TOEFL® essay sample: Learning from experience is better than learning from books

[Dolma]

TOEFL essay sample

Some people say that learning from experience is better than learning from books.

Do you agree? Compare and contrast learning from experience with learning from books. Use examples in your answer.

To lead a meaningful life we must learn. There are two ways of learning new things in our life - learning from books and learning from experiences. In my opinion learning from experience is better and more stable then learning from books. Because experience is something we are actually involved and what we have gone through physically may not be easily forgotten in the future. While learning from books is altogether a different experience. Although books are the source of wisdom and gives us a lot of fresh insights on realities of life but unfortunately human nature have strong tendency to forget. Thus it is difficult to memorize and digest everything that is written in the books.

Experience is more active part of learning then books. While we are experiencing something we are physically, actively participating in it. For example I learn many new things when i spend quality time with my friends during every weekend. Because i enjoy being with them and at the same time i am learning from them when they share me about how they have solved the peculier problems faced by them. Reading and learning from book is often boring and idle unless its an interesting story book.

We need to give full attention when we read which we often fails to do. As a result we fail to learn new things. You may find someone reading book physically but you can't say anything sure about whether his mind is on book or on somewhere else. So it is doubtful to say they are seriously and truly learning from books. Meaningful reading needs full attention. We don't need to pay such attention while we experience. We can experience and learn a new thing while playing with our friends.

TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation between two university students (2)

[Dolma]

Alan
My english is very poor and i am always trying to improve it. I lack in expression and speaking. Please correct my essay and suggest me where i need to improve...
Thanks a lot
regards
dechen