Ready for C1 p 86. The Evolving Role of Education in the 21st Century. Essay

Education plays a vital role in both personal growth and society as a whole. However, as the world continues to evolve rapidly, education systems must adapt to meet new demands. In this essay, I will explore how education should promote critical thinking, encourage lifelong learning, and embrace technological advances to remain relevant in the 21st century.

Traditionally, schools focused on memorising facts and repeating information. Although this approach had some benefits, it is no longer suitable in today’s fast-changing world. Students now need to develop the ability to think independently, solve real-life problems, and assess information from different sources. Rather than simply taking in knowledge, learners must be taught how to question and apply it. If schools fail to nurture these skills, young people may struggle to succeed in modern society.

Another key development is the growing importance of lifelong learning. These days, people rarely stay in the same job for life, and new skills are needed more often than ever. For this reason, education should encourage students to become independent learners who are keen to continue learning outside of school. Furthermore, employers now seek workers who are adaptable, open-minded, and committed to personal growth. Therefore, education must go beyond academic knowledge and foster curiosity and a love of learning.

In addition, modern education should take full advantage of digital tools. Thanks to technological progress, learning is more accessible and engaging than ever before. For example, online learning platforms, interactive software, and virtual classrooms allow students to learn at their own pace, from almost anywhere. Not only does this improve access, but it also caters to a range of learning styles. That said, it is essential that both teachers and students receive proper training in order to use these tools effectively and responsibly.

To conclude, the education system must continue to move with the times to prepare students for life in a constantly changing world. By focusing on critical thinking, supporting lifelong learning, and making the most of digital technology, we can equip young people not only for exams but also for the future. Ultimately, a modern education system should empower the next generation to thrive

Open World p 25. Essay about the impact of social media on human relationships. Written mediation task. Word Formation

Read the instructions for the task. With the information given, produce a text using your own words. (approximately 200 words) 

Task description 

You have had a class discussion on the impacts of social media. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay for your class based on some opinions expressed in the discussion and to analyse the positive and negative impacts of social media. You should say which impacts of social media on human relationships are more significant, giving reasons in support of your answer. Include your own opinions on this subject.

Write your essay

Opinions expressed in the discussion:

"It's easy to keep in touch now that we've left school."

"I've discovered a completely new hobby." 

"It's good to know there are people who share my views." 

"I feel everybody is having more fun than I am. This makes me feel increasingly despondent."

"It seems everybody else has lots of friends. I feel so left out."

"My Instagram friends constantly publish selfies of their beautiful faces and bodies. I wish I were so good-looking" 

"Very often I see groups of friends looking at their phones and not speaking to one another" 

"There are social media users who seem to enjoy taking the mickey out of other more sensitive users" 

 

Sample answer

The impacts of social media on human relationships

Social media has had a (1)_________ (REMARK) effect on human relationships in the last few years. I will focus on the merits and (2)_________ (MERIT) I think are particularly important. On one hand, how social media helps people stay in touch with loved ones and facilitates finding people with shared interests. And on the other hand, how it can damage self-esteem and body image and may even be (3)_______________ (DETRIMENT) to face-to-face communication.
 

To begin with, the main impact of social media is improving our ability to communicate with one another. For example, in the past, when someone left school or university, it was easy to lose touch with their friends. Nowadays, however, not only can people (4)____________ (SUCCESS) communicate with one another on social media platforms, but also keep up to date (5)__________ (SIMPLE) by checking their posts, without needing to directly talk to them. What is more, you can do this with people anywhere in the world, because your geographical location is (6)____________ (RELEVANCE) on social media.

Furthermore, social media platforms are ideal for putting (7)______________ (MIND) people together. There are social media groups or communities for all interests where you can share knowledge and ideas and even form (8)____________ (FRIEND). Say you are fan of a popular TV show and want to discuss it with other fans, you will have no problem finding a forum to discuss it on, no matter where you are in the world.

