1 . Many kids help their parents with chores, such as doing the dishes, cleaning the living room and making their beds. And some kids get money or other rewards (奖赏) such as more computer time by doing chores.

But some people do not think that kids should get rewards by doing chores. Susie Walton, an expert, believes that by rewarding kids, parents are sending a message that work isn’t important unless you can get something. “Running any kind of family is team work.” Walton says, “A home is a living place for everyone in the family. It’s important for kids to see that we all have responsibilities (责任) in the house.”

Other people believe that getting money or other rewards makes kids do chores happily and it also teaches them real world lessons about what we need to do to make money. There are also some apps now. With the Chore-Monster app, kids can get points and online gifts by doing chores. Kids can change them into real life rewards either online or in the real world. “We hope kids can do more chores so they can get more rewards,” one man says.

What do you think of it? Should kids get rewards for doing chores? Or should kids help do chores without getting anything?

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Most people think of education only in terms of formal classes. When people graduate from high school or college, they usually think their education is ________. But it’s important to continue learning after finishing school. And making the effort ________ personally and professionally. On a personal level, learning can be ________. It can give you something interesting to talk about. And it is good for your ________. Just as exercise makes your body stronger, your mind becomes ________ when you use it. Being a lifelong learner can also help you with your work or job. Knowledge in other areas can help you develop ________ ideas in your present job. Also, becoming an export in an area outside of your present job gives you freedom and ________ you to take a job in ________ field if you want to. So ________ do you become a lifelong learner? First, you need to be determined to keep on learning new things even when it isn’t easy. It may help if you find friends who will encourage your learning. It’s also a good idea to find ________ to learn during your day. Carry a book with you, and read when you have to wait, Audio books (有声读物) are also ________. It’s easy to carry them. You can ________ them while traveling or doing housework. Finding ways to use what you learn can help you ________ things. If you want to learn to fix appliance (家用电器), try fixing some at home. If you’re learning ________, find someone who speaks that language to talk to. If you’re learning facts about science, ________ what you’re learning to someone else. Then you can help that person be a lifelong leaner, too!

4 . Who is the greatest teacher in Chinese history? Many people would think of Confucius, whose birthday was on September 28. Although he lived over 2.000 years ago, people still I remember and respect him for his contribution to the education today.

Confucius lived in the State of Lu, which lies in Shandong Province. He lied during the Spring and Autumn Period. He had a hard childhood. His father died when he was only three. His mother brought him up. As a child, he had to work to help his mother, but young Confucius didn’t give up studying. He visited many famous teachers and lea med music, history, poetry and sports.

Later, he became a teacher and started the first private school in Chinese history. At that time, only children from noble families could go to school but Confucius believed everyone should go to school if they wanted to learn. He had about 3, 000 students in his lifetime.

Today, people still follow Confucius lessons. He told us that we all have something worthy to be learned. “When I am with three people, one of them must be better than me in some areas. I choose their good qualities and follow them.”

He also taught us that thinking is very important in study. “All study but no thinking makes people puzzled. All thinking but no study makes people lazy.”

Confucius is not only a great teacher, but also a famous thinker with wise thoughts about the world and the society. His most important teachings are about kindness and good manners. “A person should be strict with himself, but be kind to others,” he said.

Can you cook? Do you like the homework of making a meal? Recently, the Ministry of Education (教育部) has made the new course standard. Primary and middle school students are required to take “Practical Life Skills” course for at least one class hour—about 45 minutes every week.

Some schools have started to offer such course. Guquan from No. 1 Middle School, used to be a lazy boy. In his own words, he hardly ever did any housework. But things have changed since No. 1 Middle School made housework part of the students’ homework. Doing dishes, cooking and making the bed—all of these housework have become part of Guquan’s daily life. His life skills have been improved (提升) by taking the course.

At the beginning of each month, each student gets a list of housework to do for the weekend. Their parents help them keep records of the housework they do. The housework is common and simple, such as cleaning the room and cooking. On special days, like Mother’s Day, students should prepare gifts for their mothers. Huang Yixi, 14, has learned several life skills through the course, including cooking. “I used to be afraid of fire,” she said. But she tried to overcome (克服) her fear and complete her cooking tasks. At the same time, she also learned how tired her mother could get after doing housework every day. On Mother’s Day, she made a cake for her mother to show her thanks. “I’ve begun to better understand my parents and want to help them more,” she said.

Other schools in Hunan are also developing programs to teach their students life skills. On May 12th, Xinhua Middle School held a life skill competition. Students had to complete many tasks including cooking and setting the table. They showed their skills and told everyone that they were growing up.

Yan Minwen, a retired (退休的) engineer in Beijing, set up a free class to teach left-behind children (留守儿童) in her hometown in Hebei Province.

Although Yan is not a teacher, it is a common wish of her and her husband to open such a class in the village. She told her husband that she wanted to open a class in her hometown, and her husband agreed.

However, before she set up the “small desks”, her husband fell ill and died. Yan was very sad, but she didn’t forget their wish. She rented (租)a room from her uncle, bought some used desks and chairs and started the class on March 23.

There are 19 students from Grade One to Seven in Yan’s class. Yan knows about each child well and talk s about them as if they were her own grandchildren. They learn together and work together to solve problems.

“It is not about teaching, but about company (陪伴),” Yan said.

After learning that Yan is teaching in the village to help left-behind children, her old classmates send books to her every now and then to help her.

Some young people also want to help with “small desks” and Yan is always happy to see this happen. She said, “I am too old to take care of the class all by myself.” Yan wants to see more volunteers help these left-behind children and is planning to open a library in the village as soon as possible.

9 . 74-year-old Yang Weiyun doesn’t sing, dance or sell things on Douyin. She teaches pinyin. And many of her students are adults (成年人).

Yang worked as a Chinese teacher in a primary school for 30 years. Later, she went to work in a kindergarten (幼儿园) and she worked there for 20 years. Several years ago she left the kindergarten. However, she still wanted to do something meaningful. So in May 2021, she began to teach kindergarten kids pinyin on Douyin.

However, she found that many of her students online were adults. Because they are illiterate (不识字的), they feel inferior (自卑的). They feel they are not as good as the others. They are afraid to go to new places and worried that they can’t teach their children. So Yang added special classes to meet their needs.

There are over 37,000,000 illiterate adults in our country. Yang offers an easy and private (个别教授的) way for them to learn to read and write. Now she has about 350,000 students online.

Zhang Mei is one of Yang’s students. She grew up in the countryside and had never been to school. She moved to the city years ago. However, illiteracy made her life very hard. She couldn’t find a job. After taking Yang’s classes, she can read pinyin and knows how to write her name. She has also found a job.

Giving classes online is not an easy thing for Yang, but she tries her best to make her students learn in an easy and interesting way.

What a great teacher!