"In a life skills session, many children were moved to tears. My child, after returning from the session came to hug me, expressed her love and gratitude, and promised to study harder to successfully enroll in a university. However, the promise just existed one week and she has forgotten the letter she wrote and sent me," a mother told VietNamNet.

Vietnamese parents have rushed to send their children to life skill classes after they realized that their children not only need academic lessons, but also lessons that help them survive danger and keep a close relation with family and friends.

The scenes of students hugging and crying at life skill classes after listening to stories from orators have sparked debate. Some believe these sessions are effective in impacting emotions, awakening students' responsibility and awareness, and leading to behavioral changes. Others argue that changing one's character and habits cannot happen "overnight".

Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, a teacher at Nguyen Trai Primary School in Hanoi, said that together with knowledge, fostered gratitude is the important ‘luggage’ for students to bring with themselves when making their way in the world. 

At NguyenTrai Primary School, life skill lessons are integrated into diverse subjects. For instance, lessons on gratitude and filial piety are given in Moral Education and Vietnamese language classes. Reading assignments featuring stories about parents and teachers are also used to gradually change students' thinking and behavior.

Recently, some education establishments invited psychology experts to talk to students.

Hoa said she can see many students moved to tears when listening to stories about parents and grandparents. However, the teacher said she doesn’t think that stories alone can change students’ thoughts and behaviors immediately. 

Hoa further noted that instilling a skill requires repetition. 

"In December 2024, our school invited soldiers to come and talk about Vietnam People's Army Day. Students engaged in activities like role-playing as soldiers, learning about love and the defense of the fatherland. I think talks are just a part of the training journey and we shouldn't expect instant transformation,” she said. “Education is a long process, not something that changes overnight."

Nguyen Thi Nga, headmaster of Tan Lap B Primary School in Hanoi, in October 2024, said the school organized a life skill training course with the theme "School Culture and Gratitude."

Nga said the emotionally charged stories shared by experts had psychological impact on students, prompting them to think about their responsibilities to family and society. This provided time to think about gratitude and affection toward parents.

During the course, students were asked to write about their emotions and thoughts. Many students expressed gratitude to their parents for raising them, others apologized and promised self-improvement, and some thanked teachers while pledging to study harder.

"The activities under the program partly awakened positive emotions, laying the premise for students to improve themselves, learn to care and assist other people, become self-motivated, studious, respect elders, parents, and teachers, and pursue their dreams and ambitions," Nga said.

However, she said that the school does not expect student changes in their thoughts and behaviors just after one meeting. Progress must occur over time, gradually developing from thought to action. 

Tran Thanh Nam, vice rector of the University of Education under the Hanoi National University, said education activity organizers need to find out whether the purposes of the activities and lessons can be achieved, and whether students’ behaviors change after each lesson and if they maintain the changes.

While some educators believe that it is necessary to relate moving stories to arouse students’ compassion and emotions towards relatives and friends, Nam said the results of education activities need to be measured by students’ long-term improvements, not just by momentary emotions.

“Parents should not evaluate the quality of educational activities that their children participate in through regret, remorse, guilt and unworthiness. Do not evaluate whether a teacher is good or not through the number of students who shed tears without paying attention to the sustainable change in behavior after the lesson. Otherwise, it is just a psychological manipulation technique of an apprentice and has not reached the level of an educator organizing an educational activity,” he said.

Hoang Thanh