On the other side of the coin, teenagers on social media spend much of their time observing the lives and images of their peers. This leads to constant comparisons, which can harm their confidence and their self-image, (9)_____________ (EXACERBATION) depression and anxiety among adolescents. This is made even worse by cyberbullying, which remains rampant on social media. Unfortunately, it has been on the rise amongst adolescents due, in part, to increased access to electronic devices, the Internet, and at times lack of (10)_______________ (SUPERVISE) of online activity. It can be argued that cyberbullying is a more (11)___________ (THREATEN) form of aggression than traditional bullying, as cyberbullies can remain (12)____________ (ANONYMITY), causing bullying to occur around the clock. What is also an issue is that the act of a cyberbully can be viewed (13)____________ (REPEAT) and shared with others without limit, making it difficult for support networks to shield victims from cyberbullying. (14)____________ (LIKE) traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be (15)____________ (GO), even after the youth has left school grounds, making a teen feel (16)___________ (HELP) and without haven.

In addition, cell phones connect us to people far away – but distance us from the ones right in front of us. No one would dispute the fact that smartphones have changed the world. As a matter of fact, a quick glance around any street or (17)___________ (COMMUNE) space shows how (18)______________ (DOMINATION) our favourite digital devices have become. We are familiar with the sight of groups of teenagers not talking, but (19)___________ (EAGER) composing messages and posts on their screens. Or seeing couples dining (20)______________ (SILENT) in restaurants, ignoring the romantic (21)____________ (FLICKER) candle in favour of the (22)___________ (COMFORT) blue light of their phones. But why do these devices that are meant to connect us when we are far apart seem to cause so much division when we are close together? There can be no doubt that even in a (23)________ (RAPID) (24)____________ (DIGIT) world, face-to-face interactions remain the most (25)____________ (INTIMACY) ones.

In conclusion, there are many positive aspects of social media for human relationships. Personally speaking, I think the most (26)___________ (SIGNIFICANCE) of these is how it enhances our ability to stay in touch, something that is becoming (27)_____________ (INCREASE) difficult to do in real life due to the changes our society is going through. Nevertheless, we need to be aware of the (28)______________ (DESIRE) effects social media can exert, not (29)__________ (LESS) on young minds and as a society take the necessary measures to avoid any (30)___________ (HARM) consequences.

 

KEY

 

1. remarkable 

 

 

 

2. demerits 

 

 

 

3. detrimental 

 

 

 

4. successfully 

 

 

 

5. simply 

 

 

6. irrelevant 

 

 

 

7. like-minded 

 

 

 

8. friendships 

 

 

 

9. exacerbating 

 

 

 

10. supervision 

 

 

 

11. threatening  

 

 

 

12. anonymous 

 

 

 

13. repeatedly 

 

 

 

14. Unlike 

 

 

 

15. ongoing 

 

 

 

16. helpless 

 

 

 

17. communal 

 

 

 

18. dominant 

 

 

 

19. eagerly 

 

 

 

20. silently 

 

 

 

21. flickering 

 

 

 

22. comforting 

 

 

 

23. rapidly 

 

 

 

24. digitised  

 

 

 

25. intimate 

 

 

 

26. significant 

 

 

 

27. increasingly 

 

 

 

28. undesirable 

 

 

 

29. least 

 

 

 

30. harmful 

 

 

Empower p113. Essay: The Effects Of the Internet. Word Formation Cloze

 There is no doubt that the Internet has had the most (0) dramatic (DRAMA) effect on (1)____________ (KIND) since the (2)____________ (INDUSTRY) Revolution. It has changed the way  we communicate with each other and has brought the world into our homes and work.

With the Internet, nobody and nothing is out of reach. (3)___________ (ELECTRICITY) mail, instant (4)________________ (MESSAGE) and social (5)________________(NET) sites enable us to stay in touch with family and friends no matter where we , or they, may be. What is more, gadgets such as web cameras and microphones make the presence of the other person more real. Aside from connecting us to (6)________________(FAMILY) faces, the Internet allows us to meet  people we might never have met (7)______________(OTHER). Beyond its social aspect, the Internet allows information to be gathered with ease and it exposes us to international points of view, thus (8)_______________ (BROAD) our horizons. 

There is, (9)_____________ (NONE), cause for much concern in a number of areas. To begin with, the (10)____________ (PRIVATE) of online users is (11)______________ (THREAT) since criminals have (12)________________(PRECEDE) access to personal and (13)_________________ (CONFIDE) information, which can result in (14)___________(IDENTIFY) theft and credit card fraud. (15)________________ (FAR), there is a (16)___________ (STAGGER) amount of (17)_______________ (INFORM) online and users must be (18)______________(WARINESS) when researching. Finally and most (19)_______________ (IRONY), the (20)________________(CONVENIENT) of the Internet becomes a (21)_______________(EDGE) sword when being connected means you never have a moment to yourself.

All in all, the Internet places the world at our (22)__________________(TIP), but the (23)______________ (BENEFICIAL) must be (24)______________(OFF) against some very serious dangers.

KEY

1. humankind

2. industrial

3. electronic

4. messaging

5. networking

 

 

 

6. familiar 

7. otherwise

8. broadening

9. nonetheless

10. privacy

11. threatened

12. unprecedented

13. confidential

14. identity

15. Furthermore

16. staggering

17. misinformation

18. wary

 

 

 

19. ironically

 

 

 

20. convenience

 

 

 

21. double-edged 

be a double-edged/two-edged sword/weapon

to be something that has both advantages and disadvantages.

 

 

 

22. fingertips 

have something at your fingertips: to have the information, knowledge, etc. that is needed in a particular situation and be able to find it easily and use it quickly. E.g. I made sure I had all the facts at my fingertips before attending the meeting. 

 

 

 

23. benefits 

24. offset

offset: (V) /ˈɒfset/
to use one cost, payment or situation in order to cancel or reduce the effect of another. Sp. Compensar, contrarrestar. E.g. What expenses can you offset against tax?  You can offset any loss you make in a year against your profits. Sp. Puedes compensar cualquier pérdida en un año con tus ganancias.

 

Empower p 113. Write an essay about the effects of the internet.

 TASK:

Following a class discussion your teacher has asked you to write an essay giving your views on this topic:

The internet has had a huge effect on our lives. Some people say that it has made the world smaller by bringing people together. Do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to interact with one another? What disadvantages are associated with internet communication? What are the benefits and drawbacks of using English as a lingua franca?

Write your essay

Useful language:

TITLE

It is usually a statement or a question.

INTRODUCING THE TOPIC
Many people believe /feel that… / It is often claimed that… / We often hear that…
People’s opinions on … differ widely.

DEVELOPING YOUR ARGUMENT
One of the main advantages of … is that …
In the first place, / Firstly, / To begin with, / To start with, / First of all,
Second, / Secondly, / In the second place, / Thirdly, / Finally, /Lastly, / Last but not least, …
In addition to that, / Apart from that, / Besides,
At first sight … but in fact,
Apparently (al parecer), / the fact is that, / As a matter of fact,
For example… For instance… A case in point is… (un caso que lo explica es)
Clearly, / Obviously, / Needless to say, / As everyone knows,

FOLLOWING A LOGICAL ARGUMENT
Therefore, / Consequently, / As a result, / Thus, / Hence, / For this reason,
For one reason or another, / Up to a point,
In general, / As a rule, / On the whole,
In a way, / In a sense, / In some sense, (e.g. In some sense I agree with you, but not entirely)
In particular, / Especially,
Let alone (aún menos) / Not to mention (por no decir).
In other words… (en otras palabras). In any case… (en cualquier caso)
Things being as they are…

INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Both … and / not only … but also …
In addition, / additionally, / in addition to this, / What is more, / Furthermore, /Moreover,/ likewise,
If this were not enough, / To make matters worse,
Above all, / On top of all this,
In these circumstances, /
With regard to, / For that matter, (respecto a ese asunto)
As for… (en lo que se refiere a).
Another advantage/ disadvantage is 
Besides this
Finally,

EXPRESSING AN OPPOSITE POINT OF VIEW
Although, / However, / At the same time,
After all, /
In spite of + noun phrase/ -ing/ the fact that…
Despite + noun phrase/ -ing/ the fact that…
In contrast,


EXPRESSING BALANCE
Some people… while/whereas others …
On the one hand … on the other hand…
While it is true that… / that maybe so, but, surely…
On the positive side... On the negative side

EXPRESSING OPINIONS
In my view, / In my opinion, / It seems to me that… / As I see it, / To my mind,
I think/feel that … / I can honestly say that…
As far as I am concerned, / As far as I know, / For all I know, / To the best of my knowledge,
It is my firm belief that
I would dispute the claim that
It is probably true to say that
It is true to some extent that
It cannot be denied that
It would be wrong to argue that
There can be no doubt that
It is simply not the case that
It is difficult to accept the idea that

Saying what other people think
It is widely believed that
It is generally agreed that
No one would dispute the fact that
Few people would contest (/kənˈtest/oppose) (the fact) that
Few people would dispute (the fact) that
Some people feel that
Others argue that 
There are those who argue that
It has been suggested that
It is often claimed that
Opponents/ Supporters/ Proponents (supporters) of (bullfighting) argue that

Referring to sources
All the evidence/research suggests/shows that
A recent survey proved that
Judging by the comments made by
Interviews with (students) have revealed that

REACHING CONCLUSIONS / SUMMING UP
In conclusion, / To conclude, / To sum up, / On balance,
All in all, / All things considered,
Taking everything into consideration, there are some good arguments for…

On balance: after considering all the information. E.g. On balance, the company has had a successful year.

 

 

Empower p 113. Essay: How peer pressure affects young people. Word formation Cloze

 And how to prevent it…

Peer (0) pressure  (PRESS) exists across society, affecting people (1)___________ (BENEFIT) and (2)______________ (ADVERSITY). In the case of the latter, certain risk factors have been identified that can make young people prone to (3)______________ (DUE), and often (4)____________ (WELL), influence. When this occurs, there are strategies that can be used to handle the problem.

Peers play an important role in a teenager’s life as adolescence is the time when the desire to fit in and find (5)_____________ (ACCEPT) and (6)______________ (APPROVE) from the group is strongest. The need for approval is not bad in itself. It is part of what motivates adolescents to take extra care with their (7)________________ (APPEAR), for instance.

At times, however, the desire to either impress or gain acceptance by the group becomes (8)___________ (EXCESS) and can result in people choosing to take risks, with (9)___________ (POTENT) serious consequences. Similarly, they might engage in behaviour that is extremely (10)_____________ (HURT), like ridiculing someone with a physical or mental (11)_____________ (ABLE).

When such situations arise, knowing where to draw the line is vitally important. (12)_____________ (OTHER), by giving in and doing something that is contrary to their character or core value system, they could be letting themselves in for distress and regret.

For this reason, they should always stand up for what they think is right. They should speak up in an (13)____________________ (ASSERT), but (14)______________________ (CONFRONT), way to let others know that they have boundaries. There may be some teasing at first but, nevertheless, that is a small price to pay for doing the right thing.

In short, adolescents want to belong, but the need to fit in should not be at any cost. When negative peer pressure rears its ugly head, teens need to assert their own opinions and feelings by making clear what their limits are and (15)____________________ (STAND) their ground. They may even inspire others to follow.

 

KEY

 

1. beneficially 

 

 

 

2. adversely

 

 

 

3. undue

 

 

 

4. unwelcome

 

 

 

5. acceptance

 

 

 

6. approval

 

 

 

7. appearance

 

 

 

8. excessive

 

 

 

9. potentially

 

 

 

 10. hurtful

 

 

 

11. disability

 

 

 

12. Otherwise

 

 

 

13. assertive

 

 

 

14. non-confrontational

 

 

 

15. standing