顾家北教育类.doc

Topic 25
Some people think schools should only teach students academic subjects. Others think schools should also teach students how to discriminate between right and wrong. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

The school has long been regarded as the place that improves people’s career prospects and generates personal wealth. This notion has been, however, been refuted by many people who believe that education should include and emphasize moral education. In my opinion, students who have behavioral problems cannot achieve success easily, regardless of their academic performance.

Many teachers believe that students should focus on core subjects, as these courses decide whether they can get into college later. The knowledge that is acquired in these countries can provide a flying start in students’ career development. If students need to spend time studying moral principles and behavioral norms, they feel time pressure.

There is no denying that moral education can raise students’ awareness of some important virtues, such as honesty, integrity and altruism , which are crucial to social progress and social cohesion. If students recognize these virtues, they would understand how to get along with other people and how to care about others’ benefits. In this way , they can apply their knowledge to make contribution to society , and will form meaningful relationships with others.

Personally , I think that students’ understanding of morality determines their success. This not improves their behavior at school but also prevents some behavior problems, such as smoking, drinking and sexual behavior and so on. These problems will affect their students and cause irreparable(impossible to repair or make right again ) damage to their career development. For example, if students do not realize the impact of excessive drinking , this habit may influence their working performance and their home life after they reach adulthood.

In view of the importance of moral education to social development and personal achievement, it should be included in schools’ curriculum. Without moral education , the society is teeming with irresponsible behavior while young people are not likely to lead a meaning and fulfilling life.

Topic26
Schools should concentrate on the academic subjects that will be useful for students’ future careers. Subjects such as music and sports are not useful. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In recent years, there is a trend among schools toward removing subjects such as arts and physical education from the curriculum, because there subjects do not have a direct relation with students’ future occupations. It lies in the fact that education is valued by people only when it improves students’ employability. Although music and sport are not directly related to careers , these subjects have countless benefits to students’ success in their careers.

The idea that music is important children’s development has been widely accepted. First of all, music can enhance intelligence. The use of musical instruments enables students to gain an understanding of how to coordinate different parts of bodies, the advantage of that students who can use musical instruments proficiency can tackle different tasks in adulthood. It is also important to realize that music can bridge the gap among young people, regardless of race , nationally and gender. Music can foster the culture of cooperation among teenagers as they are required to collaborate with each other in a band or an orchestra. Music is also considered as a healthy way of reliving stress , because it can lighted one’s mood and reduce anxiety.

PE also has a beneficial effect on child’s physical and mental health. Students who engage in physical activity can constantly maintain a healthy weight and have stamina to handle their schoolwork. This is particularly important , considering that young people are increasingly addicted to the sedentary activity , such as playing video games. Similar to music, sports , including team sports, place emphasis on cooperation , so social bonding can be strengthened among players. Furthermore, students who exercise habitually normally have a positive attitude to life, which enables them to cope with stress easily.

In light of these factors, we should acknowledge the implication of music and sports to students’ future career success. Music can develop students’ intellectual skills and social skills , while sports are able to improve students’ physical health and self –esteem.

Topic 27
Some people think that children should obey the rules set by their parents and teachers, but others think that less control will help children to deal with their future adult life. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Rule-setting has long been a method adopted by teachers and parents to discipline and educate children. Although this method is extensively used, its advantages and disadvantages are still a matter of debate. In my opinion, the rule is a double-edged sword, which can help or hurt us, so what matters most is how to use it.

The main function of rules is to hold children accountable for their behavior, so they will follow behavioral norms, rather than behave badly. Unlike adults, children are not aware of the consequences of their behavior. By following rules, children will gradually develop in an idea of how to cat in a socially acceptable manner. For example, children will do their best to avoid aggressive behavior and foul language , once they realize that those actors are not likely to be acceptable by other people. Only after they grow up, will they have knowledge and experience to evaluate choices and act responsibility.

Sometimes rules may not have a positive influence on children, if those parents who establish the strict rules overemphasis children’s obedience. Children rely on rules to such a degree that they are not able to solve problems independently. Children either do not have confidence in their decision making abilities or have courage to put their ideas into practice. When facing problems, children turn to parents for advice, fearing what they do can have dire consequences. They will be at a disadvantage in a highly competitive society, where they need to show the ability to tackle different problems.

Considering these factors, I believe that rules are important, since rules can prepare children for their adulthood. However, if the rules are excessively strict, many problems will appear.

Topic 28
It is better for students to study at a boarding school than to live with parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree？

There seems to be endless debate about the advantages and disadvantages of boarding schools. Some people think that parents have a great impact on children during formative years, but it seems that many parents opt to send children to boarding school.

Boarding schools benefit children’s development by providing a stable environment in which children are monitored and supported by teachers. For those parents who frequently relocate due to their work assignments, the boarding school can be an ideal choice. In the absence of parents’ company, children need to manage their daily life independently. This offers an explanation of why students who study in boarding schools are more self-reliant and disciplined than those in day schools. Besides, boarding schools have many extra-curricular activities (including sport)that nurture children’s all-round development.

