[Discussion] Choice of study

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 

Muốn học gì cũng được:

Sẽ có đam mê hơn nên sẽ giành thêm thời gian và công sức cho nó

Có thể không có khiếu trong những ngành kia 

Những ngành như nghệ thuật vẫn hữu dụng cho nghề như thiết kế 

Họ tự trả tiền nên họ phải có quyền được chọn thì mới công bằng

Study whatever they like:

Passionate about it -> more likely to spend more time and effort to do well

Might not have talent in ‘useful’ subjects

Other subjects such as art or literature can also be useful – creative work (designers, writers)

They are paying for the courses so they should be able to pick – fairness

Học những môn hữu dụng:

Dễ tìm việc hơn vì số lượng những công việc kỹ thuật hay máy tính nhiều hơn

Lương có thể cao hơn thì chất lượng cuộc sống cũng tăng

Chính phủ có thể đảm bảo không thiếu nhân lực cần thiết

Có thể dẫn đến những sáng chế mới giúp cuộc sống tốt hơn 

Study useful subjects:

More likely to get jobs – more jobs in the market

Higher salaries in general -> better living standards

Government can make sure skill gaps are filled 

Can lead to new inventions -> improve human lives

People have different views about how much choice students should have with regard to what they can study at university. While some argue that it would be better for students to be forced into certain key subject areas, I believe that everyone should be able to study the course of their choice.

There are various reasons why people believe that universities should only offer subjects that will be useful in the future. They may assert that university courses like medicine, engineering and information technology are more likely to be beneficial than certain art degrees. From a personal perspective, it can be argued that these courses provide more job opportunities, career progression, better salaries, and therefore an improved quality of life for students who take them. On the societal level, by forcing people to choose particular university subjects, governments can ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the economy are covered. Finally, a focus on technology in higher education could lead to new inventions, economic growth, and greater future prosperity.

In spite of these arguments, I believe that university students should be free to choose their preferred areas of study. In my opinion, society will benefit more if our students are passionate about what they are learning. Besides, nobody can really predict which areas of knowledge will be most useful to society in the future, and it may be that employers begin to value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills. If this were the case, perhaps we would need more students of art, history and philosophy than of science or technology.

In conclusion, although it might seem sensible for universities to focus only on the most useful subjects, I personally prefer the current system in which people have the right to study whatever they like.

297 words, band 9 – examiner

Synonyms: 

Useful subject – marketable skills, key subject area, subject that would be useful in the future

Study whatever they like – be able to choose what they study, preferred area of study, study something of their choice

• Key subject areas (n phrase) /kiː ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ˈɛriəz/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Các lĩnh vực chủ chốt
  • Example sentence: “The university offers a variety of key subject areas for students to specialize in.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Trường đại học cung cấp nhiều lĩnh vực chủ chốt cho sinh viên chuyên sâu.”
• Assert (v) /əˈsɜːrt/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Khẳng định, xác nhận quyền lực
  • Example sentence: “She decided to assert her opinion during the meeting.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Cô ấy quyết định khẳng định ý kiến của mình trong cuộc họp.”
• Skill gaps (n phrase) /skɪl ɡæps/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Khoảng trống kỹ năng
  • Example sentence: “Identifying skill gaps is crucial for employee development.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Xác định khoảng trống kỹ năng là quan trọng để phát triển nhân viên.”
• Prosperity (n) /ˈprɒsˈpɛrɪti/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Sự thịnh vượng, phồn thịnh
  • Example sentence: “Economic prosperity is often a goal for nations.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Thịnh vượng kinh tế thường là một mục tiêu của các quốc gia.”
• Preferred areas of study (n phrase) /prɪˈfɜːrd ˈɛriəz əv stʌdi/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Các lĩnh vực học ưa thích
  • Example sentence: “Students can choose their preferred areas of study based on their interests.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Sinh viên có thể chọn các lĩnh vực học ưa thích dựa trên sở thích cá nhân.”
• Creative (adj) /kriˈeɪtɪv/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Sáng tạo
  • Example sentence: “The artist had a creative approach to painting.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Nghệ sĩ có cách tiếp cận sáng tạo trong việc vẽ tranh.”
• Thinking skills (n phrase) /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ skɪlz/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Kỹ năng tư duy
  • Example sentence: “Critical thinking skills are essential for problem-solving.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Kỹ năng tư duy phê phán là quan trọng để giải quyết vấn đề.”
• Practical (adj) /ˈpræktɪkəl/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Thực tế, hữu ích trong thực tế
  • Example sentence: “The course provides practical knowledge for everyday situations.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Khóa học cung cấp kiến thức thực tế cho các tình huống hàng ngày.”
• Technical (adj) /ˈtɛknɪkəl/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Kỹ thuật, thuộc về công nghệ
  • Example sentence: “Technical skills are important in the field of information technology.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Kỹ năng kỹ thuật quan trọng trong lĩnh vực công nghệ thông tin.”
• Philosophy (n) /fɪˈlɒsəfi/:
  • Vietnamese definition: Triết học
  • Example sentence: “Studying philosophy encourages critical thinking and reflection.”
  • Vietnamese translation: “Học triết học khuyến khích tư duy phê phán và suy ngẫm.”