Speaking Independent Tasks口语独立题
Ø Task 1
Your friend wants to learn how to cook. What suggestion would you like to give to this friend and why?
If my friend had never cooked before and wanted to start learning now, I’d tell them to pick a simple recipe and follow it. It’s not the most exciting approach, but I think you have to learn the basics before you start making up your own meals. It’s like learning to ride a bike; you do it with training wheels first.
Another thing is he should probably pick something simple first, like chicken and boiled vegetables or something. Don’t worry about sauces or spices or marinating the meat, just get used to the basics of cooking. Get comfortable with the basics before trying anything complex. Oh, and he shouldn’t expect me to taste test the first thing he cooks.
Ø Task 2
When traveling, some people prefer to keep connections with their family members and friends; other people do not prefer to do so. Which way do you prefer and why?
Well first off, I like my family and friends. Of course. However, I think it’s important to disconnect at least a little from life back home when you travel. For example, my high school class went camping last year and one of my classmates spent the whole time talking to friends on his phone. By the time the trip was over, he hadn’t experienced any of it. What a waste.
Also, I imagine it would be even more important if you lived long-term in another country. Sure, you should keep some connection with friends and family back home. But I imagine your focus should be on making new connections in your new home, I mean, even if that is your home only for a few years.
Writing Independent Task写作独立题
Do you agree or disagree that professors should prohibit the use of devices that can connect to the internet in class?
We live in a world of distractions. In addition to the sights and sounds of the city, we all have internet devices that keep us in constant connection with our social circles and the entire world of information. If there’s one place that should be distraction-free, it’s the classroom. Therefore, professors should prohibit the use of smartphones and other internet-connected devices in the classroom.
First, prohibiting smartphones doesn’t mean that the professor can’t make an exception. Professors can allow their use in times when it’s useful. For example, most of my teachers have had classroom activities that allowed us to make some use of our smartphones. The most common example is by researching information, but we’ve also done activities that made use of the camera, microphone, or other apps. With some reasonable exceptions like this, you lose no benefits while gaining all the positive values of a distraction-free class.
The main value I see in banning smartphones is that it makes a better learning environment in the classroom. If a student were reading a fiction book in a math class, the teacher would immediately tell them to put it away. The same should go for smartphones. I think it’s important for teachers to cut down on distractions because it hurts that individual student’s experience, and it also hurts the experience of the entire class. Many teachers these days use class discussions and group projects instead of just lectures. These activities only work if students are paying attention and willing to put energy into them, and teachers need to ban distractions in order for that to happen.
There’s also a big picture reason that I think professors should ban smartphones in class. What do you see when you get on the subway? Every single person has their eyes glued to their phones. When you’re waiting for the elevator, when you’re in line at the store, and even often times while walking around outside you’ll see everyone zoned into their phones. We use the phone to suck up every second of boredom, but I think those moments of boredom are important. Those are the moments when we might talk to someone new or take a moment to have a thought of our own. Those are the activities that make us human, and we’re losing the ability to do them. By banning smartphones in class, professors will be making a better learning environment and they’ll also be training us to be better people.
In short, there are many reasons for why professors should ban internet-connected devices. It wouldn’t be a big deal because professors can still make exceptions for smartphone use. Also, banning those devices creates a better learning environment and helps students become better people.