Topic 1: Does increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to

Topic 98: The computer is widely used in education and some people think that teachers 
will not play important roles in the classroom. To what extent do you agree?
 
(programmatic limitations), (lack of flexibility ) 
( lack of interaction), (fill students' emotional needs)
(impair vision); ( students' health) ;
(discern students' inappropriate behaviors)
(even out workloads), (assess student capabilities with tests, and assess their progress)
(interesting drills) (increase learning enjoyment) ;
(computer simulation) (entry level training) 
Computers have been favored by more and more educators and teachers as a key 
component of a perfect educational environment. Its role in a traditional classroom is 
nevertheless a subject of debate, with myriad arguments being advanced both in support of 
and against its impact on the role of a teacher.
One of the major drawbacks of the computer is lack of flexibility. Due to its 
programmatic limitations, its teaching is uniform, repetitive, standardized and therefore 
unsuited to the specific needs of a student. For example, it can only answer questi.ons 
which have been programmed into it but fails to answer any unusual, non-standard and 
unprecedented question. By contrast, a human teacher is able to respond flexibly with 
giving well-tailored, persuasive and inspiring answers. For this reason, a computer hardly 
functions as effectively as a human teacher does.
Another disadvantage of the computer, which makes it unaligned with the philosophy 
of the contemporary education, is its failure to interact with students. Out of technical 
constraints, the computer is interested in eliciting the desired response only. Students' 
unexpected performance, potentially exceptional and distinguished, is not recognized by the 
computer. It is fair to say that computers achieve nothing but make all education into an 
uncritical type of vocational training. Students are conditioned to absorb information 
without questioning and given no chance to express their personal opinions.
There are some other problems inherent in the computer-based teaching, such as 
inability to discipline students and failing to attend to students' emotional needs, making 
this model of teaching not as competent as the traditional style. However, the contribution 
of the computer as a teaching aid can never be underrated. It not only assists teachers to 
present educational materials in diversified ways but also provides repetitive drills to 
improve the students' command of knowledge. With the computer, the teacher can spend 
less time all paper work and concentrate more on the development of a student in other 
aspects, such as creativity and teamwork skills. It is essential to advancing rounded 
education.
Taking into consideration those above-mentioned characteristics of computer-based 
teaching, one can conclude that the computer can only serve as a teaching aid, facilitating 
students' interest in a topic and assisting them to take in information faster, rather than 
taking the place of the teacher.
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1. Myriad=numerous=many=countless 
2. Limitation=constraint=restriction
3. Uniform=identical=standardized=homogeneous 
4. Unsuited to=incompatible with
5. Unusual=uncommon=atypical
6. Non-standard=irregular
7. Unaligned with=inconsistent with
8. Elicit=obtain
9. Uncritical =unsuspecting
10. Attend to=look after=care for
11. Underrate=underestimate
12. Drill=practice=exercise 
13. Take the place of=replace
 
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