and believe in yourself!
better.( She smiled)
She smiled as usual. This smile had a special power. That talk seemed to be unforgettable. I could
Whenever I saw it, I felt like the whole world was remember exactly her every word – How do you
watching and supporting me. I stepped out and started feel about our class? She asked. I pondered for a
writing the first line in my poems:” Nothing but the moment and then took a glass, pouring water into
images……Feel with your heart……….”.In my it until it was full.
mind, her far-away voice kept me focus on the natural - Our class is like this glass. There is no place for
images. When the judge announced the result, so me. Pouring anymore water just makes everything
silent was the participants that my heart sank down worse. She smiled. To my surprise, she took a
and it seemed to hardly pound. But then, it was
petal of a rose on the table, and then put it on the
relieved when they burst into clap. I could see my
teacher’s face in the crowd, full of rejoice and glass. The water was still.
proud…. - You see, you can make this class better. Let’s
embellish that life with some pink colour rather
Five years ago, I found myself completely lost. There
than monotonous white.
was no body. Life didn’t appear to have any meanings,
just grabbing the books, running to school on time,
doing my homework, and listening to my parents She knew I had a remarkable talent for literature.
telling me what to do. They always wanted me to be Not only did she give me some tips to learn more
top of the world but in their ways, not mine. After effectively, she also encouraged me to make poems
going to school, I had to attend some extra classes, just and participated in the literature contest of our
to raise my scores in Math, Physics, and Chemistry school. Had it not been for her encouragement, I
and so on to satisfy my parents. But I was not really would have never won the second prize in that
good at those things. No matter how hard I tried, I contest.
could not catch up my peers. I felt disappointed about
myself. Another miserable thing: I did not have many One day I asked her how to make friends with
friends with anyone for fear that I was not as other people, and how to make how a good friend
outstanding as them. People called me “introvert” was. She smiled and said: “Open your heart and
because I rarely said anything to them, just burying my give them a chance. Sometimes, you have to build a
head in books. wall around yourself, not to isolate you from other
people, but to find who are brave enough to break
“It would be better to keep your mouth shut and let this wall, to care for you.”
the whole world think you’re a fool, rather than open
your mouth and prove it”. That “proverb” set up Now she is married. I know she has found the one
obstacle in my mind; stop me from talking to anyone. who broke her wall to care for her. Although she is
And then she came. She was my new teacher, taking not my teacher anymore which means I don’t have
over from the old one who was on maternity leave. I many chances to talk with her, I often ask for her
didn’t know why she always paid attention to me. advice when I have to decide something important.
Perhaps I looked like a fish out of water. During the This 20/11, I will visit her cozy warm house, to
first few weeks, she tried to get close to all members thank for her meaningful advice, which helps me
of my class, asking about personal interests, family much a mature” me” as today.” Thank you very
background, learning difficulties and so on one by one. much”. Happy Vietnamese Teachers’ Day!
The girl who always sat at the corner of the class-me-
was the last one she interviewed Diem Thi Thu Thuy
CEC Mini collection| 4

