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Hi this is my answer if you are free to check it This is a challenging topic, but i think that having discussion class is way better than just listening to the lecture. I agree with Mike’s idea that these classes give you the chance have the immediate feedback. I would like to add that discussion classes make the students have a better comprehensive pictures of what the teacher is giving them. While Rechal raised the relevant point that discussion classes can change the recent topic the teacher is giving them, she didn’t mention that even if modifies happened this will not change the whole topic actually they might get dipper in the topic hitherto this has a positive impact for the students.
Hi Michael, thank you for your amazing contents! here's my response: I align with Rachel’s perspective that lectures are superior to interactive classes. I'd like to highlight that classes that involve extensive discussions often proceed at a slower pace. Everyone wants to engage in these discussions, so it takes a lot of time for instructors to complete a topic. Such classes require an experienced instructor to guide the direction of arguments and manage time efficiently to cover the syllabus adequately. Moreover, in the context of interactive classes, it becomes more challenging to follow the main topic and identify the connections between the ideas being discussed. While Mike is correct regarding the potential for deeper learning in interactive classes, it is possible to organize extracurricular activities for students to discuss the class materials. Overall, I'd say that classes centered around lectures offer greater content richness compared to discussion-based ones.
This is an excellent response. I think it would score about 28 points. Consider pushing your word count a bit higher if you really want a perfect score.
Hi Michael! Thank you for your efforts to assist us in preparation... Here is the answer: This is a challenging topic, but I think that discussion is the most effective way of learning. I strongly agree with Mike’s argument that colloquiums provide vital feedback for understanding information better. I would add that they are helping to share points of view which are not that frequent. While Rachel’s point about better structure and plan of the lecture are relevant, she did not mention that discussions deliver certain positions which are not represented in the lectures. I believe that disputes put forth new ideas relying on the info given in the lecture. As a result, I would say that these two types of the learning both could lead us to astonishing results.
In my opinion, lecture-based classes are more straightforward than classes with a lot of discussions. I strongly agree with Rachel’s viewpoint, and I’d add that discussion can get skewed from the main topic and be difficult to control. Lectures allow teachers to summarize engaging material more effectively and give students the exact information they will need later in the course, whether in the lab, quiz, or test. Additionally, teachers are able to explain the reasoning behind the information they are presenting, something students may not be aware of while discussing new topics. Lecture-based classes allow for more direct learning as well as teach students broader skills. Therefore, lectures help students not only by providing thorough knowledge but also by presenting them with challenges and enhancing their capacity to concentrate.
I think this one would score about 23 points. Your answer lacks grammatical complexity. Use more conjunctions (both coordinating and subordinating). I don't really like "more straightforward" since that isn't a clear statement of your choice. Be more obvious and say that they are better.
Hi Michael, thanks for your videos. Both options have real advantages, but I’m convinced that classes which focus on lectures are more beneficial for me, as listening to the information from an expert person like the professor in the right sequence and in a quiet environment would make it easier for me to understand the subject and retain the important information. Moreover, discussions during classes sometimes make me lose focus, since some comments may not relate to the subject which makes me forget what the main subject was. Overall, I’d say that although discussions sometimes motivate students to prepare for the class to participate, they also might take their attention from important information that the professor mentions.
Mike, thanks to your material I was able to score 27 three years ago. I will take a new test soon and hopeful to hit that mark again. Please have a look at my first TOEFL writing exercise since 2021. I know there are typos and probably other punctuation mistakes, but curious to know how'd you rate it as is. In my opinion, I think that learning through discussions is much more beneficial to human beings overall. Dialogue employs language centers in the brain that improve both subjective skills triggered by speaking and objective skills enhanced by listening. Therfore, it is a better comprehensive learning method than the one-way lecture type. Additionally, I believe that an interactive environment would open opportunities to build better relationships with other students. With duscussing agreements and disagreemetns, and exploring different angles of one topic with one another comes stronger bonds. I have read researches suggesting that involving in meaningful conversations strengthens your emotional resilience and intelligence. This leads to a better mental health on the long run as well!
Thanks Michael! I think just looking at the professor's question and then start writing is a good strategy. Here's my answer: Both options have real advantages, but I’m convinced that taking classes with a lot of discussion can be more beneficial for the students for many reasons. Firstly, students will pay more attention to the class because they will also be listening to the opinion of other students while the professor is explaining the topic. Some students get distracted in the class, and this will make the class more engaging. We tend to be more engaged with some topic while we listen to it from another perspective. Moreover, the class will be more dynamic and engaging because we will have the professor in front of us explaining the topic. While Rachel is right about that we can be better informed with lectures having an expert. If we are dedicated to listening more to others in a discussion, we can learn more than learning from an expert.
This is a pretty good answer. I think it would score about 24 points. You are a bit weak when it comes to article use, though, so try to focus on that as you continue to study grammar. For instance, you wrote "beneficial for the students" but should have just said "beneficial for students." Likewise, you said "moreover, the classes will be" but should have said "moreover, classes will be."
Thank you for the video and the opportunity below: From my point of view classes with a lot of discussions it’s better for students. I tend to agree with Mike that the possibility of hearing people’s doubts and sharing add a lot to the experience of learning a new topic. Once that learning it’s a process, when you actively participate and get involved with it, increases the chances of remembering and assimilating the new learning. To Rachel’s point about possible deviations in the agenda, I think it’s important that the professor, or the mediator, bring people back to the core of the subject. I also think having time do discuss between colleagues it’s a good way to pass from the passive learn mode to a more active one.
I think this one would score about 18 or 19 points. There are multiple grammar and language use errors in every sentence. That's a big problem, so you should focus on improving your grammar as much as you can before test day.
This is a dubious topic giving rise to various arguments. However, I am mostly convinced that working in a class where peer discussions and debates prevail would be much more beneficial both for students and lecturers. Although Rachel's point seems reasonable as discipline and more outlined procedure of class may lead to higher performance, Mike's position on in-class debates is on par with mine since topics touched by contemporaries during the class have proved that peer reviews and discussions eliminate all possible ambiguities related to certain concepts and phenomena. Studies show that peer learning leads to higher academic performance and warmer atmosphere among learners. Moreover, from professors' perspective, the mentioned approach will make the lesson more interactive, subsequently, engaged students will be way more content both with the class and the professor.
Delete that opening line. It is no good. Don't call the topic "dubious." It will never be dubious. :) Just start with a sentence that states your actual argument. I think this answer would score about 20 points. You need to reduce your rate of grammar errors.
Thank you for your kind remarks, however I don't agree with them, since my approach is rated 5 on ETS. So I consider your granted point of "20" to be irrelevant. 😉
@@yuliamkrtchyan1828 Just keep in mind that on the real test your answers are scored both by the AI and by one human. Let me know how you do on test day!
Thank you for your feedback! I believe it is better to have a class focused on the lectures. It is important for the students to gain knowledge from the experience that the teacher is providing since it is not available anywhere else. A lecture that has a lot of discussions can be distracting to students. Personally, I’ve had a bad experience when my English SAT teacher would allow students to discuss a lot during the lecture and, most of the time, the main topic of the subject would get lost in these small discussions. Another example, a math teacher would ask students to discuss their answers with each other and the time of the lecture would end up being lost. Therefore, in conclusion, I believe that it is essential for teachers to mainly focus on delivering the right ideas of lecture to their students.
Don't use "the lectures" when you are talking about lectures in general. Drop "the". Don't use "another example" followed by a comma to set up an example. Try "Another example IS...". Overall, I think this one would score about 20 points. There are a lot of grammar and language use errors that will hold you back somewhat.
Hi Michael! Thank you so much for this video! this is my response: This is a challenging topic, but my opinion is very similar to the Mike's response. I'd add that only through a discussion, you can understand how well you know a topic. In addition, a lot of discoveries were opened through talking and not from listening one opinion from a teacher or somebody else. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lectures are more organized than discussion and that while discussing you may accidentally switch to another topic, I believe that the biggest drawback of lectures that covers all these arguments is that If you lose your train of thought, even for a few seconds, you may not be able to get it back again.
Hello again! This one would score 21 or 22 points. Your English is better than in the one I checked a moment ago, but I am still worried about your overall word count.
As an educator myself, I find that both options can be effective approaches to learning if applied appropriately. Learner can be categorized into different group with their specific preferences, there are active learners who acquired most of the knowledge during engaging discussions and through which they can apply the knowledge they have learnt, and there would be passive learners like Rachel who focused on self-concentration and can maximize their learning outcomes through observing and listening. Since we have different students who have their own specific needs and requirement, the most important part I think is to find a balance between these two approaches, providing enough time for passive learner to acquire basic knowledge first and then encourage students to freely express their own opinions, combined with different teaching methods and that would definitely foster a learning environment that focused on differentiation and efficiency.
I personally prefer discussion classes for lecture based classes can be less effective and boring. As Mike has also said we get to listen to multiple perspectives on a topic in discussion classes. It helps us keep ourselves actively engaged in learning. It also helps us reconsider our perspectives and preconceptions. Such classes can indeed be a little disorganized owing to their inherent nature of discussions. However, if the students come prepared for discussions having done their reading before classes, it can lead to really effective discussions in which insights from various sources can be integrated. Learning can likewise be fun and interesting when we get to learn actively with peers without listening to monotonous lectures that can be boring.
Hi Michael! Thank you for sharing some great advice with your personal response. And here's my response: Personally, I am more inclined to the idea that classes engaging in group discussions are more beneficial to students. Although Rachel presents some profound insights, it should be mentioned, however, that discussions actually help students to focus more, in comparison of merely listening to lectures. Since students will be required to share their perspectives and thoughts, the process encourages them to think actively, which helps them to pay more attention to the context. Also, classes will become more intriguing when discussions are involved. Students can comprehend the topics or issues more thoroughly by learning views from different aspects, significantly broadening their horizons simultaneously. On top of that, participating in discussions also trains students’ ability to give public speeches, which is a skill that can hardly be learned from merely listening to professors talking, as an enormous amount of practice is needed. Looking forward to your feedbacks, thanks a lot!
I don't really like "inclined to the idea that." It is fine, but sounds awkward. I would simply say "I feel that...". Note that it is not "classes" that engage in things. It is people who do that. So try something like: "classes that include group discussions are more beneficial..." Don't combine "although" and "however" like you did here. Just say: "Although Rachel presents some profound insights, it should be mentioned that discussions...". There are other issues, but I think you get the point. Overall, I think this one would score about 21 points.
Both opinions have real advantages, but I'm convinced that classes with a lot of discussions can be more beneficial to students. This kind of class provides different opinions about a topic, which motivates students to prepare before the class to do some research in order to be able to discuss it. I strongly agree with Mike when he says that these types of classes help to retain information more easily since they are more interactive. However, Rachel is also right when she says that discussions can sometimes become too argumentative losing the important points of the class. To sum up, I consider that an organized and well-structured class that consists of interaction is more favorable.
While I appreciate the points made by Mike and Racheal, in my personal opinion, a mix of lectures and discussions about that topic would make a session much more engaging. I remember when my friend recommended me to join a class of a professor who allocated separate time to discuss the topic before and after lecturing about it. This opened the minds of students and helped them get ideas who were not familiar with the subject. On top of that, it was really captivating, and it made easy to memorize the concepts. Therefore, in my view, I highly recommend the students to learn this way under a professor or a teacher.
Don't use "recommended me to VERB." Use "recommended that I VERB." That's one of the most common mistakes I see her! Don't use the final sentence to repeat your main idea, especially in a response that is fairly short. Just use that line to add more supporting details.
In my opinion, i think classes that are more focused on the lecture are much better than classes with a lot of discussions. I strongly agree with Rachel's perspective about listening to an expert , and I'd add that sometimes students might mention false information during the lecture, and therefore, other students will memorize these wrong informations. While Mike raised the relevant point that hearing multiple points of views from students can be very beneficial, he neglected to address that this may cause confusion to some people. Overall I'd say that although class discussions are important for some classmates, they could harm others and distract them from the main idea of the lecture.
I believe that classes with myriad discussions are better for students. Firstly, it is because discussion enables us to understand different people`s perspectives from those of diverse cultures, backgrounds, religions, and sex which may be difficult to experience in a lecture class. Usually, lectures are taught by the teacher based on their experience and understanding of the topic which may contain some bias. Hearing diverse opinions is vital for the rapidly developing globalized society we live in today. Secondly, Rachel, I understand that discussions may become too argumentative but I believe that it is part of a learning experience as this is something that we may experience in our work environment in the future. Thus, it is an essential skill that will help students in the long run.
Both options have real advantages, but open discussions in classes are the best way for young people to gain knowledge, the process will encourage them to share their ideas and think more deeply. Whenever we hear about different challenging topics, we will be able to discuss them and take immediate feedback from the teacher. However, sitting and passively listening to a professor turns out to be something gloomy. Moreover, we can easily record lectures and listen to them later so in this way, we get to benefit from the class’s time by active discussions. Overall, I’d say that this learning way creates a perfect academic environment that can support students’ knowledge.
Personally, I prefer classes that are focused on lectures, since I'm a pretty good listener, I like to listen to a lecture and write down crucial points. I understand what Mike says about benefiting from other student's opinions on the topic, but I feel like discussions might cause confusion, since the students aren't well aware of the topic and they might suggest wrong statements that may stick in one’s head since as Mike said discussions are memorable. In addition to what Rachel stated about discussions taking away from the learning experience, they also take away from the time of the lecture causing delay.
Hi Michael! Thank you for your efforts to assist us in preparation... Here is the answer: While there are certainly some advantages of standard lecture classes, I personally prefer lectures that have a lot of discussions. I’m convinced that these type of lectures will make students more excited for their classes since they will get the chance to express their opinion freely and get a response from an expert professor instead of the boring old-styled lectures. Moreover, students can easily make new friends and work together on the projects or concepts they’re planning to understand. Also, think about the various numbers of learning and teaching techniques the instructor can imply with his students such as brainstorming. Additionally, students can develop a good bond with each other and with their professor which will have a positive impact on their learning results. However, the professor must pay attention to the flow of the class so that students don’t get into arguments or discussing things that are off topic.
Your opening line is a bit unclear. I would change "standard lecture classes" to just "lectures." Easy! "these types of lectures" is confusing, because you are talking about DISCUSSIONS. I think you have used "lecture" as a synonym for "class". That's a problem. "the projects or concepts they're planning to understand" is also confusing. I think you just mean "work together on projects." You might be trying too hard to be verbose. Stop that! Overall, I think this one would score about 22 points out of 30.
This is a challenging topic, but I think that discussion-based classes may play a significant role in learning process. I strongly agree with Mike’s idea that talking about a topic provides us with varied aspects of it. I would add that discussing a particular topic gives us an opportunity to find out whether we have understood the substantial essence correctly or not. Since there is always a chance of misunderstanding an issue, talking to different people with different mindsets may help enlighten us, and of course them. While Rachel raised the relevant point that a topic can be fully explained through a lecture, she didn’t mention that without questioning the proposed ideas, there would be little chance of comprehending its main point deeply.
This is pretty good work, but there are a few errors like: "in learning process" (should be "in THE learning process") "provides us with varied aspects of it" (should be something like "helps us understand various aspects of it") "the substantial essence" (should be something like "its main points" but I am not totally sure what you mean) I guess this one would score about 22 points, but I bet you can do better!
Hello Michael, Thanks for helping us. this is my writing sample: In my opinion, classes with interactive discussions are much better than those only including lectures, because I think interaction is a key factor affecting students' learning experience. As Mike mentioned before, having discussion with others can help us to remind things better, since there are more unpredictable events during discussions. For instance, 10 years ago while I was going to high school, one of my classmates asked something about the relationship between the size of triangle edges and many of our classmates participated to the discussion, based on our teacher preferences. I still completely remember that and I'm sure that I'll never forget it, thanks to the class discussion and different opinions I heard. Moreover, it is probable to see something fun in the discussions and it can help even more to our mind in order to retain details better. That's why I think having discussion beside lectures can be more beneficial.
I think this one would score about 23 points. Your ideas are good, but there are grammar and language use errors throughout the response. I mean stuff like: "having discussion" (should be "having discussions") "remind things better" (should be "remember things better") "it can help even more to our mind" (I don't know what you mean) There are other issues, but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar!
I agree with Mike’s idea, and I add that students can broaden their horizon through discussion and also practice to tell their opinions to others. When I was a junior high school student, I participated in discussion program. I had three discussion sessions, and group members were changed every topic. I had a great opportunity to talk with others, sometimes I couldn’t understand some opinions, but these opposite ideas gave me a variety of points of view. As Rachel said, I understood the importance of lecture sessions, but recently it is easier to learn any subjects on the Internet by themselves. There are many same age students at school, so I believe that discussion time will be an efficiency way to learn social topics deeply and broadly for students.
Your ideas are okay, but there are grammar and language use errors throughout the answer. Like: "broaden their horizon" (should be "broaden their horizons") "practice to tell" (should be "practice telling") "in discussion program" (should be "in a discussion program") There are more, but I think you get the point. Reduce your error rate! This one would probably score about 22 points.
While both Mike and Rachel brought interesting points, I agree with Mike’s opinion that classes full of discussions are the best approach for efficient learning. By discussing any theme, is mandatory that you prepare before the class, as it would be embarasing to be asked any question and not be able to respond properly. The result of this is a habit, among the students, of studying the given subject in advance in order to actively participate in the classroom. Although Rachel brings an interesting point of view when she states that lectures allow a prepared professional to discuss a topic which he dominates, the student’s role in this scenario is such insignificant that learning turns into a harsh activity, which makes this type of class inefficient.
Note that we bring "up" points. There are a few other awkward expressions in your work. They include "the best approach for efficient learning" (should be something like: "the most efficient way to learn") and "such insignificant" (should be something like "so insignificant"). There are other errors, but you probably get the point. You need to eliminate those to get your score up. I think this one would score about 21 points.
Hi, I am new to your RUclips channel but your content helps me a lot!! Thank you so much and here is my answer. (It is basic but I tried to use your structure as much as I could.) In my opinion, the lecture-based classes are much better than discussion classes. I strongly agree with Rachel’s perspectives, and I’d add that the lecture is something that you only can listen to while you are in the classroom. Whenever we listen to a well-organized lecture by the professor, we can gain new knowledge and perspectives that we might not be able to absorb from discussions with our friends. Although Mike is right about the benefits of discussion which you can receive feedback right after your opinion and help students retain their memories, we can have time for discussion outside of class. So if we want to have a chance to get the feedback you can have a discussion with your classmates after class or even with professors.
Just say "lecture-based classes" in your opening sentence. You don't need "the" because you are talking about them in general. Drop "the" in the next sentence as well, and write "Lectures are something that you...". Avoid starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions like "so." The e-rater doesn't like that. There are other issues, but I will leave it at that! I think this one would score 22 or 23 points.
Hi Michael, this is my response: Both options have real advantages, but I am convinced that classes with many discussions will be better for students. First, when the teacher discusses the topic with her students, this will improve their communication skills in different ways. Learning how to debate a variety of concepts will have a great impact on the ways that students will deal with their managers at work, their families, and friends. They will learn to argue politely, avoid interrupting others, and express their ideas clearly. For example, when I was in high school, I used to participate in the discussion in Science class, this prepared me very well to show my presentation professionally and confidently when I went to college. I strongly agree with Mike’s perspective, and I would add that learning through discussions will help students remember the facts for the exam better than lectures because interactive teaching motivates the students’ brains to be fully conscious and aware during the class.
