Topic 3: Teachers and Teaching (Part 3)
Review the standard structures of responses using Viewpoints, Extensions, and comprehensive alternative Angles.
[ Viewpoint 1 ] Teachers today tend to be more open to the feelings and opinions of students than in the past. [ Extension ] Traditionally, the teacher-student relationship would be entirely teacher-based, with the teachers' job as simply giving the students information to learn and exercises to practice. They were not ready for any challenging ideas from the students. [ Viewpoint 2 ] Also, teachers today pay more attention to individual differences in learning, making sure that the students understand the class, and modifying the teaching style for them. [ Extension ] If a student falls behind in class, modern teachers will try to find out why, rather than simply punishing the student.
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[ Viewpoint 1 ] I believe that family has a much greater influence. [ Extension ] Most children look up to their parents, especially if their parents have respectable jobs and can easily provide for the family. Such parents become role models for children who also wish to be successful. [ Viewpoint 2 ] Although media and peers are influential, their impact does not last long as most children turn to their parents for guidance. [ Extension ] It is simply because children trust family more than anyone else with regards to setting a goal.
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[ Viewpoint ] In my view, physical punishment is not a useful way to help children in learning or improving their behaviour. [ Extension 1 ] The threat of physical pain or violence does not give children a way to understand the reasoning behind why they are being punished, and is simply teaching them that physical advantages can be used as a way to make people behave how you wish. [ Extension 2 ] Although it may be an effective way to stop a child behaving in an antisocial or immoral way, it could teach a child that physical domination is more important than an intelligent or conscientious approach.
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[ Viewpoint ] For me, the most important thing for a teacher is to have a style that suits their personality and the subject. [ Extension 1 ] Some people are naturally entertaining, so for them it makes a lot of sense to work with the students in an entertaining way, whereas some people are more serious, so they should use the style that is most effective for them. [ Extension 2 ] The subject being taught is also a major factor. Communicative subjects like languages are generally much more suited to being taught in an entertaining way than the "hard" subjects like maths and science.
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[ Viewpoint 1 ] I think that the main difference between being instructed and self-study is the motivation factor. [ Extension ] Even if the teacher does not need to explicitly encourage the student to work harder or stay focused, simply having a person with some expertise work with them will make the student more motivated. [ Viewpoint 2 ] Self-learning does have some advantages though, because in this way the person is not relying on someone else's time. [ Extension ] He or she can work at his or her own pace, and can learn the topic without feeling that the course is going too fast or slow.
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[ Viewpoint 1 ] The main quality that a language teacher has to have is a good set of communication skills. [ Extension ] Languages are very difficult to learn. It is a very complicated subject without any definite right or wrong answers in many cases, so it is vital that the teacher can get their ideas across simply enough to be understood. [ Viewpoint 2 ] Confidence is also very important. [ Extension ] Many students find learning a language very intimidating because of the difficulty level, and if the teacher does not seem to believe in themselves and the student, this can be harmful to the student's learning experience.
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[ Viewpoint ] I do not think that computers or robots will ever replace teachers fully, unless the robots can become so much like humans that nobody will notice. [ Extension 1 ] Although computers have changed learning a great deal, and there are so many more opportunities for students to study without the help of teachers, the experience of working with another person face to face is still very important. [ Extension 2 ] I believe that having a teacher or tutor who can respond to emotional as well as knowledge problems of individual students will always have a vital place in education.
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[ Viewpoint ] I believe that a good teacher needs to be empathetic and adaptable to their students as well as knowledgeable about their subject. [ Extension 1 ] The most important quality in my opinion is that the teacher understands their students; every student is a different person and will have their own learning style and personality. [ Extension 2 ] It is also important that the teacher has a good solid base of knowledge about their subject, more than simply what is in the curriculum, as curious students will always have extra questions and need to know more than simply what is set out in the lesson.
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[ Viewpoint 1 ] I feel that the most important skill for students to learn at home is how to cooperate with others. [ Extension ] For many children, attending school is the first time that they will be in a large group of people their own age, and they need to have some idea of how to interact with others and not alienating others. [ Viewpoint 2 ] It is also helpful to have as much basic knowledge prepared as possible. [ Extension ] Because the teacher will be dealing with many students of varying abilities, it is vital that the parents give their kids some basic academic knowledge to make sure that they stay up to speed with the class.
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