5. Second Place “Sat thu”- My dear teacher
Always deep in my mind is the image of a teacher with Therefore, I was too confident to take that and I
the gentle eye sight which contains the love for all finished the paper in half of time without going
students in his career of education and training. through it carefully any longer. As a result, I was rank
just the third position after two others who were not
He was our former teacher for three years at high school, as good at English as I was in the comments of others,
from grade 10 to grade 12. At that time, our classmates which made me disappointed about myself and
used to call him with a special name: “Sat thu” one scary extremely felt shy of what I had said to my friends. So
name. It has the same meaning with the word “murderer” I did not want to see my friends, and often kept silent
in English while it is Nguyen Duc Duong, a name that in English class, even I quit some English extra lessons.
makes us think about a friendly teacher, not a hunter. Secretly, my teacher met me and gave me a book and a
Why did we call him like that? saying that: “Being confident is good but being too
confident means you will loss all”, He gave me a book
It was because of the reason that he was ready to forget and asked me to talk with him when I master its
his lunch to be in class in order to control and correct our meaning.
class style of work. It was an explanation that we were
often out of the school gate at about 12:45 every Saturday Returning back home that day, I read and thought
although the class finished at 11:30. He spent his free about a story that my teacher had told to our class
time entering the games center to draw some games about my teacher mistakes when he was a naughty boy.
addicts of our class out and sent them home. It was until He was also an unlucky student in examination and
now, we even could not understand why my teacher, “sat even failed because of his carelessness. I could not help
thu”, knew that some truant boys were absent to play crying while reading stories in that book, and I found
games though he did not go to school. After the first that no one was perfect and I should change myself so
lesson, he led these bad students to the classroom and as not to be “defeated” by this small problems.
gave them strict punishment. He seemly controlled all of
factors of each student from the smallest problems to the Now, I choose to be a teacher as what my dear teacher
most troubled ones. No matter how hard his work was, did, love teaching and the career of educating and
he spent his free time to talk and discuss with the parents training students to be the good citizens for the goal of
to solve our problems in any aspects. My teacher took building as well as developing our country. I find that,
care of all members of our class as if we were his sons and being a good and beloved teacher is extremely difficult
daughters. He knew clearly about the condition of each but it does not mean “I am not able”, so I am trying my
one’s family. That was why each problem in studying and best, day by day, to improve my knowledge and
in daily life was solved appropriately through his help. teaching experiences so that I am skillful and
experienced enough to teach my students.
He always gave us necessary advice, which helps us to
solve our problems because at this age, our understanding From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say
and thinking about life were not sure enough to get over thanks and my love to my dear
all troubles; however, that we did not hate him, on the teacher.“I, your stupid student,
contrary, we admired his good knowledge at thank you very much and wish
Mathematics and his teaching skills. The most important you are always healthy and continue
thing that made me proud of my teacher is my small story the career of educating students”.
that I will never forget.
Quach Thi Thuy Thien
Once in the contest is held, I also registered to take part
in. Before, I claimed to my friends that I was sure to get
the highest mark (because I was the best students at
English in comparison with others).
CEC Mini Collection|5

6. “He who dares to teach
must never cease to learn.”
____ Anonymous ____

7. Third Place In addition to that, it was the first time I had
ever seen her smile. She asked one by one about
There has been a poetry reminding me of a our study, and I could realize easily that she was
teacher. When reading this poetry, everyone very satisfied when all of us had good result in
can realize easily that the character study. Unfortunately, I was busy with my study
mentioned in it is the teacher- great persons in this occasion later, so I didn’t have chance to
who play an important role to help their visit her. Instead of this, I made a phone call to
students become good citizens. give my wishes to my dear teacher. I was really
touched that she just heard my voice, and she
I also have the same emotion. I don’t could realize who is talking to her.
remember exactly how many times I have
read these verses, but I’m sure that anytime I An Teacher’s Day is coming again, and I can’t
read them, I just remember about a teacher– visit her; therefore I only show my gratefulness
my second parent. I have been taught by to my teacher by the assistant of telephone, she
many teachers, and each of them has didn’t forget asking about my study and my plan
influenced me strongly. All of them are my for my career in the future. At that time, I only
great teachers, and I love them so much. wish that I can meet her immediately. Right
However, if anyone asks me that who is the after graduating from university, I will apply for
most impressive to me, I will answer teaching in my old high school where I had many
immediately that person is my English wonderful memories with my friends and I have
teacher- Mrs. Tinh. a chance to work with my dear teacher too.
However, I am sure that though I can become a
She is my English teacher as well as the head great teacher, Mrs. Tinh is the greatest teacher
teacher in my class in three years at high forever.
school. I still remember the first day that
Mrs.Tinh went in my class when we were Ngo Thi Thanh
grade 10. She looked very strict. She always
gave punishment to lazy students, so
everyone was afraid of her. Even the laziest
students who rarely did homework of other
subjects also tried to finish exercises which
she asked. I was one of the best students at
The teacher
this subject so this subject was not a trouble
to me. There is a truth that thanks to her
strictness, my class was always in the top
rank of our school. She not only taught me
from poetry
good knowledge but also shared her own
experience in teaching. Hence,
I decided to become an English
teacher like her. “I treated you
seriously for only reason that I
want you to become good
citizens and contribute your
talent for our country’s .
Although I know that many
of you dislike me, I can accept
that bad thing.” said her. I
heard these honest utterances when
I and my classmates visited her at
the first year in occasion of Teacher’s Day.
She was very friendly and close to us.
CEC Mini Collection | 7