This is pretty good, but there are some grammar and language use errors. I think it would score about 23 points. A few errors include: "better for the students" (should be "better for students") "when the teacher discusses" (should be "when a teacher discusses") "Science" (should not be capitalized) There are more... but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar!
While I appreciate the points mentioned by both Mike and Rachel, I think that interactive classes are more beneficial than lecture classes. This is because it helps students to share opinions, experiences and exchange ideas. Moreover, Discussions and debates will give extra support for students to improve the understanding and the comprehension of any topic. Some students may feel distracted during a discussion. However, I believe it is easier to record the lecture and listen to it later. For example, when I was in pharmacy college, I used to record all the lectures and try to focus and participate during the discussion, it helped me a lot not only academically but also it has improved my social skills.
I like "lecture-based classes" more than "lecture classes." The latter just sounds unnatural. Use "this is because THEY help" instead of "it helps" since you are talking about classes in general. Watch out for capitalization errors like your use of "Discussion." There are other errors, but I think you get the point. I think this one would score 22 or 23 points, but I am sure you can do better!
I believe that both options have real advantages , but I'm convinced that discussion is better than lectures in many ways . First , with discussion students can ask about any idea when they do not understand it so they will not wait until the lecturer permit questions by the time they could have forgotten their questions . Moreover , diacussion stimulates mind storming thus it makes the class more interesting for students by providing new ideas and their own thoughts about the topic . Overall , I would say that discussion is a new method of teaching that all students could benifit from .
Your language use is pretty good but this one just seems way too short. I count 97 words and that includes a sentence at the end that just repeats your main idea. I recommend about 110 to 120 words without a repetitive conclusion. Overall, I think this one would score about 22 points, but I think you can do better.
In my humble opinion, I consider better having classes mainly focused on lectures. Although, Mike's perspective is valid, I think that for being able to discuss a topic it is necessary having a base knowledge of it first. In my case, I can learn better when I first have a class with the teacher to establish what the subject is about, having then a starter point of what I understand about that information and then researching over it, developing more opinions. Meanwhile, in the discussion class I usually feel like it is a lot of information in a short amount of time which makes me more confused about the main topic of the lecture. With that in mind, I would also say that the classroom is not usually the only place you have the ability to propose discussions. Not only are we able to form study groups for those purposes but we can also discuss most of those ideas online being able to comment anytime and not using the time in the classroom only for that. So, to sum up, I totally think that the classes should be more focused on the lectures than discussions.
I really appreciate your tremendous effort on the free TOEFL resources that would be a great help to many people globally. I have a question concerning the test: can I write some additive and constructive suggestions to further elaborate my arguments on the topic, like adding, "But most of all, it all depends on the student's participation in both approaches," or, "I think the balance of level of intellectuality among the students is of paramount importance in discussions"? My response: ""In my opinion, classes should be discussion-centered, which has the potential for keeping students attentive. Moreover, it allows students to think of creative, thought-provoking, and even stunningly brilliant ideas to share.When students are actively engaged in discussions, they are encouraged to articulate their thoughts. I understand that listening to an expert in a field often proceeds classes more on course and faster, but I want to point out that lessons that are too informative might prove to have a drawback by leading some students to be disinterested in the topic. In contrast, when students are actively engaged in discussions, they could more easily participate more by articulating their thoughts. By utilizing various teaching methods, educators can provide diverse learning styles and maintain student interest throughout the course."
Thanks for the kind words! I think you CAN include such phrases... but they are probably a waste of time and might just cause you to make more mistakes. Why bother? Likewise, when I see stuff like "stunningly brilliant ideas" I think you might be trying too hard. Be careful.
Hi Michael, thanks a lot for your crucial contribution to my toefl study. My response for the question: In my opinion, the best teaching way to be applied in class has changed over last years. My personal belief is that reaching knowledge was not easy since few people could contact with experts or acquire good information resources until the wide use of internet. However, everyone can access to any knowledge via internet thanks to the democratization of knowledge. For instance, I and my classmates followed Harvard’s open courses during our university education for mathematics lessons with the suggestion of our professor. Thus, we had opportunity to learn the basics of subject from a well-known expert. Then, we could use our class time to discuss the most difficult points of the lecture. I can understand Rachel’s concern over the chaotic environment of class during a discussion. On the other hand, we still have a professor who can lead the discussion and provide information when needed. Therefore, I strongly believe that a discussion led by a professor will bring fruitful results for students’ learning process.
I think this one would score about 19 or 20 points. There are multiple grammar and language use mistakes in every sentence. I suggest submitting your work to something like Grammarly so that you understand the sorts of mistakes you make most frequently.
Here is my answer: “The both learning types are good and delivers the main points on the subject, although I think it depends on the material if it’s pure theoretical or imperial, for theoretical courses I prefer lectures because it more abstract and needs an expert to explain it and simplifys it, in the other hand, imperial courses, the discussion way of teatching is preferred, in a way that the professor delves in discussion with the student about real cases that an advanced person in that subject will counter in the real world to give them a sense of how to deal with such real world problems, moreover, the professor could mix both learning types in a course, but this will need the professor to be experienced to teach this subject in order to know when to use each learning approach.” Thank you for your efforts.
Though Rachel has a good point that lectures are organized and structured, another key factor to consider is interactive lecture will be more active preparation. I strongly agree with mike viewpoint, I'd add that instead of still like an ideal in the lecture. moreover the students much prepare topics in advance with will give them a better understanding. Which would improve the spice of the topic and become more interesting , can lead to amend there scores in academic grades. Additionally, interactive classes will give abundance of knowledge about the topic . To add on ,this will bring up lot of points and details make students for interactive mainly help the introverts to put forth there ideas.
This is okay, but I think you can do better. I think your work would score about 22 points. You need to reduce your rate of grammar and language use mistakes.
Both opinions have real assets but I am convinced that discussions are much more effictive learning strategy. Discussions need in advance searches and survies so they have to read academic papers and scientific articles to get familiar with topic and boost their information. Whenever they need to search more, they must concentrate and get into topic stronger and deeper. Moreover, it' s a challenging issue for students to share their thoughts because of lack of self esteem. So discussions can make them to participate in class and share and defeat their ideas with high self confidence and undoubtly. Overall, I would say that discussion can create more academic and beneficial learning environment. I strongly agree with Mike's perspective.
Don't say that opinions have "assets." That sounds weird. I would say "both opinions are convincing, but I believe that..." Overall, you should use something like "Grammarly" to review your work because there are multiple grammar and language use errors in most of your sentences. Overall, I think this one would score about 20 points, but I bet you can do better!
In my opinion, classes with discussion benefit students more than ones students just listen to lectures, which aligns with Mike’s idea. In this regard, I want to add that in such classes, students have the opportunity to talk about the educational concepts and information they need to learn with each other, so they can share their points of view, leading them to better grasp information and come up with new ideas.
Although Rachel mentioned an important point that in lecture-based classes, students can easily concentrate on the lectures they are provided with and are not distracted by discussions, she overlooked the fact during these discussions, they can utilize the suggestions and points of other students in order to solve their issues, which is beneficial for students' learning process.
I think this one would score about 19 points. You've got some terribly long and awkward sentences, like the one starting with "in this regard" and the one starting with "although Rachel."
In my opinion, it is always more advantageous to listen to the lecture without having any interruption. I feel this way because professors generally follow their personal agenda and timeline before they start to teach a course. It may be disturbing after a point of time if students initiate more discussion rather than paying attention the actual content of the course. Moreover, conflicting perceptions may create chaos and unwanted waste of time. If students focus on actively listening to the content of the class, it can help them to thinking about the concepts later in self-study hours. Furthermore, universities nowadays allot separate sessions for doubt clearing purposes, which is called as tutorial classes. Students would revise the sections and come to attend those sessions which are particularly designed for doubt clearing and discussion. It would save the time and also keep the course in its flow.
There are a lot of awkward phrases like "may create chaos and unwanted waste of time" in this answer. There are also grammar and language use errors like "it would save the time." I think it would score about 20 points.
The topic of education has sparked considerable discussion in recent years. In my view, students who actively participate in discussions are far better than those who merely listen to lecturers. I wholeheartedly agree with Mike's point, and I would like to emphasize that students should preview the materials they are going to discuss in class. This approach enables them to gain a deeper understanding and innovative perspective on challenging academic topics. Moreover, active engagement allows students to delve into the details during discussions, aiding in better knowledge retention and improved examination performance. While I understand Rachel's concern about interruptions, I believe she overlooks another critical point. Nowadays, recording lectures is effortless, enabling students to easily review unclear portions for better comprehension. tks for help~
This is a solid response. I think it would score about 28 points. You might want to push your word count a little higher if you are targeting a perfect writing score.
@@Toeflresources Thank you for the feedback, and I'm also wondering whether it's necessary to include a starter, or if it's acceptable to begin with "In my opinion." Additionally, I'm hesitant about crafting a basic conclusion. If I require more words, would the most effective approach involve adding further contributions to the discussion?
Hi, Michael, thank you for your videos! Here's my essay: In my case, I strongly agree with Rachel’s opinion. I also prefer taking lectures instead of having lots of discussion. Giving lectures is more comprehensive. On the contrary, discussion often focuses on a few topics and sometimes people may get derailed to irrelevant issues during discussion or become emotional or aggressive when they have opposing opinions. Besides, if you have some unresolved questions or some perspectives you want to look into deeply, you can always discuss it with your classmates, teaching assistants, or even professors after class. That’s all for the reasons why I think it’s better for students to learn from lectures.
There are a few language use and grammar errors here. They include: "Giving lectures is more comprehensive" (I think you just mean "lectures are more comprehensive") "on the contrary" (in this case you should use "in contrast") "derailed to irrelevant issues" (I think you mean something like "derailed, and focus on...") There are more, but I think you get the point! Focus on reducing your error rate as you continue to prepare for the test. I think this one would score 21 or 22 points, but I am sure you can do better!
While there are different approaches to education, In my opinion, classes with a lot of discussion are better than classes focused on lectures. While Rachel mentions that lecture-based classes help students stay focused and organized, I tend to agree more with Mike. I'd add that having a lot of discussions make students more engaged and interactive because they have to stay focused and at the same time excited to share their thoughts to convince others about their points of view. Not only this, but it adds a kind of fun and enjoyment to the class, while in lecture-focused classes, students may feel bored and may not be able to pay attention to the professor. For example, if the lecture is about history, students just sit and listen to a huge amount of information, they may lose enthusiasm and sometimes fall asleep.
I think this one would score about 23 points. Watch out for sloppy errors like the capital letter on "In my opinion." Note the subject-verb agreement error in "having... make." Don't say "a kind of fun." Just say "fun." There are more errors, but I think you get the point!
Hi Michel! Thank you very much for the video and for the help. I don't know if you're still responding to these comments, but here follows my answer to this question. Thanks again! Both options have real advantages, but I am convinced that interactive classes are way better for students. I strongly agree with Mike's option that in these kind of activities you understand things in a more profound manner. I would add that you put your thoughts to the test when you argue with someone. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lectures have a clearer structure, she did not mention that passively listening could lead to forgetfulness. For example, when you watch a movie you may understand the story, but a week latter you already forgot some important details about it. In a academic perspective, this might represent important facts that you would be missing when answering a test.
While I appreciate the point mentioned by Mike and Rachel, I think that the best way to improve the learning experience is to have a combination of both lectures as well as discussions. Nowadays we have artificial intelligence which can help to get all the necessary information that we need but we still need to have discussions, share our perspectives, or learn from a different perspective which can mold our understanding in a way that helps us to retain the information and also help to understand the crystal clear concepts. Remember that if we choose any one way it will always have limitations but when we incorporate all different ideas, it can provide wholesome experience for students. Some people may feel that it can take a lot of time but I think if the students get a clear understanding after this then this is worth doing it this way.
I personally think that both, lectures and discussions have advantages. If I had to choose though, i think I would opt for discussions. I am a very open and talkative person, so I prefer to discuss topics with fellow students and professors. Adding to the thoughts of Mike, it not only helps me remember the details more easily, but I also find it quite interesting and to some point even inspiring to hear about other perspectives beside the lecturers. Moreover I strongly believe that discussions challenge our ability to take part in argumentative talking environments. I get where you are going, Rachel, but I in contrary think, that an argumentative environment is rather challenging than taking away from the learning experience. Thus, I would opt for more discussions than lectures in class.
well, as professor stated everyone has their own perception to any situation so do i have my own . moreover i got the point what both Rachel and mike are trying to convey but i personally believe that there should be both the practice of listening to lectures and a certain amount of time should be devoted to the discussion that might be after the lecture finishes. but it is very important to discuss a topic not only for the student to get a broad perspective of a topic but also for the professor to know whether the lecture they are delivering is beneficial for the students or not. we could to both of them in order to balance out both learning and imparting what we have learnt.
Start every sentence with a capital letter. I beg you! Don't let basic errors like that hurt your score! Don't start with a filler sentence like "as professor stated everyone..." Overall, I think this one would score about 17 points. There are just too many grammar and language use errors in your work. Focus on improving that aspect of your writing as much as possible before test day.
Thank you so much for your effort and time for students like me, huge respect for you. Hope that more videos will be available in this academic writing topic.
@@Toeflresources I am planning to take an exam on 23 October. I'm familiar with all sectors but unaware of academic writing, so please if possible make it fast with extra hints, tricks, and descriptions. Thank you🙏.
Though Rachel has a good point about effectiveness of lectures, another key factor to consider that interactive lessons bring up increased students' motivation that ensures academic success. It provides students to feel free to explain their own opinions and create a brain storm with each different perspections. In this way, the lessons become more attractive and students come to class more willingly. In addition, being in a discussion about academic topic is required knowlenge. Students have to preperare for each content before the class. It provides a background and studying persistently which brings up academic achivement on tests. To sum up, i believe that interactive class with discussions improves students' academic process more motivated and successful.
I think this one would score about 19 points. There are multiple grammar and language use errors in every sentence. You absolutely need to focus on grammar in the future.
While I appreciate the points mentioned by both Mike and Rachel, I really think that having a lot of discussions in the classroom is a fantastic idea that more institutions should consider. Nowadays, teaching and learning practices have changed dramatically. Students often demand quick responses from their teachers, and instant feedback provides them an opportunity to correct their problems, allowing them to retain knowledge more deeply and clearly. Moreover, proper discussions on particular topics make the classroom environment more interactive and memorable, so this approach is probably best for everyone. However, relying solely on discussion classes doesn't guarantee that students have concise information and a solid understanding of their theoretical courses. Therefore, students should be well-motivated to attend lectures. Attending lectures enhances their capabilities to face new challenges, and develops a strong theoretical background. Thus, it is valuable to attend lectures rather than relying solely on discussion classes.
My response: (I did subscribed) In my opinion classes centered on lectures are much more productive than those given over merely discussions. In the first place because one can be concentrated in a certain topic without scattered conversations that finally leave the main topic of discussion. Moreover, pre-reading helps us to have a deeper picture of the study and then we might discuss some of the main points. In conclusion, having a class based in lectures will lead us to a more integral dissertation in order to produce knowledge.
Thanks for subbing! There are a lot of little grammar and language use errors here. Like: "than those given over merely discussions" (should be something like "than those which only have discussions") and "In the first place" (should be something like "First of all" Also, don't waste time on a conclusion that repeats your main point. Just add more details.
Hi Michael, thank you for your amazing videos. Here is my response: In my perspective, it is far better to have interactive classes. I strongly agree with Mike’s opinion, and I’d add that in these situations, students have to conduct research, read and think deeply about the topic beforehand. Hence, they will gain a certain extent of mastery over the topic and be aware of its all ins and outs of the topic. Moreover, they will be inspired by other students’ opinions during discussion and develop their own idea progressively. Furthermore, by having discussion, students will be able to store the details and all information in their memory much better and accordingly get better grades. On the other hand, in terms of psychology, these kinds of discussions will help students become more flexible and be more receptive to others opinion. This will help them act competitively and try to convince others while having this opportunity to being convinced by others. Overall, I’d say that this kind of classes are so influential for improving students’ education quality and also their personality.
This is a pretty good response. I think it would score about 24 points. Just watch out for grammar errors like... "by having discussion" (should be "by having discussions:) "to others opinions" (should be "to others' opinions" or "the opinions of others") "this kind of classes" (should be "these kinds of classes" or "this kind of class")
Thank you for your informative video. Here is my response : In my opinion, classes with interactive discussions are far better than the lecture oriented classes. As Mike has said, in case of discussion based classes we can have the opportunity to have the feedbacks from the professor or other students. By discussing with other students we can easily get the idea and also various new ideas can also be developed during the discussions. The problem of not having the concentration during discussion, as depicted by Rachel, can also be solved by observing notes of the discussions taken by other students. These notes can be shared in a common drive so that everyone can have the access to see the discussion summary later. In conclusion, I'd say that discussion is definitely an amazing way to learn new things.
This is okay, but there are language and grammar use errors like: "than the lecture oriented classes" (should drop the definite article) "in case of discussion based classes" (should just be "in discussion based classes) "feedbacks" (this is non-count) There are others, but you get the point. Focus on grammar as much as you can!
I have the same opinion as Mike that classes with discussions are more helpful for students than classes with a lot of lectures. This of course depends on the student, because everyone learns differently. But in my perspective, it is better to get to know and understand other people´s opinion, while discussing with them in class. That’s how you can better inform yourself on a topic because you are able to look at it in many different ways and hear a lot of different opinions. Moreover I am not a person who likes to listen to one teacher for hours because I can’t concentrate after some time and don’t remember a lot of things.
This is pretty decent. Just try to avoid starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions like "but" as the e-rater seems to dislike that. Use those conjunctions between clauses. Stick a comma after "moreover" when it begins a sentence. Try to use some subordinating conjunctions. Overall, I'd say this one would score about 22 or 23 points.
While many people, like Rachel, prefer lecture-intensive courses, I do believe that discussion-based classes may bring more benefit to the students. Adding to Mike’s point about the advantages of getting exposed to different opinions, I believe that discussion-based classes encourage students to think about why their stance is better than the opposing one, which would foster critical thinking skills. For lecture classes, the professor just presents useful information and the students are usually never given the chance to challenge the points made by the professor. When students are asked why their opinion is valid, they begin to think about reasons to support their statements and refute the opposing positions by using rhetoric or persuasiveness which are some of the important skills that students should learn during their course of study. Thank you so much for this great video!
This is a fairly strong response. I think it would score about 25 points. There are a few errors related to articles, though, so consider running your practice responses through something like Grammarly to identify them.
Thanks for this useful video! Here's my response to the question: In my opinion, the classes with a lot of discussions are more beneficial for students. I firmly agree with Mike's perspective, and I would add that knowledge acquired from the interaction with people, such as discussions, can last longer than the knowledge just obtained from one side, such as lectures. For example, I currently cannot remember what I have learned from professors' lectures on economics that I took several years ago, but I still remember the specific topic and information discussed in the classes where I actively participated. Although it is true that students can be distracted if the discussions get off the original topic, like Rachel said, we do not need to worry about it because it is the professor's role to manage and lead the discussions.
