TOEFL: Writing for an Academic Discussion
Instructions: Your professor is teaching a class on education. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response you should:
- express and support your personal opinion
- make a contribution to the discussion
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor Johnson
This week, we’re going to talk about what makes a great teacher. I’m sure all of us can recall a teacher from school who made a positive impression on us, as well as other teachers whose lessons we didn’t enjoy going to. It’s fascinating to consider why this is. What do you think? In your opinion, what is the most important quality for a teacher to have?
Ava
I believe a teacher’s ability to connect with students is the most important quality. It’s not just about the information being taught. It’s also about how students feel in the classroom. When a teacher creates a positive and supportive environment, students are more likely to engage with the material and feel motivated to learn.
Daniel
While I agree with Ava that a good relationship with students is important, I think the most essential quality for a teacher is their knowledge of the subject. Teachers need to be experts in the content they’re teaching so that they can answer questions, explain concepts thoroughly and provide accurate information. Without this foundation, students can’t fully benefit from the lessons.
Ava and Daniel make valid points, but I would say that it is most important for a teacher to be patient. First of all, every student learns at a different pace, and a patient teacher can provide the support and encouragement students need to succeed. For example, when a student struggles to grasp a concept, a patient teacher will calmly explain it in different ways without showing frustration, helping the student build confidence and stay motivated. In addition, managing a classroom can be challenging, and patience allows teachers to handle disruptions or mistakes in a constructive manner. Instead of reacting harshly to misbehaviour or errors, a patient teacher can guide students to reflect on their actions and learn from their mistakes, creating a more positive and respectful learning environment.
Instructions: Your professor is teaching a class on education. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response you should:
- express and support your personal opinion
- make a contribution to the discussion
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Professor Abadi
There is some disagreement about whether students should be required to learn a foreign language at school. Some people argue that learning a foreign language should be compulsory because it develops cultural understanding and improves career opportunities. Others argue that with technological advances, most notably artificial intelligence, there is less need for foreign language skills. What is your view? Do you think students should be required to learn a foreign language?
Jake
I think it should be a requirement. It’s true that technology can handle translations pretty well these days, but it’s very hard to communicate properly with speakers of other languages through an app or some other piece of technology. If learning a foreign language isn’t required, we’ll miss out on the opportunity to build genuine connections with people from different cultures.
Sarah
There’s no doubt foreign language skills are valuable, but I don’t think students should be forced to study a language at school. With artificial intelligence and other translation tools, language barriers are less of an issue than they used to be. I think it would be better to make other subjects like STEM or digital literacy compulsory. That would better prepare students for the future.
While I understand Sarah’s perspective, I tend to agree with Jake’s view that learning a foreign language at school should be compulsory for two main reasons. Firstly, while translation tools can facilitate basic communication, real conversations require an understanding of cultural context and body language, which is precisely where translation tools fall short. Secondly, it is naive to think that foreign language skills will not be of value in students’ future careers. For example, if the use of translation tools becomes the norm in international business, employees with foreign language skills will become even more valuable to their employer. This is because they will be able to build rapport with foreign clients and suppliers more easily than those who rely on translation tools.