Choosing what you want to do with the rest of your life can be challenging, here are some suggestions on how to choose a college major that you will enjoy.

Let your core classes help you choose a major

If you are still in high school, take a look at each of your classes and identify which ones you enjoy most. If you’re going back to college after starting your career, think back to your best high school classes (e.g. math, biology, history, etc.).This can help you identify your strengths and interests so you can narrow your list of possible university degree programs to a particular field of study.

Prioritize (划分优先顺序)your career wants and needs

First and foremost, a college major should be chosen based on your interest and career goals. However, it is not uncommon for students to select their majors based on the careers of their parents or siblings(兄弟姐妹).If following in their footsteps is not right for the student, then it will likely lead to an unfulfilling education and career.

When choosing a major, it is important to identify what aspects of a career are most important to you (money, creative freedom, helping people, working outdoors etc.).Making a list of your top priorities will shed plenty of light on which degree or major is best for you .Also, talk to your parents and siblings about the choices they made and whether they think those majors and careers would be a good fit for you.

Additional tips for choosing majors

Seeking outside advice, not just from family members, is always recommended when choosing a college major. Talk with career counselors, high school teachers, guidance counselors and students who currently enrolled in a major you are interested in. Speaking to professors at universities or to professionals in the field can also give you a good idea of what you might expect from a career.

There are also tests you can take that give an insight into career matches, dominant personality characters and key interests. While a test should not dictate your choices, it can offer you a new perspective on yourself and open your eyes to majors and career prospects you didn’t consider.

A new term has started in not only China, but also in Japan, the UK and Mexico. But as COVID-19 continues, how are these countries controlling the pandemic(大流行病)?

Since Aug 24, school has restarted in Japan. To help control the pandemic, some schools delayed opening school by one week, some schools divided their students into two groups for half a day twice a week and some schools tried hard to avoid the 3Cs(closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings). One solution was to open all the areas between classrooms and hallways to increase the spacing of desks.

Pupils are returning to school across the UK, even though new daily cases peaked at 54,674 on July 19 according to Reuters.

All young people aged 16-17 in England were offered a first dose(剂量) of a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug 23 to give them protection before returning to school.

The Department for Education said schools and colleges would be maintaining appropriate protective measures. Pupils will be encouraged to carry on the twice-weekly testing regime(管理制度). Schools will also take measures, such as opening windows to help keep children and staff safe.

“The huge expansion of rapid testing for those working in education is a milestone moment in our work to keep schools and colleges open for all,” said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

In Mexico, with temperature checks and open windows, millions of Mexican school children began returning to classrooms on Aug 30 after more than a year of distance learning. The government said the return would be “voluntary and safe”, saying it would adopt a mixed model with both face-to-face and distance learning. Mexican classrooms have a maximum of six students at a time, and desks are covered with plastic and spaced farther apart. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that more and more families will choose a “new normal” life, according to AP News.

One of the biggest challenges that traditional educators face is how to unlock students’ love of learning. Once students overcome their fear or unwillingness, they will be on the track of becoming motivated learners.

In order to help students discover the joy in learning, some teachers are turning to a simple but effective strategy called gamification-using game-related elements such as activities and rewards to promote students’ engagement in class. With an origin in educational psychology, this approach is designed to reach students by making the learning process funny and interesting.

What’s more, researches show that gamification can also make assignments less stressful. Without too much pressure, students will associate learning with curiosity and joy. Accordingly, they feel like continuing the journey because positive feelings have boosted their confidence.

But like any other strategies, gamification has its drawbacks when used incorrectly. It is very likely that some students only focus on winning rewards but have no interest in understanding concepts or learning new skills-exactly the opposite of the desired outcome. To avoid this, teachers can help prevent students from becoming wrongly motivated by choosing suitable rewards. Instead of class parties or snacks, try rewards that help students develop a passion for academic subjects.

For example, have students earn points towards a class field trip by behaving and doing their assignments, or pair subjects that a student dislikes with fun books or activities to encourage motivation. That way, they associate fun with reading, math, or other skills. More examples include competing on a leader-board, holding a talent show, or playing other team-building games. All activities and rewards need to be carefully selected and well arranged.

If you’re having a hard time getting your class interested in learning, talk with them together or individually about what motivates them and include it into your student engagement strategies.