I think this one would score 22 or 23 points. Your ideas are solid, but there are a lot of grammar and language use errors, like: "the classes with a lot of discussions" (you should omit "the") "the interaction with people" (should be "interactions" with people) "the knowledge just obtained (you should omit "the"). There are other errors, but I think you get the point. Focus on reducing your error rate as much as you can.
thanks! I think lectures are inherently more beneficial for effective learning in a classroom. I get Mike's point about the importance of communication and discussion between students, but more often than not, these sorts of discourses stray away from the main topic. On the other hand, lectures have a set structure that guarantees to inform students about a topic in a more detailed manner. Many professors who conduct lectures have years of experience, and are highly knowledgeable in their field, so students should take advantage of the golden opportunity they are given, which is to be able to listen to their talks. Besides, more meaningful discussions happen after class, when everyone has a basic idea of the material they've learned. After a lecture, conversations between students are likely to be more thought-provoking because everyone had time to process the information they gained during class.
Thank you very much for the video. Here is my response: "This is a challenging topic, but I think that lectures are better for students. I strongly agree with Rachel’s point that usually lectures are more on-topic. One reason for this is that teachers can better foresee and therefore prepare lectures. I’d add that after every important point is made in a discussion, student tend to repeat statements, which were already mentioned before. While Mike raised the relevant point that discussions involve active participation of the students, he didn’t mention that not every student likes to participate in a discussion. Normally just a few students are actively involved in a discussion and students, who are shy, won’t state anything at all." (110 words)
Watch out for errors like "student tend" (should be "students tend") and "students, who are shy, won't state" (shouldn't have commas). Also, try to use a few coordinating conjunctions. I think this one would score about 23 points.
While I agree with Rachel's point that studying with a clear roadmap is a help, I still believe that only through discussions can students learn a set of crucial soft skills. Take myself for example, once I was assigned to be a leader of the group discussion and oral presentation in the Digital Education course. Choosing a team member and allocating workloads evenly is undoubtedly the most difficult decision to make as a project lead. I acknowledge that the important mindset of leadership is to be decisive. Furthermore, when the team members were arguing about whether we should stand for or against the statement that e-learning can help children, I stopped them from attacking each other, held a debate instead, and made effective communication between the team members. As a result, I delivered a perfect lecture during the presentation day. With those unique lessons I learned from discussions, I believe that it is better for students to take classes with a lot of discussion.
While there are certainly advantages of taking more lectures with less discussions. I think when the students engage in more discussions is more value for them for many reasons. Firstly, the students will gain al lot of encouragements to be a great researcher in the future. What is more is that participating in more discussion make a learner braver in presenting his or her ideas. I agree why the perspective of Rachel .i remember that when I was child I gained a huge knowledge by engaging myself in discussion with my teachers and friends . that is why it really crucial to be more involved with teachers.
I think this one would score about 17 points. There are too many grammar and language use and punctuation errors. You need to focus on those things before you take the test.
While Rachel's opinion is also convincing, I agree with Mike, and I think that discussions in a class allow students to think deeply about topics and critically dispute each other. Moreover, if the students know they will participate in a discussion, they'll prepare better for the class and read prerequisite material enthusiastically, so they learn profoundly. Additionally, although Rachel's concern could be right, the professor observes the flow of the discussion, so it wouldn't be unnecessarily long and out of context. This method not only stimulates the class atmosphere but also allows the professor to establish a friendly relationship with the students.
I think this one would score about 22 or 23 points. There are errors like "dispute each other" (should be something like "debate each other") and "so they learn" (should be "so they will learn"). Focus on reducing your error rate!
This is a challenging topic, but I believe that classes with a lot of discussions provide student a more active and focs learning atmosphere, which can in turn stimulate students motivation to learn. I agree with Mike's idea that through discussion, topics can be discussed more deeply and broader, sometimes even providing a new perspective. While Rachel raised a relevant point that discussions can sometimes get off track, it is worth noting that teachers can also take part in the discussion, provide their opinion and even intervene the discussion if needed. In fact, teachers usually play a critical role during group discussions, which includes motivating relatively quiet student to engage and introduct the group the topic, doing their best to guide the discussion on the right track.
This is a solid answer, but there are minor errors throughout. Like: "provide student" (should be "provide students") "more deeply and broader" (should be "more deeply and broadly") "focs" (should probably be "focused") "introduct" (should be "introduce") There are more errors, but I think you get the point. Even little slips add up eventually. I think your work would score about 24 or 25 points.
Thank you very much ! This is my response There is no shortage of opinions on the topic of what type of classes is preferable for students in terms of getting profound knowledge. I agree with Mike’s viewpoint on this issue. I do believe that providing students with the opportunity to discuss their opinions is able to lead to a deeper understanding of the subject. To begin with, when students are aware of upcoming discussions they will select and prepare strong arguments and during this process, their knowledge might be expanded as learners have to scrutinize vast amounts of resources in order to build their point of view. Moreover, students could enhance their ability to defend their opinion as they have to argue with others. For example, I remember my comrade who attended such classes where he was obliged to discuss various topics, and in order not to get in trouble he had to be well prepared. Thus, he possessed profound knowledge in these fields. To sum up, I firmly believe that classes which demand arguments between students during the lessons are able to boost comprehension of the material.
Use a singular noun after "what type of." Always! Don't call your friend your "comrade." Otherwise, I think this is pretty decent and it would score 23 or 24 points.
Though both the ways of learning in class have some advantage and some disadvantage. I prefer the class with group discussion. When we can share our thoughts with others, we can find our mistakes and can reconsider our way of processing the issue. Discussion with peer groups helps us to remember the specific details of the discussed topic that eventually make the learning easier. Moreover, discussion on a topic require us to prepare ourselves before the debate, therefore we can have an effective conversation in the group. At the same time, teacher can join in the group discussion that make the group discussion and learning even more robust. That’s why I prefer this.
There are a lot of grammar mistakes in this one. You seem to be particularly weak when it comes to articles. I recommend using something like "Grammarly" to help clean up your grammar. I estimate that this one would score about 19 or 20 points.
I'm personally of the opinion that one of the most, if not the most, crucial ways that enables us to benefit more from lessons and classes is associated with our engagement in the discussions. In this respect, I think that students ought to engage in accademic conversations, rather than listening to the lectures. Actually, no one can deny the fact that when people are engaged in challenging disccusions, they can expand their herizons by paying attention to others' perspectives, and this is why I am on the same page with Mike. I want to emphasize that when people are involved in classes with a lot of discussions, their learning process may become more efficient because they feel an urge to defend their viewpoints and this urge may force them to read and research more. This could make the classes more appealing to students who are looking for more interactive and engaging learning experiences. On the other hand, although I appreciate the points mentioned by Rachel, I want to say that lectures could be very boring. If lectures in classes become monotonous, they may bring about some negative results, and they may affect the students' desire for participating in classes because, after all, no one wants to waste his or her time in monotonous lectures.
I think your opening line has a lot of awkward filler. Just say something more obvious like: "I'm personally of the opinion that we benefit a lot from classes with discussions." You aren't going to impress either the human rater or the e-rater with what you wrote. Note that we are on the same page "as" other people. Don't use "on the other hand, although I appreciate." Just start with "although I appreciate." I think this one would score 22 or 23 points.
This is a challenging topic, I think that the lecture with discussion would be a better education way. I strongly agree with Mike, hearing innovative ideas from different people is crucial because I can view the topic from other aspects which I might never think before. With the aid of discussion, I believe that the vibe of the lecture will be more active. This can lead students to pay more attention to the class rather than sleeping. Hence, this is a good way to help students on learning. Some might argue that the lecture time is limited, we should let the professor talk about the deep concept in the classroom. However, I believe that learning is a permanent task for everyone. If we are inspired during the lecture, we could learn more about the topic from the Internet.
In my personal opinion, i think that taking classes with a lot of discussing is better for students than solely lectures. for several reasons, one, and is the most significant reason is to demise many problems that students may force with the topic taken. for example, when someone has a wrong beliefe about something relates to the lecture and discuss that with the professor and students, this discussing can lead this person to correct his beliefe by providing some convinced ideas. Another advantage is that discussing demonstrate interesting and new views and perspectives, and by that, we all can expand our knowledge and improve our thinking way.
I think this one would score about 17 or 18 points. There are just too many grammar, language use and punctuation errors. Try using a service like "Grammarly" to highlight your mistakes. Keep practicing until you can reduce your error rate.
I would strongly recommend a discussion-based classes. I believe this method of teaching will add an extra layer to understanding the material. For example, learning about two different perspectives on a topic or engaging in lively back and forth debates during the class, which will further retain information. Moreover, while I do see Reachel's point of why having a certain agenda will save time and be sharp to the point, many professors do not really follow that agenda, or follow it strictly without taking notes if students actually follow the topic, which creates a rigid learning environment where only a few top students are able to follow the material properly, while students who have questions and prefer a more lively discussions will fall behind. Overall, while I see advantages for both, I would prefer the lively discussions so all students will be able to follow equally.
Don't use "a" before a plural noun like "classes." Your third sentence looks like a sentenced fragment to me. The sentence beginning with "Moreover..." seems to go on forever and I can't really follow it. :) I recommend running your work through something like "Grammarly" to get a better handle on the types of mistakes you make. I think this answer would score about 20 points, but I am sure you can do better.
For me , i think that classes that involve a lot of discussions are much better than lectures. First of all, through discussions we can evolve in learning process as discussions help us to gain more experiences through interacting with each other. Additionally, discussions make us more active than listening to professors. Moreover, learning through discussions strengthen our ability to express opinions and thus breaking our shy. Furthermore, through discussions we can understand much better through our answers and the professor's response to them. Also by learner's responses we can gain more and more knowledge and thus gain more experiences.
Don't use "For me, I think." Just use "I think." Remember to capitalize the pronoun "I." The structure here seems somewhat simplistic, as every sentence begins with an identical sort of transition: additionally, moreover, furthermore, also. Consider using one of my templates: www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-writing-templates/
In my point of view, I prefer taking classes with a lot of discussions for many reasons. First of all, by this way of learning students will be able to understand everything clearly and the information will stuck in their minds for a long time. Another thing by discussing all of students will be active in the class and they will be able to add their own information. As Mike said, by discussing students will have the chance to gain immediate feedback. Discussing classes will make students to be able to understand everything deeply and in an easy way. By this way students will get more benefits.
I think this one would score about 21 points. You need conjunctions! There is a real lack of grammatical sophistication in your answer, which can certainly hold you back.
Thanks: Different approaches to education have always been a hot topic for debate, and coincidentally, this discussion itself can be quite educational. My personal belief is that it really depends on the subject being taught. For example, students in a dramatic writing class generally prefer a more interactive and open environment, they welcome workshops and play out each other's works as there aren't many rules. But on the other hand, in a math class, students tend to discuss less with one another and the professor really focuses on getting all information across by intensive lecturing. Too much discussion in a math class lead to nothing, whereas it's essential in a more creative and less restricted class like creative writing. I totally understand Mike's fondness of classmates interactions and Racheal's concern that discussions deviate quite often, they individually work for some categories, however, a more comprehensive approach, in my opinion, would be treating different subjects with suitable lecturing methods.
I think this one would score about 24 points. You need a conjunction of some sort between "open environment" and "they welcome." However, you should avoid starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions like you did with "but on the other hand." There are also a few small grammar errors like "too much discussion in a math class lead" (should be "leads").
Both ways have a real advantage, but I'm convinced that in educating young people we have to let them discuss their own opinions, by making the classes open for discussion, especially in human subjects, because there is a vary different subject which lead to new paths for understanding each one of them, while student having a discussion in classes they will have the chance to adapt different opinions and explain them to their pears, as well as having the chance to evolve their own learning process, overall, I would say that listening to other people opinion in classes should be a must, because it would make the student exited to attend each lecture, and they will know that their thoughts matter.
This one would probably score about 18 or 19 points. There are multiple grammar and language use errors in every sentence. That will really hold you back. I recommend using something like Grammarly to check your work.
In my point of view, taking the classes with lots of discussions is much better than the ordinary lectures for three reasons. Firstly, students will express their opinions about their lessons. Then, they will brainstorm what they have dealing with the lessons they are being taught. However, in the normal way taking the lessons by lecture, the learners will only go with the ideas with the lecture. Secondly, students can share their personal views when they are in a discussion of the lessons they learn. In this case, they can even discuss with each other and get the opinions of others, which can improve their knowledge. On the other hand, lessons by the lecture will only share the knowledge provided in it. Finally, students debate with each other in more advanced way of learning by the discussion than by the lecture.
Can you please review my answer: While I understand what both of you mean, I strongly agree with Mike’s opinion that discussion can help students to learn more efficiently than studying fixed material. I believe that discussing topics could broaden student’s horizons, additionally It might stimulate their imagination for better understanding of specific topics by thinking about it. For Example, when I was in high school. My physics teacher was teaching us very complicated topics and concepts. But, when he gave us some examples on how these topics have been used in our daily life, the course became much fun. For instance, he taught us how scientists use our math formulas to calculate launching a satellite.
I think this one would score about 23 or 24 points. You just have to avoid minor errors like: "student's" (should be "students'") "For Example" (should be "for example") "examples on" (should be "examples of")
How would you rate my writing on a scale of 30? In this argument, I would like to state that I’m in favour of listening to lectures against solely partaking in discussions. I strongly agree with Rachel’s perspective on this matter, and would like to add that it really helps to take well structured notes while listening to a lecture where the contents are in complete order. These notes come in handy when we need to refer to them for studying or revising the subject later. While Mike makes a good point that we can get immediate feedback from participating in discussions, there also remains a strong probability that the feedback might be rather misleading as people tend to make mistakes in the heat of discussions, or one might speak from incomplete understanding of the topic. Overall, in my opinion I would say that structured lectures are better compared to discussions.
I think this one would score about 23 or 24 points. There are small grammar and language use errors throughout your answer. Those could hurt you on test day.
Both classes with lots of discussions and classes focused on lectures have their pros and cons, but in my opinion, it is better for students to take classes in which they often engage in discussions. For starters, students would be able to bring up their own ideas and therefore improve in critical thinking abilities. Also, as Mike mentioned, we get a deeper understanding of the concepts through the process, which allows us to retain information better. Though Rachel made a point on discussions being argumentative and distracting, I believe that the teacher would be able to keep track of the flow of the lesson and deal with specific situations. I would like to add that instead of taking away from the learning experience, exchanging ideas and accepting different perspectives is in fact an important part of education itself. Overall, the benefits of discussion outweigh the possible drawbacks, which is why I am convinced that classes with discussions are better.
This is a pretty good response. I think it would score 24 or 25 points. Just don't bother with a conclusion at the end. That looks awkward in a task like this. You aren't supposed to write a mini essay. You are instead supposed to write something that looks like a post on a message board. Like part of a conversation!
This is a challenging topic, but I think that education that contains numerous discussions is much more beneficial in comparison with classes based on lectures. Therefore, I strongly agree with Mike's idea that discussions provide an opportunity to be more connected with a topic and other students. In addition, I would mention that discussions force people to generate their own ideas about subjects and allow them to take into consideration the opinions of others. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lectures show more structural information, she did not mention that lectures could not be individual for each person. As a result, if someone did not understand the main point of a phenomenon, it would be difficult for him to learn subsequent information from a lecture.
I think this one would score about 22 points. I think "much more beneficial in comparison with" should be replaced with "more beneficial than". Also, you should replace "lectures could not be" with "lectures cannot be." I am not sure what you mean by "main point of a phenomenon." Do you just mean "presentation" or "topic"?
In my opinion, discussion about a point given by the professor is one of the appropriate approaches that could be considered as a learning method. I strongly concur with Mike’s idea that having a lot of discussion steers students toward being more engaged and interactive in classes. I would add that classroom discussion provides an opportunity for students to gain critical thinking and problem-solving abilities; as a result, getting such skills would help students to tackle some problems they might face in their future life. Rachel raised a relevant point that listening to a lecture given by an expert professor is a proper approach to learning in class, but she did not mention that in some cases, a lecturer might explain a specific topic with a monotonous rhythm which makes students get bored. In this case, students might experience mind-wandering instead of concentrating on the lecture. Overall, I would say that students could benefit from discussion more than lecturing in class.
I don't really know what you mean by "In my opinion, discussion about a point given by the professor is one of the appropriate approaches that could be considered as a learning method." I can't even guess, really. Just start by stating your direct and clear response to the question. I think your work would score about 20 points.
The choice of attending classes with discussions or just a course focused on lectures has been a hot topic. In my opinion, I believe that interactive lectures will be beneficial to students. I agree with Mike's opinion, and I'd add that lively participation in discussions will foster a better understanding of confusing topics for the students. For instance, in the event that the student has inquiries regarding the lecture, their peers or the professor will be able to promptly address the issue and proceed to the subsequent topic. In addition, discussions will promote socialization and better communication skills for the students. In general, I believe that engaging in classes that feature a significant number of discussions can prove advantageous for learners as they will acquire knowledge on diverse subjects simultaneously, and will be able to effectively communicate with their peers and instructors.
Start your response with a sentence that actually states your argument. I don't like your "has been a hot topic" line. Don't use "in my opinion" AND "I believe." Using both is redundant. I think this one would score about 22 points.
There are different approaches to improve the way students learn in classes. While as Rachel stated, a one-way class in which the teacher is the active subject is more organized, in my opinion, an interactive class benefits the students more. To begin with, listening to one person for the length of a class session could be boring; Therefore, it would reduce students' enthusiasm. In general, when people participate in a conversation, they are motivated to listen to its details too. Second, as Mike mentioned, chances to gain more information during a discussion increase dramatically, while there is interaction between the students and the teacher. As an example, I remember when I was a junior, our history class teacher would have asked us to study the topic in advance and discuss what we have learned in the upcoming g class. As a result, I still remember every detail of the historical events we discussed in those classes.
This is decent, but there are a few grammar and language use errors. Like: "approaches to improve" (should be "approaches to improving") "is the active subject" (should be something like "is the center of attention") "benefits the students" (should be "benefits students") There are other minor issues, but I think you get the point. I suppose this one would score about 22 or 23.
@@Toeflresources thank you so much, I am writing a lot of samples everyday and can see my improvement. Is there anyway that I can send you one every other week to get your opinion about it? I need a minimum of 24 for my writing section.
Well, @@katayounkazemi1407 , if you need more attention I recommend signing up for my evaluation program. Here's a link: www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-essay-evaluation-and-scoring/
Hello Michael, thank you very much for our help. Here is my response: In my opinion both options have its own advantages and disadvantages, but I am more inclined to benefits of interactive classes. Here I will explain why. By myself I am a lecturer at university and from my personal experience the students find it hard to stay focused on specific topic for a long time without interaction. While I believe that lectures where the teacher is the main presenter is invaluable and helps the students see the big picture as well as key points about the subject, at the same time I have witnessed that listeners lose concentration if they are just passive observers and are not involved in a process. Overall, I support having classes of two types. Proportionally less time should be devoted to lectures where teacher is the main presenter, but they should try to rise discussions meanwhile, not to lose the bond with the audience. After the introductory lecture, main focus should be on interactive seminars where the topic is more reinforced by discussions.
I think this one would score about 22 points. A few things are worth mentioning here: 1. Your "but I am more inclined..." line is hard to follow. I think you should just use an easier line like "I prefer...". 2. Don't use "by myself." Use "For example, I am a lecturer..." 3. "lectures... is" is a subject-verb agreement error. I will leave it at that, but I recommend running your work through something like Grammarly to catch more errors!
