Model texts Unit 1
The flipped classroom is a modern approach to school education, and many teachers feel it is an excellent method. Flipped learning has advantages, and one of the most important is that it allows pupils to study at their own pace. However, I feel that it is not the best approach for school education in my country.
Firstly, primary and secondary education methods in some countries are still quite traditional. In fact, a lot of learning consists of memorizing long texts. In a flipped classroom, the teacher’s role is to be a facilitator, not a source of knowledge and information. I think many teachers would not feel comfortable in that role. What’s more, parents expect teachers to pass on knowledge in class and might feel teachers are not doing this job properly in a flipped classroom.
Another drawback is that flipped learning requires access to technology and the free time to use it. In some countries, families cannot afford to buy tablets or laptops for their children. In others, children do not have a lot of free time because they help their parents with household chores when they get home from school or go out to work to earn extra money for the family.
Finally, many young people are not mature enough to benefit from a flipped approach. For flipped learning to succeed, pupils must learn to manage their time at home and study the material the teacher has given them. If they do not understand something, they have to wait until the next class to ask questions. However, they may forget those questions before the class and miss out on important learning points. There is also a risk that pupils see the in-class practice sessions as an opportunity to have fun with their friends rather than as part of the learning process.
It is possible that the flipped classroom could be successful in my country one day. However, I think that the expectations of teachers, parents and pupils regarding education are too traditional for the approach to be taken seriously at present.
Unit 2
Nowadays, the majority of jobs require a certain amount of teamwork, even if most of the work is carried out individually. For example, hospital doctors generally examine patients or medical results on their own but work in teams when carrying out operations or discussing cases with colleagues. Aircraft engineers may design a specific component alone but need to collaborate with colleagues to make sure that their design works for the engine as a whole.
In my view, there are several core skills and abilities that are important both in collaborative and individual working situations. One of these is punctuality. This is vital when attending meetings with colleagues or when delivering work done alone in time for an agreed deadline. It is also very important to be able to concentrate well, both when participating in team discussions and when working alone.
Some skills are more important when working individually. The ability to motivate yourself and set your own goals is very important when you are working on your own. Self-discipline is also a useful ability so that you do not waste time when there is nobody checking what you are doing every minute of the day.
The skills needed to work successfully in teams are somewhat different. Good communication skills are very important. You need to be able to put your ideas across to teammates, but also to listen respectfully to their views. It is often necessary to negotiate agreements with other members of the team, and this can involve adapting or giving up some of your own ideas. Sometimes the ability to prevent arguments between team members and help them reach an agreement is a very useful skill.
To conclude, I agree that working in teams requires some different skills to the ones needed for working alone, but I believe that there are also some key skills that are common to both methods of working.
English for the 21st
Century • Model texts
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