An impressive journey of “nomadic”
Although only 13 years old, Russian student Konstantin Sitishev (7Brussels) has already experienced an enriching education across various countries, including Russia, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. This “nomadic” journey has nurtured his passion for exploration, curiosity, and adaptability to change. Arriving in Vietnam, Konstantin is now writing a new chapter in his global journey. The Dewey Schools has become where his dreams of discovery and achievement continue to grow.
Despite being geographically close within Southeast Asia, Konstantin has noticed significant differences between Vietnam and Singapore. “Here, English isn’t as commonly used in daily life as it is in Singapore, but that motivates me to learn a new language. At Dewey, alongside developing my English proficiency, I’ve also started learning Vietnamese.” Konstantin shared that he initially faced challenges with pronunciation due to the many tonal nuances in Vietnamese. However, he remains determined and practices speaking every day. He hopes to excel in Vietnamese so he can delve deeper into the country’s historical and cultural values.
Unforgettable experiences at Dewey
What Konstantin loves most about studying at Dewey is its practical, hands-on approach to education, which focuses on projects, extracurricular activities, and experiential learning. He fondly recalls a field trip to the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism with his classmates. Excitedly, he shared his experiences of performing a traditional bamboo dance, trying his hand at playing the T’rung instrument, and dancing with members of the E-de ethnic group. For Konstantin, his exploration of Vietnamese culture extends far beyond textbooks, coming to life through such immersive experiences.
In addition to his passion for exploring cultures, Konstantin also stands out for his exceptional language skills, outstanding academic achievements, and impressive extracurricular activities. The talented student has previously received commendations for his excellence in drama and computing at his former school. Konstantin also excels in sports, having won a gold medal in Jitsu at the Australasian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship and a silver medal at the Jitsu Open Championship in Singapore.
Mr. Gabriel David Smith, Konstantin’s homeroom teacher, has high praise for his student. “Most of the students in the class come from Vietnam and Korea, but Konstantin has never seen language as a barrier. Thanks to his educational experiences in various countries, Konstantin has an exceptional linguistic foundation and confidently uses English fluently.”
A suitable teaching methodology
Mr. Gabriel also shared that, to match his students’ abilities and skills, he designs diverse activities to maximize their strengths. “Konstantin is one of the academically outstanding students, so I assign him more challenging tasks.” One method he uses is the choice board, which allows students to freely select the format for their end-of-term projects, encouraging creativity and personal expression. In a recent Humanities end-of-term project, Konstantin chose to create a video on the theme of environmental protection and sustainable development. Despite the short time frame, he embraced the challenge and completed the project impressively. Konstantin once shared with his homeroom teacher his dream of becoming a professional YouTuber and building his own channel in the future.
Despite experiencing multiple changes in his learning environment, Konstantin views each transition to a new school as an opportunity to challenge himself and grow. His new journey at Dewey has begun, carrying with it his dreams and aspirations. Konstantin firmly believes that “challenges always contain hidden opportunities. Sometimes, we need the courage to step out of our comfort zones to realize how vast the world truly is.” This is also an inspiring story of the Dewey spirit: “beyond the blueprint, mapping your own way.” Wishing this young student continued confidence and passion on his journey ahead, building unforgettable experiences at Dewey.
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Get Students Moving is a campaign initiated by The Dewey Schools, featuring a series of diverse stories centered around the dynamic and creative “moving classroom”—a” space where students are at the heart of every activity. Here, they are free to move, interact, and create their own unique learning experiences. Movement is not only reflected in their active steps along the journey of knowledge discovery but also in their ever-evolving world of thought and imagination.
Find out more about “moving classrooms”: https://bit.ly/GetStudentsMoving.