Here's my version. Education is one of the key aspects of human life and it has undergone some major changes and improved its methods over time. Actually, I am inclined to believe that using discussions during the class is more preferable for me inasmuch as it helps students to think differently and look for certain topics from different angles, which in turn develops their critical thinking and analyzing skills. I completely sympathize with Rachel’s concern that lectures often follow specific structures which keeps the class more organized, however, this might seem boring sometimes. I would also add that students sometimes are inclined to learn from peers, since they are the people with whom they spend most of their time and sharing some kinds of ideas and knowledge would seem beneficial and interesting for them. Overall, despite having ordinary lecture classes, some changes such as class discussions will improve the way students learn which is why I have no doubt that this is a good approach to education.
Your grammar is okay, but some of your word choices are awkward and unidiomatic. I mean stuff like: "is one of the key aspects of human life" (should be something like "is a major part of our lives" "and improved its methods" (should be something like: "and has changed") "during the class" (should be "during classes") There are more, but I think you get the point. I think your answer would score about 21 or 22 points.
This is a difficult topic, but I believe that it is best for students to take classes that emphasize conversation rather than lectures. I absolutely agree with Mike's point that a class with a lot of debate provides an opportunity to obtain fast feedback and hear multiple perspectives on a given topic. I would add that in the course of the conversation about the themes, we even come up with new ideas that are definitely innovative, and the discussion also tests our critical thinking abilities because it is a more involved method. While Rachel raised the pertinent point that classes with lecture oriented is more listening to an expert explaining the topic with clear content and set of agendas that help her stay focused and organized, she failed to mention the interests of other students that always hearing from one person may be boring, implying that a student may be physically present in a class, but their mental being is somewhere else. Overall, two-way communication in the form of discussion aids students in their learning.
Excellent work. I think this one would score about 24 or 25 points. There are just a few issues like the whole "While Rachel raised the pertinent point that classes with lecture oriented is more listening to an expert explaining the topic with clear content and set of agendas that help her stay focused and organized." I can't really parse that. Also, don't use "their mental being is somewhere else." Just be clear and say "but they may not be paying attention."
While I appreciate the stance mentioned by Rachael, I think that having an interactive class can effectively enhance students’ absorption of lessons. Before discussing with others, students have to consider the content thoroughly and go to great lengths to convert those concepts into spoken words. The process of transforming the information enables students to have a deeper understanding of the topic, which is a crucial ability for students. Moreover, by interacting with others, students are encouraged to conjure up some unique and solid supporting ideas. When other students provide their opinion, students’ capability to respond to those opinions by giving reasonable replies is necessarily required. Overall, I’d say that courses with a lot of discussions are more beneficial for students.
I think this one would score about 20 points. There are some errors including: "discussing with others" (should be something like "discussing things with other") "consider the content" (should be something like "consider the subject") "enables students to have a deeper understanding" (should be simplified to something like: "gives students a deeper understanding..." There are other errors, but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar and language use as much as possible as you move forward.
In my opinion, discussion-based classes play a pivotal role in boosting valuable hands-on skills. I strongly agree with Mike's idea that students get familiar with various assortments of perspectives when they discuss in the classroom. I'd add that students hone critical and analytical thinking while listening to fellow students' standpoints. This is because students are responsible to provide a new opinion which is not expressed previously. Specifically, they listen to other students' viewpoints meticulously then promptly analyze them from various angles and finally come up with the most innovative solution. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lecture oriented classes give a sense of discipline, she did not mention that professors lead discussions as well so as to ensure pupils deal with the set agenda. Thank you in advance for providing valuable comments on my essay. Bests, Reyhane
This is pretty good, but remember that "discuss" needs a direct object. Like this: "discuss THINGS with people in the classroom." Also, try to avoid repeating "student" so many times.
`Both students have valid reasons for their preferences, but I’m more in favor of combining both approaches to ensure that students get the best out of their learning experience. In most colleges today, there are various criteria that students must meet in order to be prepared for the real world, which means that individuals must be flexible and adapt to an array of learning processes. Moreover, nowadays it’s quite common for schools to have students from different parts of the world enrolled in their faculties which suggests that favoring one approach over the other will definitely put some students at a disadvantage. Thus, I’ll say that a more effective way to prepare students for life after the classroom is to expose them to both methods of learning.
I think it is dangerous to support both sides. I don't see any rules against this on the ETS website, but it feels dangerous to me. I think you should pick one side and stick with it.
Here is my personal response, if anyone could give me feedbacks 😅 : I think both Mike and Rachel raised good points. As Mike said, in a class with a lot of discussion we as students have an opportunity to ask questions about complex topics that we are being taught, and therefore retain better. On the other hand, what Rachel is right about is that it can get off track, for example if everybody talks at the same time without listening to each other. In my opinion, the best way to learn efficiently and stay focused in class would be in a class with mainly discussion. Besides, I realised from my personal experience that I tend to memorize informations better after an interactive and fun class. Hence, if students listen to every point of view and that the discussion is organized, this type of class would be highly beneficial to everyone.
Remember that "feedback" is a non-count noun. :) Overall, I think this one would score about 23 points. Your answer is somewhat hard to follow because of slightly unidiomatic sentences. Also, note that "information" is a non-count noun. Finally, try to avoid repeating words too many times.
In my opinion, it is enormously beneficial for students to have interactive discussion in their class. Therefore, I strongly agree with Mike's opinion that when students are provided with discussion class, they are able to see things in a variety of perspectives. I'd add my own experience which can best demonstrate this idea. When I was in high school, there was a class where we had to give our own opinion on every topic. While this style of class made me stressed out sometimes, it helped me a lot be more confident and understand other peers' opinions. Because of this class, I could get a chance to broaden my horizons. Rachel raised the relevant point that a clear structure of a lecture can make students focus on the class, however, she missed the point that well-made lecture can't always be a productive way to study for those who are less motivated to just listen to a lecture.
Be sure to use the plural form when talking about something in general. Use "in their classes" because you are talking about classes in general. Use "with discussion classes" because you are talking about discussion classes in general. I think this one would score about 22 or 23 points.
Thanks a lot for this video. Here's my response. The topic of classes being held in the context of discussions or lectures has generated a lot of opinion in recent years. My personal belief is that it would be really beneficial for students to pursue classes that involve a lot of discussion. I understand Rachel’s concern over discussions becoming too argumentative, but I would say that is what makes it even more significant, as sometimes even the expert professors might teach something inaccurate, and if proper discussion is involved, it could be corrected at the same time. We should also not forget that argumentative discussions were the primary reasons behind many successful and unsuccessful discoveries, like the atomic model. Also, because lectures often have a set agenda to teach, they can become quite boring, whereas in discussion, you get to share a variety of aspects, which makes them more interesting and unique.
The whole opening line isn't needed. Like a lot of people you are trying to turn this into an independent essay. Instead, you should just start with your opinion. Otherwise, this is solid, with just a few minor grammar problems like "even the expert professors" (should be just "even expert professors"). Overall, I think this one would score about 26 or 27 points.
I strongly believe that taking class with full of discussion is better for a couple of reasons. When students take part in debates, their self-confidence increases. Self-confidence is a vital part for contemporary academic institutions, so engaging in dialogue is the best way that students can enhance their self-confidence. Although Rachel is right partially about taking lectures, she doesn't consider that some debates are well structured too. On the other hand, attending in classes that students take part actively gives the students chance of making new friends. Indeed, building relationship is essential for everyone. Studies show that 95 percent of students make their friends during discussions in classes. Overall, in my perspective, it is a good idea for students to participate in classes, which have numerous discussions.
I think this one would score about 22 points. There are some grammar and language use errors throughout the response. Don't use "studies show." Making up fake stats is probably a bad idea here, just as it was in the independent task.
I strongly believe that its better to discussions the details in class. for that i agree with Mike's point about u can understand better .But i would like to add that it helps student to improve himself in weakness subject and to understand lesson well to have a good grade in exam . For instance, i remember i was bad at biology , but my teacher was explaining the topic in details and that help me to increase my grade in test , moreover their are many difficult scientific topics need to explain it and need more research on it to understand .For that its better to explain the lecture in details .
From my point of view, discussions in class would allow students to experiment an active way of learning. As Mike stated, students will have the opportunity to exchange their ideas and boost their knowledge by hearing new perspectives. Furthermore, students will study harder if they want to debate because they have to be immersed in the topic. To do this they should read plenty of books and videos so they have total control of the information. Nowadays, students get bored in classes because they have to listened to their professors for one or two hours and they cannot interact with anyone. For this reason, schools should try to promote active classes where students can share their thoughts and be more proactive. If I write this, what would be my grade?
I don't think you really need to use "would" and "will" so much. You are just making generalizations, and not really talking about a conditional situation. Use the simple present tense. There are a few more obvious errors like "have to listened" (should be "have to listen"). You really ought to use some conjunctions. There is a lack of grammatical sophistication in this answer, I think. I think this one would score about 21 points.
Hi Micheal, your content is so clear and right on track. Can you please give a comment on the below answer. I will be grateful to you. "Both options have real advantages, but I'm convinced that classes with a lot of discussion can help students retain the knowledge much better than classes that are entirely focused on lectures. I strongly agree with Mike's perspective, and I'd add that discussions can help students clear the confusion about the topic they have at that moment. This way, they can memorize the information more effectively. While Rachel is right about the fact that sometimes discussions can get off track, I think it depends on the teacher's ability to guide the discussion and provide all the necessary information within the limited time frame. Overall, if the teacher is capable enough, it will help the students learn in the best academic environment."
Don't use "the knowledge" in your opening line. Just refer to "knowledge" since you are talking about knowledge in general. This might be the most common grammar error I fix. You repeated "information" about a zillion times. That could hurt you. Replace it with synonyms! I think this one would score about 23 points.
This is a challenging topic, but I think that learning from discussion is better. I strongly agree with Mike that interactive learning can be beneficial because students constantly get ideas from others. I’d add that via exchanging personal opinion, students who are adept at the subject could help students who are not good at the subject and thus knowledge is forwarded mutually. Moreover, people in a group may combine markedly different ideas to a novel one that could possibly inspire everyone in the classroom. While Rachel raised the relevant point that discussion can often be aggressive and self-centered, she didn’t mention that if a student is too shy to ask a question, the lecture-only learning will prevent him or her from catching up with other smart students. However, discussion forces him/her to take part in the conversation and thus he/she would absorb more knowledge and ask more questions.
I think this one would score about 22 points. I sense a good argument here, but there are just too many expressions and phrases I don't really understand, like "knowledge is forwarded mutually" and "combine markedly different ideas to a novel one."
Thank you for replying, let me clearly express these. "knowledge is forwarded mutually", I mean students are able to learn from each other and thus have more knowledge on certail topic. "combine markedly different ideas to a novel one", means students can use the advantage of the idea to combine with others' idea to become a new idea. BTW, how can I express them better? Thank you!! @@Toeflresources
@@liuandy6520 Just keep it simple, I guess: "...and thus help each other master it." And "...combine their ideas to come up with something new that inspires everyone." Resist the urge to use fancy language. Too many students try to be fancy or "advanced" and they just end up hurting themselves.
Thank you Michael for your video and your help. Please review my response; I appreciate the statements made by Mike and Rachel. I believe that interactive classes are more beneficial rather than lectures because the second option is more passive. What I mean is that while discussion may capture your attention, lecture may distract you. In fact, it is hard to sit throughout two hours and listen to the professor. Furthermore, if you have some doubts about your point of view, you can learn a different perspective from another student, as Mike mentioned earlier. Additionally, Rachel made a good point but she forgot to point out that most of the students learn better through the arguments because everyone states their own opinion, and it is a great way to improve your viewpoint. To sum up, scheduled lessons are not always a great way to teach important arguments, so discussions are always better.
This one would probably score about 22 points. There are just too many grammar and language use errors for it to do better than that. I mean things like: "are more beneficial rather than lectures" (should be "are more beneficial than lectures" "lecture many distract you" (should be "lectures may distract you") "so discussions are always better" (should be "and discussions are always better") There are other mistakes, but I think you get the point. Try something like "Grammarly" to highlight more errors in your work.
While the significance of focused lectures in a class is undeniable, I believe that discussions are better for students to gain knowledge and new skills. There are two reasons for contending this side of the argument. Firstly, focused lectures deliver limited knowledge. For example; if I'm a lecturer, no matter how much of an expert I consider myself in that area, my capacity is still limited, being a human. In a discussion, when different individuals contribute their limited knowledge, it becomes a vast pool which is a better approach for making someone learn. Secondly, the diversity in explaining a similar concept. This means that different speakers have different ways of communicating the same idea. It is possible that I do not understand the delivery style of my professor in class but I understand it better when my friend explains it to me. Therefore, it is better to have more discussions in classrooms than to have focused lectures, which can limit the ideas and have a more monotonous delivery style.
I think this one would score about 19 or 20 points. Your ideas are fine, but there are multiple grammar and language use errors in just about every sentence. That's a problem. Try something like "Grammarly" to highlight the mistakes you make most frequently.
Classes according to me should be discussion based. Well I won’t say a hundred percent should be discussion but definitely the information added by the students give the class a turn to understand the subject better. I personally have felt much knowledgable after being in a class with interactive discussions like Mike explains it, I do understand the difficulty with class interactions how Rachel represents the students who might find difficulty similar to hers. While discussions are exciting and interactive I feel the basic framework of the lecture should be clear to all at the end of the class. Sometimes the lectures do deviate from the structure completely. Generally, I would choose a class with active discussion involving contemporary topics rather than plain lectures which might be boring for me.
I think this one would score about 21 points. There are grammar and language use errors in just about every sentence. Try running a bunch of practice responses through a service like Grammarly so you can gain some insights into the mistakes you are making.
I appreciate your efforts Mr. Michael. l will be so glad if you give me your feedback about my essay: .............. This is a challenging topic, but I think that obtain classes with a lot of discussions will be the best approach. I strongly support Mike's idea that discussions help students analyze the information and make it easier to memorize. I would add that discussions also help us to develop our communication skills and expand our understanding of the topic. While Rechel raised the relevant point that classes mainly focused on lectures will be helpful to organize the ideas and stay focused with the lecturer, she didn't mention that these classes sometimes will be boring because they just focus on certain content without any Interventions from the student that are going to make the classes more effective and exciting. For instance, in the history classes, I'd like to participate with the teacher just to obtain more knowledge and attract the attention of my friends to make the class more interactive.
I guess that this one would score about 23 points. Your arguments are solid, but there are quite a few grammar and language use errors. I mean stuff like: "I think that obtain classes" (should be just "I think that classes") "analyze the information" (should be just "analyze information") "from the student" (should be "from students") There are others, but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar and correct language use as much as possible.
I agree with Mike’s idea that students should have classes with a lot of discussion. I would like to add, having discussion can foster some vital skills of students that might come in handy in their future life. To be more specific, crucial skills such as, critical thinking, problem solving can dramatically improve when students have a constructive discussion not only with their peers but also with the professor. As a result, they become more competent in the job for which they applying in comparison to their peers, because some companies would prefer to have an employee with mastery on these skills. I understand Rachel’s idea that lectures can help students to be more organized, when they are trying to pursue their learning roadmap. But she missed this point, In the lecture students can experience monologue teaching style which might be monotonous and tedious for them. As a result, they might be discouraged from pursuing their learning path.
There are a few grammar and language use errors. Like: 1. You should say: "I would like to add THAT having DISCUSSIONS can...". 2. Don't use a comma after "such as." 3. You should say: "critical thinking AND problem solving" 4. You should say: "mastery OF these skills." There are more, but I think you get the point. I think this one would score about 21 points.
Museums are one of the most attractive attractions in any city. It gathers people from different places. While Andrew and Claire mention some important advantages of having a museum in cities. In my opinion, one of the most significant benefits of museums is it can expose people to variable cultures, costoms, and ways of life. When we visit museums, we may see different kinds of art works from different places. So, we can develope ideas and thoughts about the origin of this work. For example, how professional people were, type of life they experienced or what kind of painting they used. As a result, we may be immerse in these cultures, which can significantly broaden our horizonz, help us be more open-minded. and adaptable.
Hi Michael, thanks for your video. Here is my response: While I appreciate the points mentioned by Mike and Rachel, I think that classes with arguments happen to be more practical in real life. Since we are all going to graduate one day, being able to engage in conversations and interact with others is crucial for our metal heath and enhance our social skills. Remember that being a member of a community provides us with a sense of belonging, so this would help us to get through rough times when we are facing some difficulties. Moreover, by learning to elaborate on topics that are not necessarily our expertise, we can find ourselves more popular among people. Some people may feel that by not being private we might violate our privacy which is not true in case of academia.
Hi Michael! Thank you so much for this video! It would be amazing if you could check my answer:) The topic of different approaches of conducting lessons has caused much discussion in recent years. If I had to choose, i`d rather take traditional lectures. I strongly believe that they allow to concentrate on material deeply and absorb new knowledges much easier. I understand Rachel`s concern over this question. However, I believe she misses another crucial point. Visiting lectures without any discussions is also less stressful and unnerving for students due to the fact that they do not need to be ready to come up with arguments towards the information they might elaborate on. For instance, if it is a new or challenging class, it is much better to simply sit and listen to a professor without distractions. Furthermore, I think that during conversations some students might misinterpret what a professor is trying to get across to them. For example, when students are talking about something during classes, you can hear different ideas, proposals or assumptions which you might take the wrong way. Thus, it will cause misunderstanding and mistakes in the future.
This is pretty good, and would probably score about 24 points. Maybe 25. I'm just concerned about your rate of grammar and language use errors. There are mistakes throughout, like: "i'd rather take" (should be "I'd rather take") "visiting lectures" (should be "attending lectures") "arguments towards the information" (should be something like "arguments related to the information") There are others, but I think you get the point. Consider slowing down a bit as you write.
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Hi this is my answer if you are free to check it
This is a challenging topic, but i think that having discussion class is way better than just listening to the lecture. I agree with Mike’s idea that these classes give you the chance have the immediate feedback. I would like to add that discussion classes make the students have a better comprehensive pictures of what the teacher is giving them. While Rechal raised the relevant point that discussion classes can change the recent topic the teacher is giving them, she didn’t mention that even if modifies happened this will not change the whole topic actually they might get dipper in the topic hitherto this has a positive impact for the students.
Hi Michael, thank you for your amazing contents!
here's my response:
I align with Rachel’s perspective that lectures are superior to interactive classes. I'd like to highlight that classes that involve extensive discussions often proceed at a slower pace. Everyone wants to engage in these discussions, so it takes a lot of time for instructors to complete a topic. Such classes require an experienced instructor to guide the direction of arguments and manage time efficiently to cover the syllabus adequately. Moreover, in the context of interactive classes, it becomes more challenging to follow the main topic and identify the connections between the ideas being discussed. While Mike is correct regarding the potential for deeper learning in interactive classes, it is possible to organize extracurricular activities for students to discuss the class materials. Overall, I'd say that classes centered around lectures offer greater content richness compared to discussion-based ones.
This is an excellent response. I think it would score about 28 points. Consider pushing your word count a bit higher if you really want a perfect score.
Great variation of lexicality. You really have a great enormous amount of vocabulary. You will probably get overall score of 110+
Hi Michael! Thank you for your efforts to assist us in preparation... Here is the answer: This is a challenging topic, but I think that discussion is the most effective way of learning. I strongly agree with Mike’s argument that colloquiums provide vital feedback for understanding information better. I would add that they are helping to share points of view which are not that frequent. While Rachel’s point about better structure and plan of the lecture are relevant, she did not mention that discussions deliver certain positions which are not represented in the lectures. I believe that disputes put forth new ideas relying on the info given in the lecture. As a result, I would say that these two types of the learning both could lead us to astonishing results.
Same as your other one... your language use is really solid but I am worried about the word count.
In my opinion, lecture-based classes are more straightforward than classes with a lot of discussions. I strongly agree with Rachel’s viewpoint, and I’d add that discussion can get skewed from the main topic and be difficult to control. Lectures allow teachers to summarize engaging material more effectively and give students the exact information they will need later in the course, whether in the lab, quiz, or test. Additionally, teachers are able to explain the reasoning behind the information they are presenting, something students may not be aware of while discussing new topics. Lecture-based classes allow for more direct learning as well as teach students broader skills. Therefore, lectures help students not only by providing thorough knowledge but also by presenting them with challenges and enhancing their capacity to concentrate.
I think this one would score about 23 points. Your answer lacks grammatical complexity. Use more conjunctions (both coordinating and subordinating).
I don't really like "more straightforward" since that isn't a clear statement of your choice. Be more obvious and say that they are better.
Hi Michael, thanks for your videos.
Both options have real advantages, but I’m convinced that classes which focus on lectures are more beneficial for me, as listening to the information from an expert person like the professor in the right sequence and in a quiet environment would make it easier for me to understand the subject and retain the important information. Moreover, discussions during classes sometimes make me lose focus, since some comments may not relate to the subject which makes me forget what the main subject was. Overall, I’d say that although discussions sometimes motivate students to prepare for the class to participate, they also might take their attention from important information that the professor mentions.
I think this one would score about 21 or 22 points.
Mike, thanks to your material I was able to score 27 three years ago. I will take a new test soon and hopeful to hit that mark again. Please have a look at my first TOEFL writing exercise since 2021. I know there are typos and probably other punctuation mistakes, but curious to know how'd you rate it as is.
In my opinion, I think that learning through discussions is much more beneficial to human beings overall.
Dialogue employs language centers in the brain that improve both subjective skills triggered by speaking and objective skills enhanced by listening. Therfore, it is a better comprehensive learning method than the one-way lecture type.
Additionally, I believe that an interactive environment would open opportunities to build better relationships with other students. With duscussing agreements and disagreemetns, and exploring different angles of one topic with one another comes stronger bonds. I have read researches suggesting that involving in meaningful conversations strengthens your emotional resilience and intelligence. This leads to a better mental health on the long run as well!
Thanks Michael! I think just looking at the professor's question and then start writing is a good strategy.
Here's my answer:
Both options have real advantages, but I’m convinced that taking classes with a lot of discussion can be more beneficial for the students for many reasons. Firstly, students will pay more attention to the class because they will also be listening to the opinion of other students while the professor is explaining the topic. Some students get distracted in the class, and this will make the class more engaging. We tend to be more engaged with some topic while we listen to it from another perspective. Moreover, the class will be more dynamic and engaging because we will have the professor in front of us explaining the topic. While Rachel is right about that we can be better informed with lectures having an expert. If we are dedicated to listening more to others in a discussion, we can learn more than learning from an expert.
This is a pretty good answer. I think it would score about 24 points. You are a bit weak when it comes to article use, though, so try to focus on that as you continue to study grammar. For instance, you wrote "beneficial for the students" but should have just said "beneficial for students." Likewise, you said "moreover, the classes will be" but should have said "moreover, classes will be."
Thank you for the video and the opportunity below:
From my point of view classes with a lot of discussions it’s better for students. I tend to agree with Mike that the possibility of hearing people’s doubts and sharing add a lot to the experience of learning a new topic. Once that learning it’s a process, when you actively participate and get involved with it, increases the chances of remembering and assimilating the new learning. To Rachel’s point about possible deviations in the agenda, I think it’s important that the professor, or the mediator, bring people back to the core of the subject. I also think having time do discuss between colleagues it’s a good way to pass from the passive learn mode to a more active one.
I think this one would score about 18 or 19 points. There are multiple grammar and language use errors in every sentence. That's a big problem, so you should focus on improving your grammar as much as you can before test day.
This is a dubious topic giving rise to various arguments. However, I am mostly convinced that working in a class where peer discussions and debates prevail would be much more beneficial both for students and lecturers. Although Rachel's point seems reasonable as discipline and more outlined procedure of class may lead to higher performance, Mike's position on in-class debates is on par with mine since topics touched by contemporaries during the class have proved that peer reviews and discussions eliminate all possible ambiguities related to certain concepts and phenomena. Studies show that peer learning leads to higher academic performance and warmer atmosphere among learners. Moreover, from professors' perspective, the mentioned approach will make the lesson more interactive, subsequently, engaged students will be way more content both with the class and the professor.
Delete that opening line. It is no good. Don't call the topic "dubious." It will never be dubious. :) Just start with a sentence that states your actual argument. I think this answer would score about 20 points. You need to reduce your rate of grammar errors.
Thank you for your kind remarks, however I don't agree with them, since my approach is rated 5 on ETS. So I consider your granted point of "20" to be irrelevant. 😉
@@yuliamkrtchyan1828 Just keep in mind that on the real test your answers are scored both by the AI and by one human. Let me know how you do on test day!
Thank you for your feedback!
I believe it is better to have a class focused on the lectures. It is important for the students to gain knowledge from the experience that the teacher is providing since it is not available anywhere else. A lecture that has a lot of discussions can be distracting to students. Personally, I’ve had a bad experience when my English SAT teacher would allow students to discuss a lot during the lecture and, most of the time, the main topic of the subject would get lost in these small discussions. Another example, a math teacher would ask students to discuss their answers with each other and the time of the lecture would end up being lost. Therefore, in conclusion, I believe that it is essential for teachers to mainly focus on delivering the right ideas of lecture to their students.
Don't use "the lectures" when you are talking about lectures in general. Drop "the". Don't use "another example" followed by a comma to set up an example. Try "Another example IS...".
Overall, I think this one would score about 20 points. There are a lot of grammar and language use errors that will hold you back somewhat.
Hi Michael! Thank you so much for this video! this is my response:
This is a challenging topic, but my opinion is very similar to the Mike's response. I'd add that only through a discussion, you can understand how well you know a topic. In addition, a lot of discoveries were opened through talking and not from listening one opinion from a teacher or somebody else. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lectures are more organized than discussion and that while discussing you may accidentally switch to another topic, I believe that the biggest drawback of lectures that covers all these arguments is that If you lose your train of thought, even for a few seconds, you may not be able to get it back again.
Hello again! This one would score 21 or 22 points. Your English is better than in the one I checked a moment ago, but I am still worried about your overall word count.
@Toeflresources thanks again)
As an educator myself, I find that both options can be effective approaches to learning if applied appropriately. Learner can be categorized into different group with their specific preferences, there are active learners who acquired most of the knowledge during engaging discussions and through which they can apply the knowledge they have learnt, and there would be passive learners like Rachel who focused on self-concentration and can maximize their learning outcomes through observing and listening. Since we have different students who have their own specific needs and requirement, the most important part I think is to find a balance between these two approaches, providing enough time for passive learner to acquire basic knowledge first and then encourage students to freely express their own opinions, combined with different teaching methods and that would definitely foster a learning environment that focused on differentiation and efficiency.
I personally prefer discussion classes for lecture based classes can be less effective and boring. As Mike has also said we get to listen to multiple perspectives on a topic in discussion classes. It helps us keep ourselves actively engaged in learning. It also helps us reconsider our perspectives and preconceptions. Such classes can indeed be a little disorganized owing to their inherent nature of discussions. However, if the students come prepared for discussions having done their reading before classes, it can lead to really effective discussions in which insights from various sources can be integrated. Learning can likewise be fun and interesting when we get to learn actively with peers without listening to monotonous lectures that can be boring.
This is pretty decent. There are a few language use errors, but nothing too serious. I think it would score about 25 points.
Hi Michael! Thank you for sharing some great advice with your personal response.
And here's my response:
Personally, I am more inclined to the idea that classes engaging in group discussions are more beneficial to students. Although Rachel presents some profound insights, it should be mentioned, however, that discussions actually help students to focus more, in comparison of merely listening to lectures. Since students will be required to share their perspectives and thoughts, the process encourages them to think actively, which helps them to pay more attention to the context. Also, classes will become more intriguing when discussions are involved. Students can comprehend the topics or issues more thoroughly by learning views from different aspects, significantly broadening their horizons simultaneously. On top of that, participating in discussions also trains students’ ability to give public speeches, which is a skill that can hardly be learned from merely listening to professors talking, as an enormous amount of practice is needed.
Looking forward to your feedbacks, thanks a lot!
I don't really like "inclined to the idea that." It is fine, but sounds awkward. I would simply say "I feel that...".
Note that it is not "classes" that engage in things. It is people who do that. So try something like: "classes that include group discussions are more beneficial..."
Don't combine "although" and "however" like you did here. Just say: "Although Rachel presents some profound insights, it should be mentioned that discussions...".
There are other issues, but I think you get the point. Overall, I think this one would score about 21 points.
Both opinions have real advantages, but I'm convinced that classes with a lot of discussions can be more beneficial to students. This kind of class provides different opinions about a topic, which motivates students to prepare before the class to do some research in order to be able to discuss it. I strongly agree with Mike when he says that these types of classes help to retain information more easily since they are more interactive. However, Rachel is also right when she says that discussions can sometimes become too argumentative losing the important points of the class. To sum up, I consider that an organized and well-structured class that consists of interaction is more favorable.
While I appreciate the points made by Mike and Racheal, in my personal opinion, a mix of lectures and discussions about that topic would make a session much more engaging. I remember when my friend recommended me to join a class of a professor who allocated separate time to discuss the topic before and after lecturing about it. This opened the minds of students and helped them get ideas who were not familiar with the subject. On top of that, it was really captivating, and it made easy to memorize the concepts. Therefore, in my view, I highly recommend the students to learn this way under a professor or a teacher.
Don't use "recommended me to VERB." Use "recommended that I VERB." That's one of the most common mistakes I see her!
Don't use the final sentence to repeat your main idea, especially in a response that is fairly short. Just use that line to add more supporting details.
In my opinion, i think classes that are more focused on the lecture are much better than classes with a lot of discussions.
I strongly agree with Rachel's perspective about listening to an expert , and I'd add that sometimes students might mention false information during the lecture, and therefore, other students will memorize these wrong informations.
While Mike raised the relevant point that hearing multiple points of views from students can be very beneficial, he neglected to address that this may cause confusion to some people.
Overall I'd say that although class discussions are important for some classmates, they could harm others and distract them from the main idea of the lecture.
I believe that classes with myriad discussions are better for students. Firstly, it is because discussion enables us to understand different people`s perspectives from those of diverse cultures, backgrounds, religions, and sex which may be difficult to experience in a lecture class. Usually, lectures are taught by the teacher based on their experience and understanding of the topic which may contain some bias. Hearing diverse opinions is vital for the rapidly developing globalized society we live in today. Secondly, Rachel, I understand that discussions may become too argumentative but I believe that it is part of a learning experience as this is something that we may experience in our work environment in the future. Thus, it is an essential skill that will help students in the long run.
Both options have real advantages, but open discussions in classes are the best way for young people to gain knowledge, the process will encourage them to share their ideas and think more deeply. Whenever we hear about different challenging topics, we will be able to discuss them and take immediate feedback from the teacher. However, sitting and passively listening to a professor turns out to be something gloomy. Moreover, we can easily record lectures and listen to them later so in this way, we get to benefit from the class’s time by active discussions. Overall, I’d say that this learning way creates a perfect academic environment that can support students’ knowledge.
Personally, I prefer classes that are focused on lectures, since I'm a pretty good listener, I like to listen to a lecture and write down crucial points. I understand what Mike says about benefiting from other student's opinions on the topic, but I feel like discussions might cause confusion, since the students aren't well aware of the topic and they might suggest wrong statements that may stick in one’s head since as Mike said discussions are memorable. In addition to what Rachel stated about discussions taking away from the learning experience, they also take away from the time of the lecture causing delay.
This is pretty decent. Just start a new sentence with "Since I'm a pretty good..." and "They might...". You seem to really over use "since...".
Hi Michael! Thank you for your efforts to assist us in preparation... Here is the answer:
While there are certainly some advantages of standard lecture classes, I personally prefer lectures that have a lot of discussions. I’m convinced that these type of lectures will make students more excited for their classes since they will get the chance to express their opinion freely and get a response from an expert professor instead of the boring old-styled lectures. Moreover, students can easily make new friends and work together on the projects or concepts they’re planning to understand. Also, think about the various numbers of learning and teaching techniques the instructor can imply with his students such as brainstorming. Additionally, students can develop a good bond with each other and with their professor which will have a positive impact on their learning results. However, the professor must pay attention to the flow of the class so that students don’t get into arguments or discussing things that are off topic.
Your opening line is a bit unclear. I would change "standard lecture classes" to just "lectures." Easy!
"these types of lectures" is confusing, because you are talking about DISCUSSIONS. I think you have used "lecture" as a synonym for "class". That's a problem.
"the projects or concepts they're planning to understand" is also confusing. I think you just mean "work together on projects." You might be trying too hard to be verbose. Stop that!
Overall, I think this one would score about 22 points out of 30.
This is a challenging topic, but I think that discussion-based classes may play a significant role in learning process. I strongly agree with Mike’s idea that talking about a topic provides us with varied aspects of it. I would add that discussing a particular topic gives us an opportunity to find out whether we have understood the substantial essence correctly or not. Since there is always a chance of misunderstanding an issue, talking to different people with different mindsets may help enlighten us, and of course them.
While Rachel raised the relevant point that a topic can be fully explained through a lecture, she didn’t mention that without questioning the proposed ideas, there would be little chance of comprehending its main point deeply.
This is pretty good work, but there are a few errors like:
"in learning process" (should be "in THE learning process")
"provides us with varied aspects of it" (should be something like "helps us understand various aspects of it")
"the substantial essence" (should be something like "its main points" but I am not totally sure what you mean)
I guess this one would score about 22 points, but I bet you can do better!
thanks a lot for your time and the feedback@@Toeflresources
My pleasure!
Hello Michael, Thanks for helping us. this is my writing sample:
In my opinion, classes with interactive discussions are much better than those only including lectures, because I think interaction is a key factor affecting students' learning experience. As Mike mentioned before, having discussion with others can help us to remind things better, since there are more unpredictable events during discussions. For instance, 10 years ago while I was going to high school, one of my classmates asked something about the relationship between the size of triangle edges and many of our classmates participated to the discussion, based on our teacher preferences. I still completely remember that and I'm sure that I'll never forget it, thanks to the class discussion and different opinions I heard. Moreover, it is probable to see something fun in the discussions and it can help even more to our mind in order to retain details better. That's why I think having discussion beside lectures can be more beneficial.
I think this one would score about 23 points. Your ideas are good, but there are grammar and language use errors throughout the response. I mean stuff like:
"having discussion" (should be "having discussions")
"remind things better" (should be "remember things better")
"it can help even more to our mind" (I don't know what you mean)
There are other issues, but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar!
I agree with Mike’s idea, and I add that students can broaden their horizon through discussion and also practice to tell their opinions to others. When I was a junior high school student, I participated in discussion program. I had three discussion sessions, and group members were changed every topic. I had a great opportunity to talk with others, sometimes I couldn’t understand some opinions, but these opposite ideas gave me a variety of points of view. As Rachel said, I understood the importance of lecture sessions, but recently it is easier to learn any subjects on the Internet by themselves. There are many same age students at school, so I believe that discussion time will be an efficiency way to learn social topics deeply and broadly for students.
Your ideas are okay, but there are grammar and language use errors throughout the answer. Like:
"broaden their horizon" (should be "broaden their horizons")
"practice to tell" (should be "practice telling")
"in discussion program" (should be "in a discussion program")
There are more, but I think you get the point. Reduce your error rate!
This one would probably score about 22 points.
While both Mike and Rachel brought interesting points, I agree with Mike’s opinion that classes full of discussions are the best approach for efficient learning. By discussing any theme, is mandatory that you prepare before the class, as it would be embarasing to be asked any question and not be able to respond properly. The result of this is a habit, among the students, of studying the given subject in advance in order to actively participate in the classroom. Although Rachel brings an interesting point of view when she states that lectures allow a prepared professional to discuss a topic which he dominates, the student’s role in this scenario is such insignificant that learning turns into a harsh activity, which makes this type of class inefficient.
Note that we bring "up" points.
There are a few other awkward expressions in your work. They include "the best approach for efficient learning" (should be something like: "the most efficient way to learn") and "such insignificant" (should be something like "so insignificant"). There are other errors, but you probably get the point. You need to eliminate those to get your score up.
I think this one would score about 21 points.
Hi, I am new to your RUclips channel but your content helps me a lot!! Thank you so much and here is my answer.
(It is basic but I tried to use your structure as much as I could.)
In my opinion, the lecture-based classes are much better than discussion classes. I strongly agree with Rachel’s perspectives, and I’d add that the lecture is something that you only can listen to while you are in the classroom. Whenever we listen to a well-organized lecture by the professor, we can gain new knowledge and perspectives that we might not be able to absorb from discussions with our friends. Although Mike is right about the benefits of discussion which you can receive feedback right after your opinion and help students retain their memories, we can have time for discussion outside of class. So if we want to have a chance to get the feedback you can have a discussion with your classmates after class or even with professors.
Just say "lecture-based classes" in your opening sentence. You don't need "the" because you are talking about them in general. Drop "the" in the next sentence as well, and write "Lectures are something that you...".
Avoid starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions like "so." The e-rater doesn't like that.
There are other issues, but I will leave it at that! I think this one would score 22 or 23 points.
Hi Michael, this is my response:
Both options have real advantages, but I am convinced that classes with many discussions will be better for students. First, when the teacher discusses the topic with her students, this will improve their communication skills in different ways. Learning how to debate a variety of concepts will have a great impact on the ways that students will deal with their managers at work, their families, and friends. They will learn to argue politely, avoid interrupting others, and express their ideas clearly. For example, when I was in high school, I used to participate in the discussion in Science class, this prepared me very well to show my presentation professionally and confidently when I went to college. I strongly agree with Mike’s perspective, and I would add that learning through discussions will help students remember the facts for the exam better than lectures because interactive teaching motivates the students’ brains to be fully conscious and aware during the class.
This is pretty good, but there are some grammar and language use errors. I think it would score about 23 points. A few errors include:
"better for the students" (should be "better for students")
"when the teacher discusses" (should be "when a teacher discusses")
"Science" (should not be capitalized)
There are more... but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar!
While I appreciate the points mentioned by both Mike and Rachel, I think that interactive classes are more beneficial than lecture classes. This is because it helps students to share opinions, experiences and exchange ideas. Moreover, Discussions and debates will give extra support for students to improve the understanding and the comprehension of any topic. Some students may feel distracted during a discussion. However, I believe it is easier to record the lecture and listen to it later. For example, when I was in pharmacy college, I used to record all the lectures and try to focus and participate during the discussion, it helped me a lot not only academically but also it has improved my social skills.
I like "lecture-based classes" more than "lecture classes." The latter just sounds unnatural.
Use "this is because THEY help" instead of "it helps" since you are talking about classes in general.
