In the U.S., high school students can choose their favorite subjects. Boring, dogmatic subjects that don’t benefit anyone will not be chosen by students and will naturally be eliminated.
In a few months, my son will be entering high school. In the U.S., this level starts from grade 9—perhaps because students’ psychology begins to change and mature at this age, so they are separated one year earlier compared to Vietnam.
The school tour is also a time for students to explore and choose the subjects they like.
Today, the school organized an orientation day, welcoming students and parents to explore, learn, and choose the subjects that students want to study in the new school year—which means it could accompany them for the rest of their lives.
The main hall appeared like a… fair, with “booths”—each “booth” representing a… subject. With teachers in charge, volunteers distributing flyers, showcasing images, providing information, and giving enthusiastic advice, they even… entice and persuade students to choose that subject to include in their curriculum.
Subjects are introduced like booths at a fair.
Art drawing booth.
From aerospace, archaeology, artificial intelligence, to drawing, sewing, and cooking. There’s even a subject… for baby care, driving, and military science, for those planning a career in the armed forces later.
Each subject carries a certain point value, for students to choose from. If they take it, it will be added to the total score upon graduation. Universities will use these scores to admit students later.
Each student must ensure they meet a certain number of required subjects, but they have the right to choose according to their preferences, desires, and passions.
Each student must ensure they meet a certain number of required subjects, but they have the right to choose according to their preferences, desires, and passions. The rest… they don’t have to study, because it doesn’t serve the future direction they have chosen. For many students, if their intentions are unclear, they can “wander” through all the “booths,” listen to presentations, introductions, and be “enticed,” before making a decision.
Subjects must be truly attractive for students to choose to enroll.
Therefore, each subject, to attract students, uses various “marketing” tactics that are extremely charming. For example, for French, there’s a guy holding a sign, jumping on a table, attracting attention. An interesting detail is that learning a foreign language here is not about learning… vocabulary and grammar, but about learning culture, tourism, cuisine… essentially everything about that country.
Through the learning process, by watching movies, cooking, touring… the foreign language teacher will talk with the students, and the foreign language will naturally seep into them, in the most natural way, while also learning various related topics.
And of course, boring, dogmatic subjects that don’t benefit anyone will not be chosen by students and will naturally be eliminated.
Boring, dogmatic subjects that don’t benefit anyone will not be chosen by students and will naturally be eliminated.
Watching my son walk between the “booths,” I just wish I could… be young again, stepping into a school like… those I’ve seen in movies. The most beautiful years of his life are unfolding before him. Enjoy and strive, my son!
Source: Dân Trí