The main objection to boarding schools is that children’s interaction with parents decline and their emotional bonds weaken. Children will feel helpless and homesick when they attempt to adjust to a new environment. The problem is particularly serious in these schools with a high student-to –teacher ratio as students’ emotional needs are ignored. It is also worth noting that student’s social exposure is limited , because they are confined to schools. Children may not have social skills , which means that they have no idea how to communicate or work with others in future.

When considering the influence of boarding schools on children , we can conclude that these schools are not suitable for young children , in view of these children’s dependence on parents. For middle school students, boarding schools not only improve their adaptability but also enable their parents to concentrate on their jobs.

Topic 29
Some people who have been successful in the society do not attribute their success to the theoretical knowledge they learned from their university. Do you agree that theoretical knowledge is not as valuable as expected?

People have long been doubtful/ uncertain about the contribution of theoretical knowledge to career success. This is understandable due to the fact that a considerable number of people who do not have a university qualification have been successful. Of those factors that determine one’s success, theoretical knowledge is one of the most important.

Theoretical knowledge is well-known for its ability to help people to gain a full understanding of concepts and principles of different subjects, so people can become professional in these fields. For example, a psychiatrist can identify effective therapies, provided that he or she understands all therapies which account for human behavior. Many theories have developed on the basis of empirical knowledge, so these theories have practical implications and those who master these theories could have a better job prospect.

Another advantage of learning theories is that it can improve people’s practical abilities, and even the ability to solve problems creatively. Theoretical knowledge could broaden people’s minds, and improve critical thinking skills , thus empowering people to push forward the boundaries of knowledge with different theories. In contrast, those who do not have university qualifications can rely on rules of thumb to solve some general problems but feel helpless when facing some unusual problems.

Meanwhile, we should recognize the fact that theoretical knowledge is not the only determinant of success and many successful people are found to have some personality traits in common. An optimistic, hardworking and sociable person is able to overcome difficulties and cooperate with others to achieve success. Another factor might be the social network, by which people can receive information, draw upon ideas and gain access to resources. Other people’s knowledge is normally verified in real life and may not be available in textbooks.

The value of higher education has not yet been recognized correctly, although theories improve people’s problem solving abilities. On the other hand, we need to admit that personality and social relationships are essential to success.

Topic 30
University students always focus on one specific subject, but some people think that universities should encourage students to study a wide range of subjects in addition to their own subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.

Higher education affords many people an approach to improve skills and expand knowledge. One topic of discussion is whether it is necessary to study a number of subjects or one subject only. When deciding the number of subjects to learn, one should consider both his/her personal interests and employers’ requirements.

Common senses tell that one is able to acquire more skills and knowledge if he/she enrolls for a variety of courses. For example, is an accounting students is familiar with marketing and human resource management, he/she is well-informed about how accounting affects these aspects of a company’s operation and vice versa. Nowadays, it is increasingly evident that those who possess knowledge in different fields have a competitive advantage over those who are conversant with one subject only. It is also worth emphasizing that many university students are so young that they do not have a clear concept of their career paths. Therefore, the decision to dabble in different subjects is reasonable, as it allows students to discover their career interests gradually.

The main advantage of focusing on one area of specialty is that students can concentrate their efforts on a specific area of interest and seek to become professional. This point of view is particularly valuable in those subjects that require learners’ commitment for many years, such as medicine, law and engineering. Because of time constraints, students need to accept a compromise between width and depth of knowledge. If an employer have a vacancy for an accounting clerk , whether or not job applicants studied art is not a matter of importance. Needless to say , students can pursue some subjects as their hobbies , instead of studying them at university , unless they have extra energy and time to spare.

By discussing these factors, we can come to the conclusion that students can be encouraged to study different subjects so they can adapt to a competitive workplace. It is certain that students can decide on the number of subjects with their career interests and personal needs taken into account.

Topic 31
Some teachers think it is effective for students to study in groups while others think that it is better to study alone. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Teamwork activities have been strongly advocated by some schools, possibly because it has been recognized as one shared trait for successful enterprises. However, some people think that students should be given an environment where they study independently. These two ways learning have their respective advantages and disadvantages and serve different purposes.

One prominent advantages of group study is that it enhances student’s social skills and teamwork skills. In the team environment, members need to know how to cooperate and communicate with each other. This prepares students for the workplace , where teamwork is frequently required. We are also convinced that members can share their knowledge and experience so as to improve learning outcomes. Moreover, students can detect their knowledge gaps when answering questions raised by other classmates. This benefit is not achievable for those students who study independently.

Despite these benefits, group study cannot gain support from teachers who emphasis students’ individual achievement. Group study may induce students rely excessively on their peers. It is important to bear in mind that in the real world, employers opt to employ extraordinary students , rather than recruiting a team. In addition, group study may demotivate whose students who are driven by personal achievement. In some cases, if work is not distributed fairly and members’ roles are ambiguous