Watch out for capitalization errors like your use of "Discussion."
There are other errors, but I think you get the point. I think this one would score 22 or 23 points, but I am sure you can do better!
I believe that both options have real advantages , but I'm convinced that discussion is better than lectures in many ways . First , with discussion students can ask about any idea when they do not understand it so they will not wait until the lecturer permit questions by the time they could have forgotten their questions . Moreover , diacussion stimulates mind storming thus it makes the class more interesting for students by providing new ideas and their own thoughts about the topic . Overall , I would say that discussion is a new method of teaching that all students could benifit from .
Your language use is pretty good but this one just seems way too short. I count 97 words and that includes a sentence at the end that just repeats your main idea.
I recommend about 110 to 120 words without a repetitive conclusion.
Overall, I think this one would score about 22 points, but I think you can do better.
In my humble opinion, I consider better having classes mainly focused on lectures. Although, Mike's perspective is valid, I think that for being able to discuss a topic it is necessary having a base knowledge of it first. In my case, I can learn better when I first have a class with the teacher to establish what the subject is about, having then a starter point of what I understand about that information and then researching over it, developing more opinions. Meanwhile, in the discussion class I usually feel like it is a lot of information in a short amount of time which makes me more confused about the main topic of the lecture. With that in mind, I would also say that the classroom is not usually the only place you have the ability to propose discussions. Not only are we able to form study groups for those purposes but we can also discuss most of those ideas online being able to comment anytime and not using the time in the classroom only for that. So, to sum up, I totally think that the classes should be more focused on the lectures than discussions.
I really appreciate your tremendous effort on the free TOEFL resources that would be a great help to many people globally. I have a question concerning the test: can I write some additive and constructive suggestions to further elaborate my arguments on the topic, like adding, "But most of all, it all depends on the student's participation in both approaches," or, "I think the balance of level of intellectuality among the students is of paramount importance in discussions"? My response:
""In my opinion, classes should be discussion-centered, which has the potential for keeping students attentive. Moreover, it allows students to think of creative, thought-provoking, and even stunningly brilliant ideas to share.When students are actively engaged in discussions, they are encouraged to articulate their thoughts. I understand that listening to an expert in a field often proceeds classes more on course and faster, but I want to point out that lessons that are too informative might prove to have a drawback by leading some students to be disinterested in the topic. In contrast, when students are actively engaged in discussions, they could more easily participate more by articulating their thoughts. By utilizing various teaching methods, educators can provide diverse learning styles and maintain student interest throughout the course."
Thanks for the kind words! I think you CAN include such phrases... but they are probably a waste of time and might just cause you to make more mistakes. Why bother?
Likewise, when I see stuff like "stunningly brilliant ideas" I think you might be trying too hard. Be careful.
Hi Michael, thanks a lot for your crucial contribution to my toefl study. My response for the question:
In my opinion, the best teaching way to be applied in class has changed over last years. My personal belief is that reaching knowledge was not easy since few people could contact with experts or acquire good information resources until the wide use of internet. However, everyone can access to any knowledge via internet thanks to the democratization of knowledge. For instance, I and my classmates followed Harvard’s open courses during our university education for mathematics lessons with the suggestion of our professor. Thus, we had opportunity to learn the basics of subject from a well-known expert. Then, we could use our class time to discuss the most difficult points of the lecture. I can understand Rachel’s concern over the chaotic environment of class during a discussion. On the other hand, we still have a professor who can lead the discussion and provide information when needed. Therefore, I strongly believe that a discussion led by a professor will bring fruitful results for students’ learning process.
I think this one would score about 19 or 20 points. There are multiple grammar and language use mistakes in every sentence. I suggest submitting your work to something like Grammarly so that you understand the sorts of mistakes you make most frequently.
Here is my answer: “The both learning types are good and delivers the main points on the subject, although I think it depends on the material if it’s pure theoretical or imperial, for theoretical courses I prefer lectures because it more abstract and needs an expert to explain it and simplifys it, in the other hand, imperial courses, the discussion way of teatching is preferred, in a way that the professor delves in discussion with the student about real cases that an advanced person in that subject will counter in the real world to give them a sense of how to deal with such real world problems, moreover, the professor could mix both learning types in a course, but this will need the professor to be experienced to teach this subject in order to know when to use each learning approach.”
Thank you for your efforts.
Though Rachel has a good point that lectures are organized and structured, another key factor to consider is interactive lecture will be more active preparation. I strongly agree with mike viewpoint, I'd add that instead of still like an ideal in the lecture. moreover the students much prepare topics in advance with will give them a better understanding. Which would improve the spice of the topic and become more interesting , can lead to amend there scores in academic grades. Additionally, interactive classes will give abundance of knowledge about the topic . To add on ,this will bring up lot of points and details make students for interactive mainly help the introverts to put forth there ideas.
This is okay, but I think you can do better. I think your work would score about 22 points. You need to reduce your rate of grammar and language use mistakes.
@@Toeflresources suree thank u
Both opinions have real assets but I am convinced that discussions are much more effictive learning strategy. Discussions need in advance searches and survies so they have to read academic papers and scientific articles to get familiar with topic and boost their information. Whenever they need to search more, they must concentrate and get into topic stronger and deeper. Moreover, it' s a challenging issue for students to share their thoughts because of lack of self esteem. So discussions can make them to participate in class and share and defeat their ideas with high self confidence and undoubtly. Overall, I would say that discussion can create more academic and beneficial learning environment. I strongly agree with Mike's perspective.
Don't say that opinions have "assets." That sounds weird. I would say "both opinions are convincing, but I believe that..."
Overall, you should use something like "Grammarly" to review your work because there are multiple grammar and language use errors in most of your sentences. Overall, I think this one would score about 20 points, but I bet you can do better!
In my opinion, classes with discussion benefit students more than ones students just listen to lectures, which aligns with Mike’s idea. In this regard, I want to add that in such classes, students have the opportunity to talk about the educational concepts and information they need to learn with each other, so they can share their points of view, leading them to better grasp information and come up with new ideas.
Although Rachel mentioned an important point that in lecture-based classes, students can easily concentrate on the lectures they are provided with and are not distracted by discussions, she overlooked the fact during these discussions, they can utilize the suggestions and points of other students in order to solve their issues, which is beneficial for students' learning process.
I think this one would score about 19 points. You've got some terribly long and awkward sentences, like the one starting with "in this regard" and the one starting with "although Rachel."
In my opinion, it is always more advantageous to listen to the lecture without having any interruption. I feel this way because professors generally follow their personal agenda and timeline before they start to teach a course. It may be disturbing after a point of time if students initiate more discussion rather than paying attention the actual content of the course. Moreover, conflicting perceptions may create chaos and unwanted waste of time. If students focus on actively listening to the content of the class, it can help them to thinking about the concepts later in self-study hours. Furthermore, universities nowadays allot separate sessions for doubt clearing purposes, which is called as tutorial classes. Students would revise the sections and come to attend those sessions which are particularly designed for doubt clearing and discussion. It would save the time and also keep the course in its flow.
There are a lot of awkward phrases like "may create chaos and unwanted waste of time" in this answer. There are also grammar and language use errors like "it would save the time." I think it would score about 20 points.
The topic of education has sparked considerable discussion in recent years. In my view, students who actively participate in discussions are far better than those who merely listen to lecturers. I wholeheartedly agree with Mike's point, and I would like to emphasize that students should preview the materials they are going to discuss in class. This approach enables them to gain a deeper understanding and innovative perspective on challenging academic topics. Moreover, active engagement allows students to delve into the details during discussions, aiding in better knowledge retention and improved examination performance. While I understand Rachel's concern about interruptions, I believe she overlooks another critical point. Nowadays, recording lectures is effortless, enabling students to easily review unclear portions for better comprehension.
tks for help~
This is a solid response. I think it would score about 28 points. You might want to push your word count a little higher if you are targeting a perfect writing score.
@@Toeflresources Thank you for the feedback, and I'm also wondering whether it's necessary to include a starter, or if it's acceptable to begin with "In my opinion." Additionally, I'm hesitant about crafting a basic conclusion. If I require more words, would the most effective approach involve adding further contributions to the discussion?
I don't think you need a "starter" or a conclusion. This ain't an essay question.
Hi, Michael, thank you for your videos! Here's my essay:
In my case, I strongly agree with Rachel’s opinion. I also prefer taking lectures instead of having lots of discussion. Giving lectures is more comprehensive. On the contrary, discussion often focuses on a few topics and sometimes people may get derailed to irrelevant issues during discussion or become emotional or aggressive when they have opposing opinions. Besides, if you have some unresolved questions or some perspectives you want to look into deeply, you can always discuss it with your classmates, teaching assistants, or even professors after class. That’s all for the reasons why I think it’s better for students to learn from lectures.
There are a few language use and grammar errors here. They include:
"Giving lectures is more comprehensive" (I think you just mean "lectures are more comprehensive")
"on the contrary" (in this case you should use "in contrast")
"derailed to irrelevant issues" (I think you mean something like "derailed, and focus on...")
There are more, but I think you get the point! Focus on reducing your error rate as you continue to prepare for the test. I think this one would score 21 or 22 points, but I am sure you can do better!
While there are different approaches to education, In my opinion, classes with a lot of discussion are better than classes focused on lectures. While Rachel mentions that lecture-based classes help students stay focused and organized, I tend to agree more with Mike. I'd add that having a lot of discussions make students more engaged and interactive because they have to stay focused and at the same time excited to share their thoughts to convince others about their points of view. Not only this, but it adds a kind of fun and enjoyment to the class, while in lecture-focused classes, students may feel bored and may not be able to pay attention to the professor. For example, if the lecture is about history, students just sit and listen to a huge amount of information, they may lose enthusiasm and sometimes fall asleep.
I think this one would score about 23 points. Watch out for sloppy errors like the capital letter on "In my opinion." Note the subject-verb agreement error in "having... make."
Don't say "a kind of fun." Just say "fun."
There are more errors, but I think you get the point!
Hi Michel! Thank you very much for the video and for the help. I don't know if you're still responding to these comments, but here follows my answer to this question. Thanks again!
Both options have real advantages, but I am convinced that interactive classes are way better for students.
I strongly agree with Mike's option that in these kind of activities you understand things in a more profound manner. I would add that you put your thoughts to the test when you argue with someone.
While Rachel raised the relevant point that lectures have a clearer structure, she did not mention that passively listening could lead to forgetfulness. For example, when you watch a movie you may understand the story, but a week latter you already forgot some important details about it. In a academic perspective, this might represent important facts that you would be missing when answering a test.
While I appreciate the point mentioned by Mike and Rachel, I think that the best way to improve the learning experience is to have a combination of both lectures as well as discussions. Nowadays we have artificial intelligence which can help to get all the necessary information that we need but we still need to have discussions, share our perspectives, or learn from a different perspective which can mold our understanding in a way that helps us to retain the information and also help to understand the crystal clear concepts. Remember that if we choose any one way it will always have limitations but when we incorporate all different ideas, it can provide wholesome experience for students. Some people may feel that it can take a lot of time but I think if the students get a clear understanding after this then this is worth doing it this way.
I personally think that both, lectures and discussions have advantages. If I had to choose though, i think I would opt for discussions. I am a very open and talkative person, so I prefer to discuss topics with fellow students and professors. Adding to the thoughts of Mike, it not only helps me remember the details more easily, but I also find it quite interesting and to some point even inspiring to hear about other perspectives beside the lecturers. Moreover I strongly believe that discussions challenge our ability to take part in argumentative talking environments. I get where you are going, Rachel, but I in contrary think, that an argumentative environment is rather challenging than taking away from the learning experience. Thus, I would opt for more discussions than lectures in class.
well, as professor stated everyone has their own perception to any situation so do i have my own . moreover i got the point what both Rachel and mike are trying to convey but i personally believe that there should be both the practice of listening to lectures and a certain amount of time should be devoted to the discussion that might be after the lecture finishes. but it is very important to discuss a topic not only for the student to get a broad perspective of a topic but also for the professor to know whether the lecture they are delivering is beneficial for the students or not. we could to both of them in order to balance out both learning and imparting what we have learnt.
Start every sentence with a capital letter. I beg you! Don't let basic errors like that hurt your score!
Don't start with a filler sentence like "as professor stated everyone..."
Overall, I think this one would score about 17 points. There are just too many grammar and language use errors in your work. Focus on improving that aspect of your writing as much as possible before test day.
Thank you so much for your effort and time for students like me, huge respect for you. Hope that more videos will be available in this academic writing topic.
Thanks for the kind words! I will upload more videos as soon as possible. I'm just sort of busy with work right now. :)
@@Toeflresources I am planning to take an exam on 23 October. I'm familiar with all sectors but unaware of academic writing, so please if possible make it fast with extra hints, tricks, and descriptions. Thank you🙏.
Well, there are a ton of videos on this channel already. Let me know if you have any questions!
Though Rachel has a good point about effectiveness of lectures, another key factor to consider that interactive lessons bring up increased students' motivation that ensures academic success. It provides students to feel free to explain their own opinions and create a brain storm with each different perspections. In this way, the lessons become more attractive and students come to class more willingly. In addition, being in a discussion about academic topic is required knowlenge. Students have to preperare for each content before the class. It provides a background and studying persistently which brings up academic achivement on tests. To sum up, i believe that interactive class with discussions improves students' academic process more motivated and successful.
I think this one would score about 19 points. There are multiple grammar and language use errors in every sentence. You absolutely need to focus on grammar in the future.
@@Toeflresources thank you so much for your assessment :)
My pleasure!
While I appreciate the points mentioned by both Mike and Rachel, I really think that having a lot of discussions in the classroom is a fantastic idea that more institutions should consider. Nowadays, teaching and learning practices have changed dramatically. Students often demand quick responses from their teachers, and instant feedback provides them an opportunity to correct their problems, allowing them to retain knowledge more deeply and clearly. Moreover, proper discussions on particular topics make the classroom environment more interactive and memorable, so this approach is probably best for everyone. However, relying solely on discussion classes doesn't guarantee that students have concise information and a solid understanding of their theoretical courses. Therefore, students should be well-motivated to attend lectures. Attending lectures enhances their capabilities to face new challenges, and develops a strong theoretical background. Thus, it is valuable to attend lectures rather than relying solely on discussion classes.
This is a nearly perfect response. I think it would score 28 or 29 points. Well done!
My response: (I did subscribed)
In my opinion classes centered on lectures are much more productive than those given over merely discussions. In the first place because one can be concentrated in a certain topic without scattered conversations that finally leave the main topic of discussion. Moreover, pre-reading helps us to have a deeper picture of the study and then we might discuss some of the main points. In conclusion, having a class based in lectures will lead us to a more integral dissertation in order to produce knowledge.
Thanks for subbing!
There are a lot of little grammar and language use errors here. Like:
"than those given over merely discussions" (should be something like "than those which only have discussions")
and
"In the first place" (should be something like "First of all"
Also, don't waste time on a conclusion that repeats your main point. Just add more details.
Hi Michael, thank you for your amazing videos. Here is my response:
In my perspective, it is far better to have interactive classes. I strongly agree with Mike’s opinion, and I’d add that in these situations, students have to conduct research, read and think deeply about the topic beforehand. Hence, they will gain a certain extent of mastery over the topic and be aware of its all ins and outs of the topic. Moreover, they will be inspired by other students’ opinions during discussion and develop their own idea progressively. Furthermore, by having discussion, students will be able to store the details and all information in their memory much better and accordingly get better grades. On the other hand, in terms of psychology, these kinds of discussions will help students become more flexible and be more receptive to others opinion. This will help them act competitively and try to convince others while having this opportunity to being convinced by others. Overall, I’d say that this kind of classes are so influential for improving students’ education quality and also their personality.
This is a pretty good response. I think it would score about 24 points. Just watch out for grammar errors like...
"by having discussion" (should be "by having discussions:)
"to others opinions" (should be "to others' opinions" or "the opinions of others")
"this kind of classes" (should be "these kinds of classes" or "this kind of class")
Thank you for your informative video.
Here is my response :
In my opinion, classes with interactive discussions are far better than the lecture oriented classes. As Mike has said, in case of discussion based classes we can have the opportunity to have the feedbacks from the professor or other students. By discussing with other students we can easily get the idea and also various new ideas can also be developed during the discussions. The problem of not having the concentration during discussion, as depicted by Rachel, can also be solved by observing notes of the discussions taken by other students. These notes can be shared in a common drive so that everyone can have the access to see the discussion summary later. In conclusion, I'd say that discussion is definitely an amazing way to learn new things.
This is okay, but there are language and grammar use errors like:
"than the lecture oriented classes" (should drop the definite article)
"in case of discussion based classes" (should just be "in discussion based classes)
"feedbacks" (this is non-count)
There are others, but you get the point. Focus on grammar as much as you can!
I have the same opinion as Mike that classes with discussions are more helpful for students than classes with a lot of lectures. This of course depends on the student, because everyone learns differently. But in my perspective, it is better to get to know and understand other people´s opinion, while discussing with them in class. That’s how you can better inform yourself on a topic because you are able to look at it in many different ways and hear a lot of different opinions. Moreover I am not a person who likes to listen to one teacher for hours because I can’t concentrate after some time and don’t remember a lot of things.
This is pretty decent. Just try to avoid starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions like "but" as the e-rater seems to dislike that. Use those conjunctions between clauses.
Stick a comma after "moreover" when it begins a sentence.
Try to use some subordinating conjunctions.
Overall, I'd say this one would score about 22 or 23 points.
While many people, like Rachel, prefer lecture-intensive courses, I do believe that discussion-based classes may bring more benefit to the students. Adding to Mike’s point about the advantages of getting exposed to different opinions, I believe that discussion-based classes encourage students to think about why their stance is better than the opposing one, which would foster critical thinking skills. For lecture classes, the professor just presents useful information and the students are usually never given the chance to challenge the points made by the professor. When students are asked why their opinion is valid, they begin to think about reasons to support their statements and refute the opposing positions by using rhetoric or persuasiveness which are some of the important skills that students should learn during their course of study.
Thank you so much for this great video!
This is a fairly strong response. I think it would score about 25 points. There are a few errors related to articles, though, so consider running your practice responses through something like Grammarly to identify them.
Thanks for this useful video! Here's my response to the question:
In my opinion, the classes with a lot of discussions are more beneficial for students. I firmly agree with Mike's perspective, and I would add that knowledge acquired from the interaction with people, such as discussions, can last longer than the knowledge just obtained from one side, such as lectures. For example, I currently cannot remember what I have learned from professors' lectures on economics that I took several years ago, but I still remember the specific topic and information discussed in the classes where I actively participated. Although it is true that students can be distracted if the discussions get off the original topic, like Rachel said, we do not need to worry about it because it is the professor's role to manage and lead the discussions.
I think this one would score 22 or 23 points. Your ideas are solid, but there are a lot of grammar and language use errors, like:
"the classes with a lot of discussions" (you should omit "the")
"the interaction with people" (should be "interactions" with people)
"the knowledge just obtained (you should omit "the").
There are other errors, but I think you get the point. Focus on reducing your error rate as much as you can.
thanks!