8. You are my best friend forever!
Anyone finds for himself a particular direction. There Time passed over quickly, we were at grade nine.
are people who dream of becoming doctors, Next year would be the time we had to choose our
teachers, architects, etc; another dream how to have high school, moreover pressures of the last year at
enough money to provide their families and others secondary school made we feel stress. Miss Ha was
only expect a normal life with a happy family. When at class more often, talked to us about our dreams
struggling on the path of choosing for my direction, I and aspirations in the future and then gave us useful
have met her. She is both my teacher and my friend advices. In the class activity that day, Miss Ha said
who give the way to me so now I have a little success. touching words to us: “Boys and girls! Everybody has
to eat to live. Each person chooses a job, a direction
That day I was at grade six. I was shy by nature; to provide for individual life. I ever was at your age,
therefore I chose a seat in the corner without talking I also had dreams and ambitions and I ever made
with others. When our new teacher walked into mistakes but thanks to my friend’s advice so now I
class, everyone saw her with round eyes “She is so can be here to share you my experiences. Each of
pretty!” the whispers were ringing in the class. Then you here will have your own life, a particular job, a
she introduced her name – Le Ha, the whole class passion to pursue; there is nothing bad at all.
admiring again: “Her name is too nice”. My first day However, you sure that your choices are suitable
at new school began in eager like that. She not only with your ability and the most important thing is
taught us literature but she also taught us how to don’t give up your dreams. Do not lose yourself
detect and avoid the pitfalls of life. She often took because of money or fame; everything can be
care of our studying as well as daily life. One time, recovered, however, losing yourself means losing
when reading stories, I saw that she was next to me; everything. Miss Ha’s words have been following me
naturally I felt my heart beat faster with feverish, in my whole life. Although it may take a long time to
saying “Good morning” was not put into word. It have results, it will be the most valuable.
seemed that she understood what was happening on
my mind; she sat down next to me and smiled, “Are Now, I am the last year student. I hope that I can
you reading?” she asked. “Oh, her voice is light”. become Miss Ha’s colleague in the future. For me,
Although I talked to her in only fifteenth minutes in she is my best friend forever!
the short break, it helps me to reduce the shame in
the new learning environment. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan
CEC Mini Collection|8

9. “I cannot teach anybody anything,
I can only make them think.”
_____Socrates (BC 469-BC 399)_____

10. My Young Dad
Wandering on the Facebook, so surprised I was mistake was the lack of experience and patience!
to see the status of him: “HCM city from the It is true that, he influences me so much. Not
sky!” It means he had just gone away from Thai mentioning about his admirable personality
Nguyen. There was a sadness passing my head. I anymore, he may be very different from all people I
felt that a very important person in my life went have met in my life. Sometimes, I asked myself:
away. “How can such a little and simple person like him
think of big ideas?” Moreover, what he is trying to
You may misunderstand what I have just said; gain is not for himself, but for a community. It
however, that is my real emotion. I always seems that he has a very far and broad vision.
consider him to be my young dad. I will not retell
the old story which I used to share with you on Sometimes, he also gives us many meaningful talks,
CEC Bi-Zine. What I would like to share here is but the ones I remember most are: “For a better
my strong respectfulness for his great personality education!”
and thought. And:
“I have a dream that people all over the world will
Simply, he is a rustic teacher. Always appearing study Vietnamese one day…
with a bright smile, never creating a strange …but to make the dream come true, we first have
distance with us; his friendliness, humor and to learn English so that Vietnamese values and
curiosity always exists in our mind. I can also culture can be introduced to the world”
learn much from his calm. Even though when All what he said is illustrated by all what he has
things become harder, he keeps quiet and gives been doing.
expensive ideas, which are strong enough to In conclusion, he looks like a man opening all doors
defuse all our excessive fermentation. Up till and dreams for his students.
now, I still remember a memory at Mid-Autumn
Festival at Tan lap Primary School. When I didn’t I, look just like a child in this huge world! So,
do a good job as MC of that program, the having good directions for life is really important
manager’s bad preparation. However, he for my life. And I am so lucky to be a student of
was not angry with me, even a little bit. Gently, him! He turned my life to a very correct direction
he only talked to us: “You did A good job! Being by both his broad knowledge and generous heart.
MC for about 10 times, and you will be confident Bui Thanh Huong
and strong enough!” I really laughed after hearing
that. Obviously, I understood that my biggest CEC Mini Collection|10

11. About writers
Diem Thi Thu Thuy Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan
English Education K33 English Education K32
Ngo Thi Thanh Quach Thi Thuy Thien Bui Thi Thanh Huong
English Education K32 English Education K32 English Bachelor K34
Photo credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73907854@N00/513425346/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pensiero/3989957050/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/riekhavoc/6423089109/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035609331@N01/3828414/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41754875@N00/334916864/

12. Thank you!
www.cectn.net Curator: Phung Van Huy | phunghuy.cec@gmail.com
communityenglishclub@gmail.com Designer: Tran Thi Hai Yen| haiyen.cec@gmail.com