Ms. Diwo Lhamo Pemba - AMI Primary Trainer: Working with CIE for our students has been a long and very happy experience

The Center for International Education (CIE) has had a wonderful interview with Ms. Diwo Lhamo Pemba, AMI Primary Trainer of the two AMI Primary Diploma courses conducted at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNUHCM, in collaboration with Montessori Training Center Northeast (MTCNE). She has conducted many AMI Assistant/Orientation Courses and AMI Primary Diploma Courses in the USA as well as other Asian countries, including Vietnam.

The two AMI Primary Diploma courses have been successfully organized in Vietnam under your direction. How was your experience when working and living in Vietnam?  

My experience of working in Vietnam has been a fulfilling and a happy one. Working with CIE for our students has been a long and very happy experience. The success of the two courses are the outcomes of that partnership we shared, as well as the support offered to our students. I think our training center, MTCNE, and our partnership with CIE, offered a structure that shares the same vision for students and comes with an infrastructure that is already present for student support. That was a very tangible part of the success of the two courses e.g. the needs of the students, such as health clinic, parking space, cafeteria with coffee, of course and pho, as well as a prepared environment that caters to learning, were all present and readily available. And, most importantly, the staff at CIE worked relentlessly to solve every obstacle we came across! The best staff members ever, working even on weekends and often passed midnight!

The students of the two courses were very motivated people. They worked through a pandemic that affected all of our lives. Schedules had to be rescheduled again, frustrations had to be worked out, personal losses of lives and fortune had to be braved. Yet, in the midst of it all, our students emerged stronger and became a very cohesive group. They supported each other and even today keep in touch amongst themselves and with us! 

On the personal side, I have formed many friendships and have come to love the Vietnamese people, culture and food! Best vegetarian food! CIE arranged for a studio apartment that made living in Vietnam homely and comfortable, the commute was 5 minutes on a scooter!

CIE is very thankful for your hard work and support for the students and appreciates our partnership over the courses. Could you share some memorable moments you have with the students during the course?

On both the courses, all of us had many memorable moments together such as singing songs which ranged from different topics to different languages to different movements. Some were enthusiastic singers including our Sisters on both courses and some of us had to be invited to sing! The translation portion, also, brought in a lot of shared laughter as well as frustration when the different translators worked on a different medium of understanding e.g. the Vietnamese and Chinese translators translating in English or answering my questions!

The Supervised practice were fun with the memory games we played, the best part being the missing Geometry Cards!! Everyone got up and volunteered to search for them! The Reading Seminars were moments to see the wonderful art work by different students in different languages and then the presentations given during Directed Practicals. Lastly, try to get back on time after lunch as the normal siesta habit had to be broken! Most grateful for these happy times…thank you to our amazing students.

As an experienced trainer who has delivered many courses in some other Asian countries, what do you think about the development of Montessori education in Vietnam?

When I first visited Vietnam, I was impressed by the interest every Vietnamese person took in Montessori. Most of them had read of it, done a course on it or wanted to work with it for their children. This interest is more widespread in Vietnam. It is true that Vietnam has many different versions of Montessori but the vision of supporting the child and stating that the first plane of development (Birth – 6 years) is the most important is remarkable. That was impressive to me as an educator.

What do you think about your students in Vietnam? How will they contribute to the development of Montessori education in Vietnam in your opinion?

The future of AMI Montessori in Vietnam lies with our students and all of us at AMI. MTCNE and CIE are confident that our students will do their utmost to contribute to the Cause of Children and protect the Rights of Children in any capacity they can e.g., as a guide, the head of school, program coordinator, translator, as a parent and in the future as AMI Trainers.

Our students will contribute to support the development of children in Vietnam by offering educational institutions or schools that will apply all the principles of AMI Montessori.

Montessori courses are getting more popular in Vietnam as well as many other countries. Could you share your thoughts on the future of children education all over the world?

When Dr. Montessori was asked about her the pedagogy named after her, she said she did it to offer children happiness. Childhood is precious and happiness is what we all live for. 

Montessori education offers children the opportunity to realize their full potential as a human being, so they can grow to be contributing members of humanity as an individual as well as a social member.

As Dr.Montessori says. “Whoever touches the life of the child, touches the most sensitive point of the whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs towards the infinite future.”

Are there any suggestions that you would like to give to CIE to help improve the courses?

The relationship we have developed over years is one of mutual respect and shared vision. It has been an honor working with CIE. The one suggestion I can offer, this based on what our students say, is please advertise on different platforms and much ahead for any upcoming AMI Montessori courses as they feel we could reach more people. And they all agree with me that CIE is the most equipped institution to conduct all these course. 

Thank you for everything. It has been an honor knowing everyone at CIE!

LAN TIEN