I think lectures are inherently more beneficial for effective learning in a classroom. I get Mike's point about the importance of communication and discussion between students, but more often than not, these sorts of discourses stray away from the main topic. On the other hand, lectures have a set structure that guarantees to inform students about a topic in a more detailed manner. Many professors who conduct lectures have years of experience, and are highly knowledgeable in their field, so students should take advantage of the golden opportunity they are given, which is to be able to listen to their talks. Besides, more meaningful discussions happen after class, when everyone has a basic idea of the material they've learned. After a lecture, conversations between students are likely to be more thought-provoking because everyone had time to process the information they gained during class.
This is really solid. I think it would score about 28 points. Bravo!
Thank you very much for the video.
Here is my response:
"This is a challenging topic, but I think that lectures are better for students. I strongly agree with Rachel’s point that usually lectures are more on-topic. One reason for this is that teachers can better foresee and therefore prepare lectures. I’d add that after every important point is made in a discussion, student tend to repeat statements, which were already mentioned before. While Mike raised the relevant point that discussions involve active participation of the students, he didn’t mention that not every student likes to participate in a discussion. Normally just a few students are actively involved in a discussion and students, who are shy, won’t state anything at all." (110 words)
Watch out for errors like "student tend" (should be "students tend") and "students, who are shy, won't state" (shouldn't have commas). Also, try to use a few coordinating conjunctions.
I think this one would score about 23 points.
While I agree with Rachel's point that studying with a clear roadmap is a help, I still believe that only through discussions can students learn a set of crucial soft skills. Take myself for example, once I was assigned to be a leader of the group discussion and oral presentation in the Digital Education course. Choosing a team member and allocating workloads evenly is undoubtedly the most difficult decision to make as a project lead. I acknowledge that the important mindset of leadership is to be decisive. Furthermore, when the team members were arguing about whether we should stand for or against the statement that e-learning can help children, I stopped them from attacking each other, held a debate instead, and made effective communication between the team members. As a result, I delivered a perfect lecture during the presentation day. With those unique lessons I learned from discussions, I believe that it is better for students to take classes with a lot of discussion.
While there are certainly advantages of taking more lectures with less discussions. I think when the students engage in more discussions is more value for them for many reasons. Firstly, the students will gain al lot of encouragements to be a great researcher in the future. What is more is that participating in more discussion make a learner braver in presenting his or her ideas. I agree why the perspective of Rachel .i remember that when I was child I gained a huge knowledge by engaging myself in discussion with my teachers and friends . that is why it really crucial to be more involved with teachers.
I think this one would score about 17 points. There are too many grammar and language use and punctuation errors. You need to focus on those things before you take the test.
While Rachel's opinion is also convincing, I agree with Mike, and I think that discussions in a class allow students to think deeply about topics and critically dispute each other. Moreover, if the students know they will participate in a discussion, they'll prepare better for the class and read prerequisite material enthusiastically, so they learn profoundly. Additionally, although Rachel's concern could be right, the professor observes the flow of the discussion, so it wouldn't be unnecessarily long and out of context. This method not only stimulates the class atmosphere but also allows the professor to establish a friendly relationship with the students.
I think this one would score about 22 or 23 points. There are errors like "dispute each other" (should be something like "debate each other") and "so they learn" (should be "so they will learn"). Focus on reducing your error rate!
This is a challenging topic, but I believe that classes with a lot of discussions provide student a more active and focs learning atmosphere, which can in turn stimulate students motivation to learn. I agree with Mike's idea that through discussion, topics can be discussed more deeply and broader, sometimes even providing a new perspective. While Rachel raised a relevant point that discussions can sometimes get off track, it is worth noting that teachers can also take part in the discussion, provide their opinion and even intervene the discussion if needed. In fact, teachers usually play a critical role during group discussions, which includes motivating relatively quiet student to engage and introduct the group the topic, doing their best to guide the discussion on the right track.
This is a solid answer, but there are minor errors throughout. Like:
"provide student" (should be "provide students")
"more deeply and broader" (should be "more deeply and broadly")
"focs" (should probably be "focused")
"introduct" (should be "introduce")
There are more errors, but I think you get the point. Even little slips add up eventually.
I think your work would score about 24 or 25 points.
Thank you very much !
This is my response
There is no shortage of opinions on the topic of what type of classes is preferable for students in terms of getting profound knowledge. I agree with Mike’s viewpoint on this issue. I do believe that providing students with the opportunity to discuss their opinions is able to lead to a deeper understanding of the subject.
To begin with, when students are aware of upcoming discussions they will select and prepare strong arguments and during this process, their knowledge might be expanded as learners have to scrutinize vast amounts of resources in order to build their point of view. Moreover, students could enhance their ability to defend their opinion as they have to argue with others. For example, I remember my comrade who attended such classes where he was obliged to discuss various topics, and in order not to get in trouble he had to be well prepared. Thus, he possessed profound knowledge in these fields.
To sum up, I firmly believe that classes which demand arguments between students during the lessons are able to boost comprehension of the material.
Use a singular noun after "what type of." Always!
Don't call your friend your "comrade."
Otherwise, I think this is pretty decent and it would score 23 or 24 points.
Though both the ways of learning in class have some advantage and some disadvantage. I prefer the class with group discussion. When we can share our thoughts with others, we can find our mistakes and can reconsider our way of processing the issue. Discussion with peer groups helps us to remember the specific details of the discussed topic that eventually make the learning easier. Moreover, discussion on a topic require us to prepare ourselves before the debate, therefore we can have an effective conversation in the group. At the same time, teacher can join in the group discussion that make the group discussion and learning even more robust. That’s why I prefer this.
There are a lot of grammar mistakes in this one. You seem to be particularly weak when it comes to articles. I recommend using something like "Grammarly" to help clean up your grammar. I estimate that this one would score about 19 or 20 points.
I'm personally of the opinion that one of the most, if not the most, crucial ways that enables us to benefit more from lessons and classes is associated with our engagement in the discussions. In this respect, I think that students ought to engage in accademic conversations, rather than listening to the lectures. Actually, no one can deny the fact that when people are engaged in challenging disccusions, they can expand their herizons by paying attention to others' perspectives, and this is why I am on the same page with Mike. I want to emphasize that when people are involved in classes with a lot of discussions, their learning process may become more efficient because they feel an urge to defend their viewpoints and this urge may force them to read and research more. This could make the classes more appealing to students who are looking for more interactive and engaging learning experiences. On the other hand, although I appreciate the points mentioned by Rachel, I want to say that lectures could be very boring. If lectures in classes become monotonous, they may bring about some negative results, and they may affect the students' desire for participating in classes because, after all, no one wants to waste his or her time in monotonous lectures.
I think your opening line has a lot of awkward filler. Just say something more obvious like: "I'm personally of the opinion that we benefit a lot from classes with discussions." You aren't going to impress either the human rater or the e-rater with what you wrote.
Note that we are on the same page "as" other people.
Don't use "on the other hand, although I appreciate." Just start with "although I appreciate."
I think this one would score 22 or 23 points.
@@Toeflresources Tnx for your feedback
My pleasure!
This is a challenging topic, I think that the lecture with discussion would be a better education way. I strongly agree with Mike, hearing innovative ideas from different people is crucial because I can view the topic from other aspects which I might never think before. With the aid of discussion, I believe that the vibe of the lecture will be more active. This can lead students to pay more attention to the class rather than sleeping. Hence, this is a good way to help students on learning. Some might argue that the lecture time is limited, we should let the professor talk about the deep concept in the classroom. However, I believe that learning is a permanent task for everyone. If we are inspired during the lecture, we could learn more about the topic from the Internet.
I think this one would score about 20 points. There are grammar and usage mistakes in just about every sentence. That's problematic.
In my personal opinion, i think that taking classes with a lot of discussing is better for students than solely lectures. for several reasons, one, and is the most significant reason is to demise many problems that students may force with the topic taken. for example, when someone has a wrong beliefe about something relates to the lecture and discuss that with the professor and students, this discussing can lead this person to correct his beliefe by providing some convinced ideas.
Another advantage is that discussing demonstrate interesting and new views and perspectives, and by that, we all can expand our knowledge and improve our thinking way.
I think this one would score about 17 or 18 points. There are just too many grammar, language use and punctuation errors. Try using a service like "Grammarly" to highlight your mistakes. Keep practicing until you can reduce your error rate.
I would strongly recommend a discussion-based classes. I believe this method of teaching will add an extra layer to understanding the material. For example, learning about two different perspectives on a topic or engaging in lively back and forth debates during the class, which will further retain information. Moreover, while I do see Reachel's point of why having a certain agenda will save time and be sharp to the point, many professors do not really follow that agenda, or follow it strictly without taking notes if students actually follow the topic, which creates a rigid learning environment where only a few top students are able to follow the material properly, while students who have questions and prefer a more lively discussions will fall behind. Overall, while I see advantages for both, I would prefer the lively discussions so all students will be able to follow equally.
Don't use "a" before a plural noun like "classes."
Your third sentence looks like a sentenced fragment to me.
The sentence beginning with "Moreover..." seems to go on forever and I can't really follow it. :)
I recommend running your work through something like "Grammarly" to get a better handle on the types of mistakes you make. I think this answer would score about 20 points, but I am sure you can do better.
For me , i think that classes that involve a lot of discussions are much better than lectures. First of all, through discussions we can evolve in learning process as discussions help us to gain more experiences through interacting with each other. Additionally, discussions make us more active than listening to professors. Moreover, learning through discussions strengthen our ability to express opinions and thus breaking our shy. Furthermore, through discussions we can understand much better through our answers and the professor's response to them. Also by learner's responses we can gain more and more knowledge and thus gain more experiences.
Don't use "For me, I think." Just use "I think." Remember to capitalize the pronoun "I."
The structure here seems somewhat simplistic, as every sentence begins with an identical sort of transition: additionally, moreover, furthermore, also.
Consider using one of my templates: www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-writing-templates/
In my point of view, I prefer taking classes with a lot of discussions for many reasons. First of all, by this way of learning students will be able to understand everything clearly and the information will stuck in their minds for a long time. Another thing by discussing all of students will be active in the class and they will be able to add their own information. As Mike said, by discussing students will have the chance to gain immediate feedback. Discussing classes will make students to be able to understand everything deeply and in an easy way. By this way students will get more benefits.
I think this one would score about 21 points. You need conjunctions! There is a real lack of grammatical sophistication in your answer, which can certainly hold you back.
Thanks:
Different approaches to education have always been a hot topic for debate, and coincidentally, this discussion itself can be quite educational. My personal belief is that it really depends on the subject being taught. For example, students in a dramatic writing class generally prefer a more interactive and open environment, they welcome workshops and play out each other's works as there aren't many rules. But on the other hand, in a math class, students tend to discuss less with one another and the professor really focuses on getting all information across by intensive lecturing. Too much discussion in a math class lead to nothing, whereas it's essential in a more creative and less restricted class like creative writing. I totally understand Mike's fondness of classmates interactions and Racheal's concern that discussions deviate quite often, they individually work for some categories, however, a more comprehensive approach, in my opinion, would be treating different subjects with suitable lecturing methods.
I think this one would score about 24 points. You need a conjunction of some sort between "open environment" and "they welcome." However, you should avoid starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions like you did with "but on the other hand."
There are also a few small grammar errors like "too much discussion in a math class lead" (should be "leads").
Both ways have a real advantage, but I'm convinced that in educating young people we have to let them discuss their own opinions, by making the classes open for discussion, especially in human subjects, because there is a vary different subject which lead to new paths for understanding each one of them, while student having a discussion in classes they will have the chance to adapt different opinions and explain them to their pears, as well as having the chance to evolve their own learning process, overall, I would say that listening to other people opinion in classes should be a must, because it would make the student exited to attend each lecture, and they will know that their thoughts matter.
This one would probably score about 18 or 19 points. There are multiple grammar and language use errors in every sentence. That will really hold you back. I recommend using something like Grammarly to check your work.
In my point of view, taking the classes with lots of discussions is much better than the ordinary lectures for three reasons. Firstly, students will express their opinions about their lessons. Then, they will brainstorm what they have dealing with the lessons they are being taught. However, in the normal way taking the lessons by lecture, the learners will only go with the ideas with the lecture. Secondly, students can share their personal views when they are in a discussion of the lessons they learn. In this case, they can even discuss with each other and get the opinions of others, which can improve their knowledge. On the other hand, lessons by the lecture will only share the knowledge provided in it. Finally, students debate with each other in more advanced way of learning by the discussion than by the lecture.
Can you please review my answer:
While I understand what both of you mean, I strongly agree with Mike’s opinion that discussion can help students to learn more efficiently than studying fixed material. I believe that discussing topics could broaden student’s horizons, additionally It might stimulate their imagination for better understanding of specific topics by thinking about it. For Example, when I was in high school. My physics teacher was teaching us very complicated topics and concepts. But, when he gave us some examples on how these topics have been used in our daily life, the course became much fun. For instance, he taught us how scientists use our math formulas to calculate launching a satellite.
I think this one would score about 23 or 24 points. You just have to avoid minor errors like:
"student's" (should be "students'")
"For Example" (should be "for example")
"examples on" (should be "examples of")
How would you rate my writing on a scale of 30?
In this argument, I would like to state that I’m in favour of listening to lectures against solely partaking in discussions. I strongly agree with Rachel’s perspective on this matter, and would like to add that it really helps to take well structured notes while listening to a lecture where the contents are in complete order. These notes come in handy when we need to refer to them for studying or revising the subject later.
While Mike makes a good point that we can get immediate feedback from participating in discussions, there also remains a strong probability that the feedback might be rather misleading as people tend to make mistakes in the heat of discussions, or one might speak from incomplete understanding of the topic.
Overall, in my opinion I would say that structured lectures are better compared to discussions.
I think this one would score about 23 or 24 points. There are small grammar and language use errors throughout your answer. Those could hurt you on test day.
Both classes with lots of discussions and classes focused on lectures have their pros and cons, but in my opinion, it is better for students to take classes in which they often engage in discussions. For starters, students would be able to bring up their own ideas and therefore improve in critical thinking abilities. Also, as Mike mentioned, we get a deeper understanding of the concepts through the process, which allows us to retain information better. Though Rachel made a point on discussions being argumentative and distracting, I believe that the teacher would be able to keep track of the flow of the lesson and deal with specific situations. I would like to add that instead of taking away from the learning experience, exchanging ideas and accepting different perspectives is in fact an important part of education itself. Overall, the benefits of discussion outweigh the possible drawbacks, which is why I am convinced that classes with discussions are better.
This is a pretty good response. I think it would score 24 or 25 points. Just don't bother with a conclusion at the end. That looks awkward in a task like this. You aren't supposed to write a mini essay. You are instead supposed to write something that looks like a post on a message board. Like part of a conversation!
This is a challenging topic, but I think that education that contains numerous discussions is much more beneficial in comparison with classes based on lectures. Therefore, I strongly agree with Mike's idea that discussions provide an opportunity to be more connected with a topic and other students. In addition, I would mention that discussions force people to generate their own ideas about subjects and allow them to take into consideration the opinions of others. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lectures show more structural information, she did not mention that lectures could not be individual for each person. As a result, if someone did not understand the main point of a phenomenon, it would be difficult for him to learn subsequent information from a lecture.
I think this one would score about 22 points. I think "much more beneficial in comparison with" should be replaced with "more beneficial than". Also, you should replace "lectures could not be" with "lectures cannot be." I am not sure what you mean by "main point of a phenomenon." Do you just mean "presentation" or "topic"?
In my opinion, discussion about a point given by the professor is one of the appropriate approaches that could be considered as a learning method. I strongly concur with Mike’s idea that having a lot of discussion steers students toward being more engaged and interactive in classes. I would add that classroom discussion provides an opportunity for students to gain critical thinking and problem-solving abilities; as a result, getting such skills would help students to tackle some problems they might face in their future life. Rachel raised a relevant point that listening to a lecture given by an expert professor is a proper approach to learning in class, but she did not mention that in some cases, a lecturer might explain a specific topic with a monotonous rhythm which makes students get bored. In this case, students might experience mind-wandering instead of concentrating on the lecture. Overall, I would say that students could benefit from discussion more than lecturing in class.
I don't really know what you mean by "In my opinion, discussion about a point given by the professor is one of the appropriate approaches that could be considered as a learning method." I can't even guess, really. Just start by stating your direct and clear response to the question.
I think your work would score about 20 points.
The choice of attending classes with discussions or just a course focused on lectures has been a hot topic. In my opinion, I believe that interactive lectures will be beneficial to students. I agree with Mike's opinion, and I'd add that lively participation in discussions will foster a better understanding of confusing topics for the students. For instance, in the event that the student has inquiries regarding the lecture, their peers or the professor will be able to promptly address the issue and proceed to the subsequent topic. In addition, discussions will promote socialization and better communication skills for the students. In general, I believe that engaging in classes that feature a significant number of discussions can prove advantageous for learners as they will acquire knowledge on diverse subjects simultaneously, and will be able to effectively communicate with their peers and instructors.
Start your response with a sentence that actually states your argument. I don't like your "has been a hot topic" line. Don't use "in my opinion" AND "I believe." Using both is redundant.
I think this one would score about 22 points.
There are different approaches to improve the way students learn in classes. While as Rachel stated, a one-way class in which the teacher is the active subject is more organized, in my opinion, an interactive class benefits the students more.
To begin with, listening to one person for the length of a class session could be boring; Therefore, it would reduce students' enthusiasm. In general, when people participate in a conversation, they are motivated to listen to its details too.
Second, as Mike mentioned, chances to gain more information during a discussion increase dramatically, while there is interaction between the students and the teacher. As an example, I remember when I was a junior, our history class teacher would have asked us to study the topic in advance and discuss what we have learned in the upcoming g class. As a result, I still remember every detail of the historical events we discussed in those classes.
This is decent, but there are a few grammar and language use errors. Like:
"approaches to improve" (should be "approaches to improving")
"is the active subject" (should be something like "is the center of attention")
"benefits the students" (should be "benefits students")
There are other minor issues, but I think you get the point. I suppose this one would score about 22 or 23.
@@Toeflresources thank you so much, I am writing a lot of samples everyday and can see my improvement. Is there anyway that I can send you one every other week to get your opinion about it? I need a minimum of 24 for my writing section.
Well, @@katayounkazemi1407 , if you need more attention I recommend signing up for my evaluation program. Here's a link: www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-essay-evaluation-and-scoring/
Hello Michael, thank you very much for our help. Here is my response:
In my opinion both options have its own advantages and disadvantages, but I am more inclined to benefits of interactive classes. Here I will explain why. By myself I am a lecturer at university and from my personal experience the students find it hard to stay focused on specific topic for a long time without interaction. While I believe that lectures where the teacher is the main presenter is invaluable and helps the students see the big picture as well as key points about the subject, at the same time I have witnessed that listeners lose concentration if they are just passive observers and are not involved in a process. Overall, I support having classes of two types. Proportionally less time should be devoted to lectures where teacher is the main presenter, but they should try to rise discussions meanwhile, not to lose the bond with the audience. After the introductory lecture, main focus should be on interactive seminars where the topic is more reinforced by discussions.
I think this one would score about 22 points. A few things are worth mentioning here:
1. Your "but I am more inclined..." line is hard to follow. I think you should just use an easier line like "I prefer...".
2. Don't use "by myself." Use "For example, I am a lecturer..."
3. "lectures... is" is a subject-verb agreement error.
I will leave it at that, but I recommend running your work through something like Grammarly to catch more errors!
@@Toeflresourcesmany thanks❤
@@anakhukhashvili6656 My pleasure! When will you take the test?
