There is a HUST lecturer who teaches with... poetry

A conversation with Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh reveals a gentle and meticulous nature, making it easy to understand why this HUST lecturer is so beloved by her students and colleagues. Sharing her journey of over two decades in the teaching profession, her eyes light up with emotion as she affirms: The fire of my passion for teaching remains as strong as it was on the very first day!

Assoc. Prof. Ngoc Anh is known to students and colleagues for her unique and highly imaginative teaching methods: applying Physics, Mathematics, and even Literature to her design and fine arts courses.

Using poetry in lectures for... engineering students

Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh, a lecturer at the School of Mechanical Engineering, was named one of the three Outstanding Lecturers for the 2023–2024 academic year at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.
  Sharing her thoughts on the award, Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh humbly expressed, "Compared to the many talented professors at HUST, my teaching methods are nothing special. Perhaps I was just lucky to be favored by my students and colleagues!"

However, listening to more of her stories from the classroom reveals that this award was earned through much more than just luck.

Within the Creative Design professional group, Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh is a pioneer in applying modern educational technology tools such as Edmodo, Prezi, and Padlet.

When teaching "Industrial Art Design"—a subject that demands creativity and is notoriously "tough" for engineering students—Assoc. Prof. Ngoc Anh found a way to make her lectures come alive: She integrates concepts from Mathematics and Physics into fine arts, using poetry to connect with her students' emotions.

When lecturing on color, she relates it to the light spectrum and wavelengths, analyzing the purple hue of a crape myrtle flower from the perspective of shifting color tones. To help students better understand the movement of design lines, she connects it to the conversion between potential and kinetic energy in Physics.

Notably, Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh often poses evocative questions like, "Do colors have sound?" and then guides students to the poetic line, "Can't you hear the autumn forest / The autumn leaves rustling..." (by Luu Trong Lu), to show them how art connects all the senses.

"Looking out at the classroom and seeing the eager eyes and nodding heads of my students, I know I have succeeded—not just in imparting knowledge, but in touching their emotions and imagination," the outstanding HUST lecturer shared.
  Beyond her creative teaching, Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh also proactively listens to her students' concerns, using empathy and sincerity to "heal" troubled souls.

When encountering a student who is struggling mentally, she doesn't rush to reprimand but gently works to reignite their motivation. Sometimes, it's a simple word of encouragement: "Don't give up; your parents and teachers still believe in you!" Other times, it involves hours of conversation to help students work through their psychological challenges.

Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh believes that a teacher is not only an instructor of knowledge but also a listener, a supporter, and a companion and a pillar of support for students.

Over 20 years of lecturing

Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh was a student of class K33, majoring in Garment Technology (now Textile Technology) at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Her academic and research journey has been deeply intertwined with HUST, from her undergraduate years to her master's and doctoral studies.

It was also at HUST that Assoc. Prof. Ngoc Anh met her most inspiring mentors—Prof. Dr. Sc. Dang Quoc Phu, Meritorious Artist and Assoc. Prof. Tran Bich Hoan, Meritorious Artist—who not only imparted knowledge but also guided her to find meaning in accompanying learners on their journey.
  "My professors always created opportunities and encouraged me to boldly take on new tasks in teaching and scientific research. To have gone from being their student to their colleague is something I am incredibly grateful for and proud of!" Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh expressed her affection for her two respected mentors.

As if chosen by the profession itself, the lecture hall became fertile ground for Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh to sow the seeds of knowledge for future generations. After more than 20 years, she maintains her passion by continuously innovating in teaching and research, steadily steering the ship of knowledge and guiding many generations of students to success.

Sharing her most memorable experience, Assoc. Prof. Ngoc Anh will never forget the time she and her students researched and developed a cooling vest to support doctors and nurses during the most intense period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. Vu Dinh Tien, a group of Chemical Engineering students contacted Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh and MA. Pham Thi Yen to jointly research a cooling vest based on a cold-water circulation principle. The final product cost only a quarter of the market price and weighed only about 1 kilogram.

"The memorable thing is that in the short span of one day and night, we designed and completed the first product together!" Assoc. Prof. Ngoc Anh recalled.

Through testing, the water-circulating cooling vest demonstrated a rapid cooling time and prevented the user from sweating. The cooling temperature could be adjusted via the pump's flow rate, preventing thermal shock.

The product was recognized as a "Utility Solution" by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam—a testament to the creativity and problem-solving abilities of HUST students and faculty.

Reflecting on the colorful experiences in her teaching and research career, Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh offers heartfelt advice to young lecturers: Nurture a love for the subject you teach and convey it with all your heart.

It is often said that a good lecture can change a mind, but a dedicated teacher can change a life. "Loving what you teach and teaching with all your heart" is not only a great source of motivation for lecturers but also helps build Hanoi University of Science and Technology into a beloved school and a cherished home of knowledge for everyone at HUST.

"The most important factor for a lecturer to be inspiring is sincerity and a true love for the subject they teach. When you love what you teach and teach with all your heart, that flame of passion will naturally spread to the students, sparking their interest and urging them to explore knowledge."

Assoc. Prof. La Thi Ngoc Anh - Lecturer, School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology