VietNamNet Bridge – The university lecturer halls nowadays look far different from that in the past. The students of the previous generations listened to the lecturers with concentrations, while the students nowadays have many interesting things to play with rather than concentrating on their learning.

Some students sit nodding by their textbooks. Others keep themselves busy with making messages. The remaining students crack dried melon seeds. Some laptops are “on” to serve their owners to access to Facebook or play online games. These are the things which can be seen at the lecture halls of the modern times.

Lecturer hall or canteen?

One may mistake a lecturer hall for a canteen when going to some universities. It is because food and drink can be seen on the tables in classrooms everywhere. Vietnamese students have the habit of studying and eating at the same time during the lessons, and the habit of leaving the garbage right in classrooms.

Mai, a third year student of the Trade University, said she feels sorry for the cleaners who have to work hard at the end of the days when the school hours finish. “Empty bottles, candied peel, peanut shells, crust – a lot of things can be found in the table’s drawers, or on the classroom floor. These things are enough for a pavement tea shop,” she commented.

She complained that she was once ridiculed by some friends, just because she does not like eating in classroom. “They think I am a peculiar girl because I don’t like noshing,” Mai said.

Lecturer hall turns into guest room

Vietnamese students nowadays think that they have the rights to listen to the lecture when they want, and to nod when they get tired of the lessons. They feel happy with the “liberty,” believing that the people of modern times need to have the right to do what they want.

Tam, a fourth year student of the Hanoi Industry University, when asked why he did not concentrate during the lecture, said that he was too tired because of the extra job and he needed to have a nap to recover himself.

Meanwhile, another student said the lecture was too boring and that he would rather stay at home and read books than spending time on lecture hall to listen for nonsensical things.

“Why did you still go the lecture?” – “Because I need to be present here at roll call, or I will not be eligible for attending the exams,” he answered.

It seems that the students’ “right to nod” is always respected by lecturers. They do not intend to wake the nodding students up. They just try to give lecture and fulfill their works before leaving and returning home. A lot of students don’t have notebooks, because they don’t listen to lecturers during the lessons.

“You can buy all the materials you need to serve the semester exams at the photocopy shops. So why do I need to take notes on by notebooks?” Tam said.

Lecture hall becomes public Internet service shop

Laptops, tablets, mobile phones have been gradually replacing notebooks and pens. Meanwhile, wifi has been provided at many schools to serve students’ studies.

However, the high technology products have not been used for learning. The digital era’s products simply serve as the tools for students to chat, play online games, or access to Facebook.

Nguyen Hien