TOEFL® essay: should students do some of the talking in class...

[Nguyenminh]

Topic 175: Some students like classes where teachers lecture (do all of the talking) in class. Other students prefer classes where the students do some of the talking. Which type of class do you prefer? Give specific reasons and details to support your choice.

I have attended hundreds of classes, in which teachers lecture (do all of the talking) in class. But if I can, I’d rather choose classes where students do some of the talking. This makes students understand more about the topics and enjoy themselves at classes.

To begin with, although teachers are specialists in their fields, they not always know what troubles their students. Each student has his (or her) own learning style and pace, so different students may run into different kinds of misunderstanding or confusing subjects. Having a chance to ask questions or state his (or her) idea of the subject, students can understand the topic thoroughly. Moreover, for many teachers I know, having students that always ask questions makes them feel confident about their teachings. The reason is, based on students’ comments, they know that the students are interested in their lecture and make changes for a better one. Classes where not only teachers but also students can do the talking motivate both of them to learn more.

In addition, questions and comments make class better place to study in. Imagine a class in which teacher lecture (do all of the talking). This may not matter for a few days, but for a few weeks, or a few months, students would get bored with listening to the same voice again and again. Having to do all of the talking, the teachers would get thirsty and feel exhausted. In some worse cases, this may end up taking all of teachers’ interest in their teachings, and the result is worse lecture and grade. However, in a class where students do some of the talking, everyone would feel excited about giving their ideas and questions every time they want. This leads to a better atmosphere of studying and makes school-time actually, like many adults often say, “the best time of one’s lives”.

Finally, when students can do some of the talking in classes, they acquire more knowledge and feel more interested. Because of such important reasons, I prefer those classes to the ones in which teachers lecture (do all of the talking).

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TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture in social science class