+ &-- of studying in the morning

+ &-- OF STUDYING IN THE MORNING

Pluses

1) The second half of the day is free.

How can you use that half: to have rest\fun, to meet with friends (discos open in the evening), hobbies (clubs, courses open in the evening – why?), housework e.g. cook without parents watching and interfering), academics and homework, shopping), best TV-shows are on in the evening (what shows why?), enjoy your free time without parents who are at work (what’s enjoyable about it?), part-time job.

2) Don’t come back late in the evening.

Why? Time when classes of the first and the second shift begin and end.

Dark, -- the same in the morning, but there are fewer people in the street, why? Dangerous (crime), feeling uncomfortable walking alone, esp. if live in the suburbs, etc.

3) It’s easier to study.

Memory, attention, better reaction, being active. Why is it important? (marks, easy to do homework afterwards) For all? And “Owls”?

4) More time to communicate with your family. Why?

What can you do together? Have a family dinner, discuss news, watch TV, etc. Breakfast together in the morning.

5) Makes you better organized.

Don’t put off your homework till tomorrow, (what’s wrong about it?), wake up at the same time, and have meals regularly; can have a more productive day as a result.

6) Don’ t need to eat after 6. Why? What’s bad about late eating?

Minuses

1) Hard to wake up in the morning.

What time do you have to get up? Why? To have time for everything like having breakfast, applying make-up, dressing, for your way. Why is it hard to get up early? –Weather, season, (cold and dark), previous night (studying, partying, watching TV late, etc.)What if you fail to wake up on time? May miss a class, or be late, be in a hurry and forget something, have no time for breakfast (unhealthy), etc. What are the ways out? (alarm clocks, parents)

2) Transport

Overcrowded – why? So what? –May not fit in, then come late, your mood can be spoiled (people are rude).

Other problems connected with transport: traffic jams, esp. nowadays – why?; buses may not run if it is too cold. What happens then?

3) All members of the family do the same in the morning- can be in each other’s way.

Esp. if the family is big, all in a hurry, can be quarrels; may have to wait for a bathroom, an iron, a hair-dryer, etc.

4) It’s colder in the morning.

Have to wear warm things, which turn too warm for the afternoon when you return. In winter and in other seasons the same.

5) Can’t watch late shows, or stay at the disco late (have to think about tomorrow). Prime time on TV, best shows run in the evening. Concerts, discos, b-day celebrations are often in the evening too.

6) It’s hard for “owls”

Who are they? Why is it hard for them? Ways out for such people? How to feel more cheerful in the morning?

For and Against Exams

For

1. We need some sort of assessment when entering an educational establishment, getting a qualification, etc. Universities need it – why? Students too need to know if they have made any progress, and plan their academic work in the next semester accordingly.

1. Students need some sort of stimulus and control some may begin to learn things only before examinations, otherwise they won’t know anything at all.

1. Exams provide an inexhaustible subject for discourse for students. Always a lot of impressions. End of finals is a good reason to celebrate. Student life could be less interesting and exciting without exams.

1. Exams are good for bright but lazy students who don’t work hard over a semester but have a chance to catch up and master the subject during the reading week, and they can get good marks.

1. A test to practice self control and your ability to pull yourself together, which is essential in all spheres of life.

1. The results are often a matter of luck, so it’s good for lucky people. One may get the only card he knows, the examiner may be in a good mood or in a hurry, the examiner may leave the room for some time, thus students get an opportunity to cheat, etc.

1. Some students may be exempt from taking an exam, provided they worked hard during the semester. It is a good reward not to undergo this procedure, and another stimulus to work regularly and well during the term.

Against

1. The procedure is rather stressful. Why? – Lack of confidence, lack of preparation, scary stories heard from other students who have already take the exam, fear not to live up to parents expectations, some exams may play a crucial role in the life of a person (examples), etc. What is less stressful: written or oral exams?

1. Exams’ results are not always objective. A) Because of subjective factors (teacher’s personal likes and dislikes, mood, examinees’ nervousness, etc.) Examples when the mark can be lower than a student deserves. B)Because of cheating, which is quite a common practice in our universities. Examples when the mark can be higher than a student deserves because of it.

What kind of exam gives a more objective picture of students’ academic progress: written or oral?

1. It is often formal, as a teacher may know beforehand what grade a student will get. When is it so? When isn’t it so?

1. Preparing we are geared at the mark but not knowledge, that’s why students learn and remember things for some days before the exam and completely forget them when we pass it. What’s bad about it?

1. Results are often a matter of luck. So it’s bad for unlucky people. Sometimes each of us can have a bad luck. Examples of bad luck at the exam: you get the only card you don’t know, the examiner holds a different opinion on the subject, is in a bad mood, you are caught cheating, etc.

1. Alternatives to exams: continuous assessment, special projects, American variant (an exam accounts for 30 percent of student’s grade only, the rest is his performance in class, which allows a student to get a satisfactory grade in the exam and a good final grade in a course). Pluses and minuses of these alternatives.

What Does Your Progress in English Depend on?

1) One’s willingness to study. Proverb “If there is a will there is a way”.

2) Predispositions and inclinations to learning the foreign language. Certain abilities and skills: memory, communicative skills, etc.

3) Hard work and effort one puts into mastering the language.

What should be considered hard work? What should a student do? - Perform well in class, participate in discussions, consistently come prepared to class, read a lot in the original, do homework properly and on time, working at individual mistakes, etc. What can be done in each of the four areas of language study: speaking, writing, listening comprehension and reading? What can be done to improve your grammar, pronunciation, spelling, enrich your vocabulary?

4) Background knowledge of the language. Where can it come from? – School, individual classes with tutors, attending language schools, trips to some English speaking country, etc.

5) Certain personal characteristics: ambitiousness, will-power, assiduousness, persistence, industriousness, intellectual acumen, etc. Explain why your progress depends on each of these traits.

6) On the teacher: his being demanding, tolerant, just, his encouragement, ability to captivate and hold students’ interest in the subject, etc.

7) On the general atmosphere in the group. Friendliness (to feel free to express your opinion), cooperation (when making up dialogues), mutual respect, etc. Maybe competitiveness? Why is all this essential for your progress?

8) Availability and use of books and audio-visual aids: tapes, movies, songs, computer programs, etc. How can they accelerate your progress?

9) Visiting English-speaking countries. What requirements should be met for it to influence your progress? (e.g. Shouldn’t keep with other Russian students all the time, what else?). How long should you stay in the country? What areas of language learning can you improve going abroad? – pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, tempo, everyday vocabulary and idioms, grammar (?)

10) On different life circumstances. Examples of things (events) that may impede students’ progress or speed it up.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04