This is an Opinion>Personal viewpoint type essay (it asks how far you agree with an idea.)
You should introduce the topic and give your opinion in the introduction, then explain why you have this view.
You should briefly consider the opposing view, then restate your opinion in the conclusion.
Notice how this essay type is different from the Opinion>Discussion type which we saw in
Topic 1, which asks you to discuss both sides of a debate.
Explanation of the topic vocabulary and examples :
1. curriculum = the full range of subjects offered by a school or group of schools
Example: The curriculum in private schools is sometimes wider than in state schools, because they have more resources.
2. pedagogical (experts) = (experts in) education and teaching
Example: I admire pedagogical pioneers such as the Victorian English thinkers who began free schools for all children.
3. syllabus = the content of elements taught in a specific subject
The syllabus for geography at my school included volcanoes, earthquakes and tidal waves, which we found fascinating.
4. formal examinations = exams where students answer set written or spoken questions without assistance
5. continuous assessment = giving students marks for course work or projects, rather than formal exams
Example: At my school, our grades were based 50/50 on formal examinations and continuous assessment, which we thought was very fair to all the children.
6. academic achievement = the measurable performance of a student in marks, exam results etc
Example: In my country, children enjoy school, but academic achievement is frankly quite low.
7. further education = education after leaving school at the minimum age
Example: Some governments encourage further education by allowing teenagers to claim benefits while they study.
8. higher education = education after age 18 at college or University, usually for a Degree
Example: When I pass IELTS, I plan to go on to higher education in Canada and do a degree in engineering.
9. group work = study where pupils discuss and agree a project together
Example: Personally, I think that group work enables lazy children to do less work than the eager ones.
10. teacher-led lessons = traditional lessons where the teacher delivers a long talk and the students take notes
Example: In my country, lessons are still very teacher-led and interaction is rather limited.
11. autonomous learning = when a student learns through independent study and research
Example: At University, you are expected to be an autonomous learner far more than at High School, which is quite exciting for me.
12. study skills = the skills of organising, using and checking study work
Example: My study skills were rather weak until I read an excellent book by a Japanese pedagogical
expert.
13. to synthesise sources = to use a variety of sources and combine them in one project
Example: I use the Internet to synthesise my sources, and I always cite the origin of the information. (to cite sources = to acknowledge publicly)
14. rote-learning = learning by repetition and memorising items
Example: I used to think that rote-learning was a negative approach, but my recent experiences teaching in a South African school have changed my view.
15. to supplement = to add extra content or material
Example: My supervisor said that I should supplement my essay with more examples of experiments.
16. to assimilate knowledge = to absorb and understand it
Example: I always use a dictionary when I study in English, to help me assimilate new phrases.
17. guided learning = learning under the supervision of a teacher
Example: Lessons in Primary Schools should always contain guided learning, otherwise the children will lose focus.
18. data-gathering = collecting information, usually in numerical form
Example: Mobile phone companies employ many people in data-gathering Tasks, to see how users are using the phones and Internet.
19. distance learning = learning by the Internet or email, rather than face-to-face
Example: My mother took an entire degree by distance learning over a period of five years.
20. self-study = studying using a course without a teacher’s involvement
Example: There are many self-study guides to improving your English, and some of them are actually
quite good.
21. to discriminate between sources = to decide whether one source is better or more reliable than another source
Example: Children should not study using unsupervised Internet access, because they can’t discriminate between the sources of information they find.
22. to sift information = to remove unwanted or less useful information
Example: I had to sift hundreds of pages of data to arrive at my conclusions when I did my thesis.
23. to marshal facts = to organise facts in support of an idea
Example: In IELTS essays, you should marshal a few facts to support each idea in the argument.
24. an integral part of the syllabus = essential, central or indispensable
Example: Nutrition is an integral part of food sciences these days