In celebration of World Teacher’s Day 2024, we had the opportunity to sit down with teacher Jack Soloman, a dedicated preschool teacher living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam. With a rich international background and a passion for early childhood education, Jack shared his thoughts on this year’s theme, “Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” and reflected on his journey as an educator.

Q1. Hello and thank you for celebrating the 2024 World Teacher’s Day together. First off, we’d want to know more about you, why you choose to be a preschool teacher, why you choose to teach in Vietnam?

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to speak with me. My name is Jack Soloman, I am living and working in Vietnam as a preschool teacher. I was drawn to living in Vietnam due to a bit of a personal affection with the country. I was born here and lived here for a short while before moving to the UK, where I grew up and lived until I moved back here over 3 years ago. I secured a job in teaching prior to moving to Hanoi, which involved teaching students aged anywhere between 3 years old to 16 years old. During my time at this job I got a lot of experience and knowledge when it came to teaching different age groups. Of course you can’t teach kindergarten classes and secondary classes in the same manner! 

However, this all eventually led me to my current job, in which I teach a single kindergarten class. I chose to teach this age group as I enjoy helping students reach their potential and really start to shape and develop their personalities. As this is a very formative time for the students, I always strive to encourage them to follow good practices and beliefs. Furthermore, it is quite common for kindergarten teachers to only teach one class, like I do, rather than multiple different classes. By being able to spend time with this class each day, as a teacher, you really get to form a connection with the students, as well as them also forming a connection with you. You get to really understand the traits and personality of each student, and you learn what works for them individually. This then allows you to craft and plan your lessons and teaching methods to align with what works best for each student to enable them to become inspired.

Q2. You have been a teacher since 2021. Have you observed how the teaching profession fits to your identity, how has it changed/molded you as a person?

Yes that’s correct, I have been a teacher since 2021, so I guess I am still relatively new in the field. However, I believe that being a teacher suits my personality and also vice versa. I am quite a creative, open minded and patient person. These traits all have their own benefits when it comes to teaching. For example, it is important to be creative regardless of the age groups you teach. It helps lessons to be fun and exciting, whilst also building a positive environment for the students. Open-mindedness and patience are important as, of course, no two students are the same. Students all have different personalities, interests, effective learning methods and abilities. There may be some teaching methods or styles that are effective for some students, but not with others. As a teacher, you should always be patient with students as everyone learns and develops their abilities at different rates. That then links on to open-mindedness, as the teacher should always be aware of this difference amongst students, and be willing to help regardless. 

I think that even if you already have traits like these, being a teacher can further emphasise those traits within you. I find myself much more patient and empathetic, due to my experiences working with young learners. Asides from that, I have also found myself connecting with my younger self more, and reflecting about my experiences when I was a student at that age.

Q3. This year’s theme of the World Teachers’ Day is “Valuing teacher voices: towards a new social contract for education”. What is your thinking about the voice of the teachers in the modern-day context, and more specifically, in the preschool education context you are in? 

I believe that the voice of a teacher is very important for students of all ages. After all, it is someone that they interact with almost every day for the first stages of their lives. Linking with the theme of this year’s World Teachers’ Day, it is good to see people celebrating teachers and the hard work that they put into their craft. Prior to becoming a teacher, I did not realise the level of work, care and consideration that teachers put into their jobs. Now that I have become a teacher myself, I understand the highs and lows of the job. However, the rewarding feeling that comes with teaching far outweighs the lows. Seeing your students become inspired by learning, and discovering more about themselves and their environment, is a goal for every teacher. But coming back to the World Teachers’ Day theme, I think that the voice of teachers in a modern day context should be a voice of trust and dedication. Teachers are dedicated to helping their students, and I believe that students, parents and others should put trust in the teachers to carry out their job. In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, teachers’ voices must be prioritised. We have firsthand knowledge of what works best for our students and can offer valuable perspectives on curriculum development, classroom management, and the social-emotional needs of young learners. In preschool, where foundational skills are developed, our input can help ensure that education is not only academically rigorous but also nurturing and inclusive.

Q4. Imagine teachers everywhere in the world celebrating this day together, what is your message to other teachers within the overall theme 2024 WTD of “Valuing teacher voices”?

My message to other teachers would be to keep doing what they are doing, and always remember why they are doing it. All teachers want to help inspire the next generation and prepare them for the next step in their lives.Teachers should continue supporting each other, just like students, teachers also develop and grow their own understanding within education. 

As we celebrate World Teacher’s Day 2024, Jack Soloman’s insights remind us of the vital role teachers play in shaping not only young minds but the future of education itself. His dedication to his students and passion for teaching embody the spirit of this year’s theme—valuing teacher voices and building a new social contract for education, where educators are trusted, respected, and heard.