A historical reenactment of Vietnam was portrayed on stage in English with confident and emotionally charged performances by nearly 100 high school students. The meticulous investment in the planning, stage setup, sound, and lighting spanned almost three months for the project, and the enthusiastic support from parents and the audience all contributed to an impressive performance for the English historical play project by TDSers Tay Ho Tay on the evening of January 19, 2024. Heroic moments from the decisive battle against the 12 rebellious feudal lords led by Dinh Bo Linh, or the majestic image of him ascending the throne and founding the first imperial dynasty of Vietnam, left lasting impressions as a testament to the achievements and efforts of the students on their project journey.
The idea of transforming history lessons into an artistic project was conceived and diligently implemented by the Dewey teacher-student duo in November 2023. Through their observations, the students realized that studying history solely through textbooks might result in dry and hard-to-remember knowledge. Choosing the story of “Dinh Bo Linh suppressing the rebellion of the 12 feudal lords” for adaptation into a theatrical performance using the English language, the project team aimed to vividly and attractively recreate historical memories in the eyes of the audience, both domestically and internationally.
“Through this play, I hope that the audience, especially the students, will feel a closer connection to history and develop a greater love for our country’s history. Additionally, by delivering the dialogues in English, I hope that teachers, parents, and foreign students who come to watch will sense the grandeur of Vietnamese history,” shared TDSer Tong Huu Minh (portraying the mature Dinh Bo Linh) after completing his role.
To bring about a theatrical production lasting over an hour on stage, TDSers collaborated in discussions, organized teams based on specific tasks, practiced, and held continuous planning meetings for nearly three months. Personnel assignments were made according to each individual’s capabilities, allowing them to unleash their creativity and leverage their strengths. Translation, external communication, event organization, directing, acting, and other teams were formed, each with its specific responsibilities. Despite the project running parallel to regular academic activities, even during peak study times for semester exams, TDSers persisted in organizing their time scientifically, actively pursuing assigned tasks, supporting each other, and seeking advice from teachers and parents to successfully carry out the project.
As one of the parents accompanying their child in this project, Mr. Pham Anh Dung shares, “Since participating in this play, my child has devoted a considerable amount of passion to learning dialogues, exploring the dynasties of Vietnam, and enhancing their language proficiency in history. I am delighted that my child is involved in projects related to Vietnamese history. For their age group, this is truly essential. I believe academic projects like this should continue.”
The project concluded successfully with commendations from media outlets, Teachers, Parents, and friends for all TDSers. There were still some inefficiencies in the process of organizing, rehearsing, or performing on stage. But it is okay! Alongside the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained, there is a precious thing that all TDSers possess after the completion of the learning project, and that is a strong belief in their own abilities. Directly accomplishing tasks step by step helped students strengthen their autonomy, confidence, and courage, making them ready to embrace challenges. This is the most meaningful lesson that the Dewey teachers want to convey to the students after each learning project at the school.
