We Perform Ourselves Before We Become Ourselves | Khải Ngô Quang | TEDxYouth PTNK
Just as a 35 mm camera captures only what fits inside its viewfinder, society often crops our identities to fit a narrow, “picture-perfect” frame—whether that means speaking with a standard accent, conforming to a cultural script, or hiding parts of ourselves that feel too messy for public display. In this segment, I invite the audience to look beyond the polished image and notice what has been edited out: the rhythms of a hometown dialect, the richness of lived experience, the stories that refuse easy categorisation. Drawing on critical theory and classroom anecdotes, I show how widening the lens—celebrating linguistic quirks, cultural complexity, and personal imperfections—does more than diversify the picture; it restores agency to every speaker, allowing us to reclaim the full, unfiltered narrative of who we are. Hey there! I’m Khai Ngo. I hold a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Sheffield (the UK), where I graduated top of my cohort in 2023. Currently, I’m an English lecturer at a university in Vietnam and also a proud teacher of incredibly talented students at Vietnam National University – High School for the Gifted.For me, language teaching has always been about more than just language skills, it’s about helping people discover who they really are, build confidence, and unlock their potential. I genuinely believe education is at its best when it celebrates diversity, welcomes authenticity, and empowers everyone’s voice. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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