@@Toeflresources in 10 days🙈
Best of luck to you! Let me know how it goes.
Here's my version.
Education is one of the key aspects of human life and it has undergone some major changes and improved its methods over time. Actually, I am inclined to believe that using discussions during the class is more preferable for me inasmuch as it helps students to think differently and look for certain topics from different angles, which in turn develops their critical thinking and analyzing skills. I completely sympathize with Rachel’s concern that lectures often follow specific structures which keeps the class more organized, however, this might seem boring sometimes. I would also add that students sometimes are inclined to learn from peers, since they are the people with whom they spend most of their time and sharing some kinds of ideas and knowledge would seem beneficial and interesting for them. Overall, despite having ordinary lecture classes, some changes such as class discussions will improve the way students learn which is why I have no doubt that this is a good approach to education.
Your grammar is okay, but some of your word choices are awkward and unidiomatic. I mean stuff like:
"is one of the key aspects of human life" (should be something like "is a major part of our lives"
"and improved its methods" (should be something like: "and has changed")
"during the class" (should be "during classes")
There are more, but I think you get the point. I think your answer would score about 21 or 22 points.
This is a difficult topic, but I believe that it is best for students to take classes that emphasize conversation rather than lectures. I absolutely agree with Mike's point that a class with a lot of debate provides an opportunity to obtain fast feedback and hear multiple perspectives on a given topic. I would add that in the course of the conversation about the themes, we even come up with new ideas that are definitely innovative, and the discussion also tests our critical thinking abilities because it is a more involved method.
While Rachel raised the pertinent point that classes with lecture oriented is more listening to an expert explaining the topic with clear content and set of agendas that help her stay focused and organized, she failed to mention the interests of other students that always hearing from one person may be boring, implying that a student may be physically present in a class, but their mental being is somewhere else. Overall, two-way communication in the form of discussion aids students in their learning.
Excellent work. I think this one would score about 24 or 25 points. There are just a few issues like the whole "While Rachel raised the pertinent point that classes with lecture oriented is more listening to an expert explaining the topic with clear content and set of agendas that help her stay focused and organized." I can't really parse that.
Also, don't use "their mental being is somewhere else." Just be clear and say "but they may not be paying attention."
While I appreciate the stance mentioned by Rachael, I think that having an interactive class can effectively enhance students’ absorption of lessons. Before discussing with others, students have to consider the content thoroughly and go to great lengths to convert those concepts into spoken words. The process of transforming the information enables students to have a deeper understanding of the topic, which is a crucial ability for students. Moreover, by interacting with others, students are encouraged to conjure up some unique and solid supporting ideas. When other students provide their opinion, students’ capability to respond to those opinions by giving reasonable replies is necessarily required. Overall, I’d say that courses with a lot of discussions are more beneficial for students.
I think this one would score about 20 points. There are some errors including:
"discussing with others" (should be something like "discussing things with other")
"consider the content" (should be something like "consider the subject")
"enables students to have a deeper understanding" (should be simplified to something like: "gives students a deeper understanding..."
There are other errors, but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar and language use as much as possible as you move forward.
In my opinion, discussion-based classes play a pivotal role in boosting valuable hands-on skills. I strongly agree with Mike's idea that students get familiar with various assortments of perspectives when they discuss in the classroom. I'd add that students hone critical and analytical thinking while listening to fellow students' standpoints. This is because students are responsible to provide a new opinion which is not expressed previously. Specifically, they listen to other students' viewpoints meticulously then promptly analyze them from various angles and finally come up with the most innovative solution. While Rachel raised the relevant point that lecture oriented classes give a sense of discipline, she did not mention that professors lead discussions as well so as to ensure pupils deal with the set agenda.
Thank you in advance for providing valuable comments on my essay.
Bests,
Reyhane
This is pretty good, but remember that "discuss" needs a direct object. Like this: "discuss THINGS with people in the classroom."
Also, try to avoid repeating "student" so many times.
`Both students have valid reasons for their preferences, but I’m more in favor of combining both approaches to ensure that students get the best out of their learning experience. In most colleges today, there are various criteria that students must meet in order to be prepared for the real world, which means that individuals must be flexible and adapt to an array of learning processes. Moreover, nowadays it’s quite common for schools to have students from different parts of the world enrolled in their faculties which suggests that favoring one approach over the other will definitely put some students at a disadvantage. Thus, I’ll say that a more effective way to prepare students for life after the classroom is to expose them to both methods of learning.
I think it is dangerous to support both sides. I don't see any rules against this on the ETS website, but it feels dangerous to me. I think you should pick one side and stick with it.
Here is my personal response, if anyone could give me feedbacks 😅 :
I think both Mike and Rachel raised good points. As Mike said, in a class with a lot of discussion we as students have an opportunity to ask questions about complex topics that we are being taught, and therefore retain better. On the other hand, what Rachel is right about is that it can get off track, for example if everybody talks at the same time without listening to each other. In my opinion, the best way to learn efficiently and stay focused in class would be in a class with mainly discussion. Besides, I realised from my personal experience that I tend to memorize informations better after an interactive and fun class. Hence, if students listen to every point of view and that the discussion is organized, this type of class would be highly beneficial to everyone.
Remember that "feedback" is a non-count noun. :)
Overall, I think this one would score about 23 points. Your answer is somewhat hard to follow because of slightly unidiomatic sentences. Also, note that "information" is a non-count noun. Finally, try to avoid repeating words too many times.
In my opinion, it is enormously beneficial for students to have interactive discussion in their class. Therefore, I strongly agree with Mike's opinion that when students are provided with discussion class, they are able to see things in a variety of perspectives. I'd add my own experience which can best demonstrate this idea. When I was in high school, there was a class where we had to give our own opinion on every topic. While this style of class made me stressed out sometimes, it helped me a lot be more confident and understand other peers' opinions. Because of this class, I could get a chance to broaden my horizons. Rachel raised the relevant point that a clear structure of a lecture can make students focus on the class, however, she missed the point that well-made lecture can't always be a productive way to study for those who are less motivated to just listen to a lecture.
Be sure to use the plural form when talking about something in general. Use "in their classes" because you are talking about classes in general. Use "with discussion classes" because you are talking about discussion classes in general.
I think this one would score about 22 or 23 points.
@@Toeflresources Thank you for the response ! What do you think I should practice more to get higher score on the writing test ?
Grammar, grammar, grammar, grammar.
@@Toeflresources Thank you ! Can I ask what's the major grammar error in my essay?
@@bantukhaa There are a variety of grammar errors. Try something like Grammarly to get highlights.
Thanks a lot for this video. Here's my response.
The topic of classes being held in the context of discussions or lectures has generated a lot of opinion in recent years. My personal belief is that it would be really beneficial for students to pursue classes that involve a lot of discussion. I understand Rachel’s concern over discussions becoming too argumentative, but I would say that is what makes it even more significant, as sometimes even the expert professors might teach something inaccurate, and if proper discussion is involved, it could be corrected at the same time. We should also not forget that argumentative discussions were the primary reasons behind many successful and unsuccessful discoveries, like the atomic model. Also, because lectures often have a set agenda to teach, they can become quite boring, whereas in discussion, you get to share a variety of aspects, which makes them more interesting and unique.
The whole opening line isn't needed. Like a lot of people you are trying to turn this into an independent essay. Instead, you should just start with your opinion.
Otherwise, this is solid, with just a few minor grammar problems like "even the expert professors" (should be just "even expert professors").
Overall, I think this one would score about 26 or 27 points.
I strongly believe that taking class with full of discussion is better for a couple of reasons. When students take part in debates, their self-confidence increases. Self-confidence is a vital part for contemporary academic institutions, so engaging in dialogue is the best way that students can enhance their self-confidence. Although Rachel is right partially about taking lectures, she doesn't consider that some debates are well structured too. On the other hand, attending in classes that students take part actively gives the students chance of making new friends. Indeed, building relationship is essential for everyone. Studies show that 95 percent of students make their friends during discussions in classes. Overall, in my perspective, it is a good idea for students to participate in classes, which have numerous discussions.
I think this one would score about 22 points. There are some grammar and language use errors throughout the response. Don't use "studies show." Making up fake stats is probably a bad idea here, just as it was in the independent task.
I strongly believe that its better to discussions the details in class. for that i agree with Mike's point about u can understand better .But i would like to add that it helps student to improve himself in weakness subject and to understand lesson well to have a good grade in exam . For instance, i remember i was bad at biology , but my teacher was explaining the topic in details and that help me to increase my grade in test , moreover their are many difficult scientific topics need to explain it and need more research on it to understand .For that its better to explain the lecture in details .
I think this one would score about 17 points. There are just too many grammar and language use errors for you to do much better than that.
From my point of view, discussions in class would allow students to experiment an active way of learning. As Mike stated, students will have the opportunity to exchange their ideas and boost their knowledge by hearing new perspectives. Furthermore, students will study harder if they want to debate because they have to be immersed in the topic. To do this they should read plenty of books and videos so they have total control of the information. Nowadays, students get bored in classes because they have to listened to their professors for one or two hours and they cannot interact with anyone. For this reason, schools should try to promote active classes where students can share their thoughts and be more proactive.
If I write this, what would be my grade?
I don't think you really need to use "would" and "will" so much. You are just making generalizations, and not really talking about a conditional situation. Use the simple present tense.
There are a few more obvious errors like "have to listened" (should be "have to listen").
You really ought to use some conjunctions. There is a lack of grammatical sophistication in this answer, I think.
I think this one would score about 21 points.
@@Toeflresources Thanks a lot for your feedback. I will keep studying! 💪
That's the spirit! When will you take the test?
Hi Micheal, your content is so clear and right on track.
Can you please give a comment on the below answer. I will be grateful to you.
"Both options have real advantages, but I'm convinced that classes with a lot of discussion can help students retain the knowledge much better than classes that are entirely focused on lectures. I strongly agree with Mike's perspective, and I'd add that discussions can help students clear the confusion about the topic they have at that moment. This way, they can memorize the information more effectively. While Rachel is right about the fact that sometimes discussions can get off track, I think it depends on the teacher's ability to guide the discussion and provide all the necessary information within the limited time frame. Overall, if the teacher is capable enough, it will help the students learn in the best academic environment."
Don't use "the knowledge" in your opening line. Just refer to "knowledge" since you are talking about knowledge in general. This might be the most common grammar error I fix.
You repeated "information" about a zillion times. That could hurt you. Replace it with synonyms!
I think this one would score about 23 points.
This is a challenging topic, but I think that learning from discussion is better. I strongly agree with Mike that interactive learning can be beneficial because students constantly get ideas from others. I’d add that via exchanging personal opinion, students who are adept at the subject could help students who are not good at the subject and thus knowledge is forwarded mutually. Moreover, people in a group may combine markedly different ideas to a novel one that could possibly inspire everyone in the classroom. While Rachel raised the relevant point that discussion can often be aggressive and self-centered, she didn’t mention that if a student is too shy to ask a question, the lecture-only learning will prevent him or her from catching up with other smart students. However, discussion forces him/her to take part in the conversation and thus he/she would absorb more knowledge and ask more questions.
I think this one would score about 22 points. I sense a good argument here, but there are just too many expressions and phrases I don't really understand, like "knowledge is forwarded mutually" and "combine markedly different ideas to a novel one."
Thank you for replying, let me clearly express these. "knowledge is forwarded mutually", I mean students are able to learn from each other and thus have more knowledge on certail topic. "combine markedly different ideas to a novel one", means students can use the advantage of the idea to combine with others' idea to become a new idea. BTW, how can I express them better? Thank you!!
@@Toeflresources
@@liuandy6520 Just keep it simple, I guess: "...and thus help each other master it." And "...combine their ideas to come up with something new that inspires everyone."
Resist the urge to use fancy language. Too many students try to be fancy or "advanced" and they just end up hurting themselves.
I appreciate it, it helps a lot!
@@Toeflresources
My pleasure! When will you take the test?
Thank you for making this valuable video. I'd definitely follow these tips
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you Michael for your video and your help. Please review my response; I appreciate the statements made by Mike and Rachel. I believe that interactive classes are more beneficial rather than lectures because the second option is more passive. What I mean is that while discussion may capture your attention, lecture may distract you. In fact, it is hard to sit throughout two hours and listen to the professor. Furthermore, if you have some doubts about your point of view, you can learn a different perspective from another student, as Mike mentioned earlier. Additionally, Rachel made a good point but she forgot to point out that most of the students learn better through the arguments because everyone states their own opinion, and it is a great way to improve your viewpoint. To sum up, scheduled lessons are not always a great way to teach important arguments, so discussions are always better.
This one would probably score about 22 points. There are just too many grammar and language use errors for it to do better than that. I mean things like:
"are more beneficial rather than lectures" (should be "are more beneficial than lectures"
"lecture many distract you" (should be "lectures may distract you")
"so discussions are always better" (should be "and discussions are always better")
There are other mistakes, but I think you get the point. Try something like "Grammarly" to highlight more errors in your work.
@@Toeflresources Thank you very much !!!
My pleasure! When will you take the test?
@@Toeflresources Tomorrow :)
Gooooood luck! Let me know how it goes.
While the significance of focused lectures in a class is undeniable, I believe that discussions are better for students to gain knowledge and new skills. There are two reasons for contending this side of the argument. Firstly, focused lectures deliver limited knowledge. For example; if I'm a lecturer, no matter how much of an expert I consider myself in that area, my capacity is still limited, being a human. In a discussion, when different individuals contribute their limited knowledge, it becomes a vast pool which is a better approach for making someone learn. Secondly, the diversity in explaining a similar concept. This means that different speakers have different ways of communicating the same idea. It is possible that I do not understand the delivery style of my professor in class but I understand it better when my friend explains it to me. Therefore, it is better to have more discussions in classrooms than to have focused lectures, which can limit the ideas and have a more monotonous delivery style.
I think this one would score about 19 or 20 points. Your ideas are fine, but there are multiple grammar and language use errors in just about every sentence. That's a problem. Try something like "Grammarly" to highlight the mistakes you make most frequently.
Classes according to me should be discussion based. Well I won’t say a hundred percent should be discussion but definitely the information added by the students give the class a turn to understand the subject better. I personally have felt much knowledgable after being in a class with interactive discussions like Mike explains it, I do understand the difficulty with class interactions how Rachel represents the students who might find difficulty similar to hers. While discussions are exciting and interactive I feel the basic framework of the lecture should be clear to all at the end of the class. Sometimes the lectures do deviate from the structure completely. Generally, I would choose a class with active discussion involving contemporary topics rather than plain lectures which might be boring for me.
I think this one would score about 21 points. There are grammar and language use errors in just about every sentence. Try running a bunch of practice responses through a service like Grammarly so you can gain some insights into the mistakes you are making.
I appreciate your efforts Mr. Michael. l will be so glad if you give me your feedback about my essay:
..............
This is a challenging topic, but I think that obtain classes with a lot of discussions will be the best approach. I strongly support Mike's idea that discussions help students analyze the information and make it easier to memorize. I would add that discussions also help us to develop our communication skills and expand our understanding of the topic. While Rechel raised the relevant point that classes mainly focused on lectures will be helpful to organize the ideas and stay focused with the lecturer, she didn't mention that these classes sometimes will be boring because they just focus on certain content without any Interventions from the student that are going to make the classes more effective and exciting. For instance, in the history classes, I'd like to participate with the teacher just to obtain more knowledge and attract the attention of my friends to make the class more interactive.
I guess that this one would score about 23 points. Your arguments are solid, but there are quite a few grammar and language use errors. I mean stuff like:
"I think that obtain classes" (should be just "I think that classes")
"analyze the information" (should be just "analyze information")
"from the student" (should be "from students")
There are others, but I think you get the point. Focus on grammar and correct language use as much as possible.
I agree with Mike’s idea that students should have classes with a lot of discussion. I would like to add, having discussion can foster some vital skills of students that might come in handy in their future life. To be more specific, crucial skills such as, critical thinking, problem solving can dramatically improve when students have a constructive discussion not only with their peers but also with the professor. As a result, they become more competent in the job for which they applying in comparison to their peers, because some companies would prefer to have an employee with mastery on these skills. I understand Rachel’s idea that lectures can help students to be more organized, when they are trying to pursue their learning roadmap. But she missed this point, In the lecture students can experience monologue teaching style which might be monotonous and tedious for them. As a result, they might be discouraged from pursuing their learning path.
There are a few grammar and language use errors. Like:
1. You should say: "I would like to add THAT having DISCUSSIONS can...".
2. Don't use a comma after "such as."
3. You should say: "critical thinking AND problem solving"
4. You should say: "mastery OF these skills."
There are more, but I think you get the point. I think this one would score about 21 points.
Museums are one of the most attractive attractions in any city. It gathers people from different places. While Andrew and Claire mention some important advantages of having a museum in cities. In my opinion, one of the most significant benefits of museums is it can expose people to variable cultures, costoms, and ways of life. When we visit museums, we may see different kinds of art works from different places. So, we can develope ideas and thoughts about the origin of this work. For example, how professional people were, type of life they experienced or what kind of painting they used. As a result, we may be immerse in these cultures, which can significantly broaden our horizonz, help us be more open-minded. and adaptable.
Hey, I'm just grading answers based on the questions in the videos right now. I want to make sure people are using good question prompts. :)
@@Toeflresources sorry for the confusion!! thank you. so much.. really appreciate your efforts
My pleasure! When do you plan to take the test?
@@Toeflresources on july 26
I wish you luck!
Hi Michael, thanks for your video. Here is my response:
While I appreciate the points mentioned by Mike and Rachel, I think that classes with arguments happen to be more practical in real life. Since we are all going to graduate one day, being able to engage in conversations and interact with others is crucial for our metal heath and enhance our social skills. Remember that being a member of a community provides us with a sense of belonging, so this would help us to get through rough times when we are facing some difficulties. Moreover, by learning to elaborate on topics that are not necessarily our expertise, we can find ourselves more popular among people. Some people may feel that by not being private we might violate our privacy which is not true in case of academia.
I really like this one and think it would score about 25 or 26 points. I just worry that it is too short. Aim for about 130 or 140 words.
Thanks Michael@@Toeflresources
Hi Michael! Thank you so much for this video! It would be amazing if you could check my answer:) The topic of different approaches of conducting lessons has caused much discussion in recent years. If I had to choose, i`d rather take traditional lectures. I strongly believe that they allow to concentrate on material deeply and absorb new knowledges much easier. I understand Rachel`s concern over this question. However, I believe she misses another crucial point. Visiting lectures without any discussions is also less stressful and unnerving for students due to the fact that they do not need to be ready to come up with arguments towards the information they might elaborate on. For instance, if it is a new or challenging class, it is much better to simply sit and listen to a professor without distractions. Furthermore, I think that during conversations some students might misinterpret what a professor is trying to get across to them. For example, when students are talking about something during classes, you can hear different ideas, proposals or assumptions which you might take the wrong way. Thus, it will cause misunderstanding and mistakes in the future.
This is pretty good, and would probably score about 24 points. Maybe 25. I'm just concerned about your rate of grammar and language use errors. There are mistakes throughout, like:
"i'd rather take" (should be "I'd rather take")
"visiting lectures" (should be "attending lectures")
"arguments towards the information" (should be something like "arguments related to the information")
There are others, but I think you get the point. Consider slowing down a bit as you write.
@@Toeflresources thank you again! You helped me a lot☺️ I’ll be more attentive next time:)
My pleasure!