My eldest son is now in 5th Grade here at Dwight School Seoul. For the past 5 years, I would proudly volunteer to be part of the VIP Reading Day, an annual event being held here at Dwight in honor the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) celebration of the International Mother Language Day every February 21 “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. I wrote about my VIP Reading Day experiences here: VIP Reading Day at Dwight 2016; and here: Dwight School Seoul’s VIP Reading 2017.
This year, each VIP reader got 40 minutes for each class instead of the 20 minutes the previous years. On top of the stories read in our mother tongue, we got the extra 20 minutes for some sort of cultural presentation. We were given the liberty to do it through food, dance, games or songs or by any other means that we may find effective to deliver our message across. I was given one class from the 1st grade and 1 class from the 2nd grade. My second grader proudly translated to his classmates and explained what the colors and figures symbolize in our Philippine flag.
Aside from playing puzzle in putting the Philippine flag together, these Dwight kids released their energy playing the Chinese garter. The Chinese garter is a popular game among Filipino children. There are 2 kids holding each end of the garter while the other players try to cross over the garter without tripping. The aim is to be able to cross over at the highest level possible and doing cartwheel is allowed. This was my childhood game, especially during recess.
I hope the children were able to learn and retain some of the things we playfully presented to them about our country. I’m just happy to share a few things with this international community so I take every chance I get for the past 5 years to do so.
This time around, my sons and I successfully dragged my husband to join us at VIP Reading Day, despite his schedule. The boys were happy for they knew that immediately after the event at school, their Dad had to leave for another round of business trip.
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It’s awesome you have the opportunity to be so involved with your kids. They’ll look back on it very fondly one day. And it’s definitely great that you can introduce kids to new cultures and encourage language study. Sounds like it was a great day for everyone!
I agree with you, Odessa. Sometimes, they would talk about the times I was at school with them doing my volunteer stuff. They love it and I love it!
What a great way for all the kids to share their culture with each other. It looks like the kids had a ton of fun…and how sweet that your LO had so much fun translating and helping out. Also always a bonus when daddy gets to show up for these things, isn’t it?
Always a bonus, yes! It was a fun day for the Lowers School students especially when one of the readers showed up and taught one of the classes the Haka dance showcasing the Māori culture:-). Would have been fun if I also had this kind of exposure when I was a student.
This is wonderful! I think it is so great for students to learn about other cultures and the games and traditions and get involved with them at a young age. It is interesting to learn about other cultures and if they can do that actively by playing the games or doing an activity. It looks like the students had a great time!
Yes, young minds would be able to retain their learning through experience so learning by playing or doing some interesting activities is really the way to go!
When I saw VIP I thought it was the online English Instruction company! I’m glad your kids are enrolled in such a great school with a dynamic program. It’s a plus when the parents can be so involved with their kid’s education. Kudos!
Oh, I don’t know there’s such an English instruction company going by that name:-).. Yes, Dwight uses the International Baccalaureate curriculum so it is very dynamic. I have no complaints and I am glad with the way my boys are turning out to have enquiring minds.
This kind Of Opportunity, na Involed ang ating anak is A Big Blessing, Getting To Know what Is The Right Culture in that Place is Really Amazing.. Such A great day always and really So Proud Being a Parents.
What a cool concept! I love the push to preserve and promote other languages and cultures… I wish more schools did the same. Glad to hear your husband made it out for the occasion as well, I’m sure that was special for your kids!
The push to preserve languages is really important. In our country alone, we have around 180 languages but most of these are dying languages. It’s a pity. So I am happy whenever I see serious movements trying to preserve languages especially its literature.
Ito yung maganda program para sa mga kids ang makapag share sila kung ano yung kultura nila and matutunan ang ibang culture and other tradition.relate ako dun Ms.Wendy sa Chinese garter tuwing recess talaga yan ang laro namin dati.Hindi pa kasi uso yung gadgets.
That’s pretty cool that you had a chance to share your culture with others, and also be able to create that cultural sense of identity with your child while living outside of the Philippines. Nice job.
Thanks, Natasha. I always try to share my culture whenever possible. And I am glad I get to have this chance, at least once a year, in my children’s school.
Yet again you’re the mom of envy! So helpful and generous with your time. I bet your boys and your husband are proud to have such an active mom. I wonder how many different nationalities are represented in that school?
Thanks, Alla. My time is my gift to my children. They will only be passing through this stage once and I wouldn’t be able to turn back time if I let this go. I am glad my husband is giving me this opportunity, too, to be a full-time mother. I don’t have the exact figures but it’s safe to say Dwight has a pretty diverse student population.
[…] absolutely love Dwight School Seoul’s VIP Reading Day. Every 21st of February, my sons’ school invites parents and other VIP’s (from […]