[Positive and Negative]: Online education

Some universities now offer their courses on the Internet so that people can study online. Is this a positive or negative development?

Positive: 

• Cheaper – no campus maintenance
• Less time and cost for commute
• International degrees more attainable (University of the People)  
• Study at their own pace (good for working people)
• Can learn valuable skills – time management 
• Repeated access to course materials 

Negative: 

• Used for fun – don’t pay attention to coursework 
• Easily distracted at home – environment not suited for education
• Poor internet connection / technology issue – broken electronics 
• Lack of peer support (lack personal connection with fellow students outside of the classroom) – isolation 
• Teachers can be unmotivated (lack of personal exchanges in the classroom)
• Eye strains – working in front of a screen for an extended period

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Sample Answer:

It is now becoming increasingly common for educational institutions to offer online courses alongside the traditional way of learning. Although an Internet-based education can be beneficial in some instances, I would argue that the shortcomings are more severe. 

On the one hand, offering online options can bring many benefits for learns. Firstly, it can make international degrees more attainable for people in developing countries. The University of the People, an online-based institution which offers internationally accredited qualifications with a tuition comparable to local universities in Vietnam, is a popular alternative for locals who cannot afford to go abroad. Secondly, for existing students, it helps cut down the cost and time spent commuting. As students can learn from home, paying for parking or public transport would no longer be necessary. Thirdly,  Finally, since universities often factor out campus maintenance, this would make tertiary education more affordable to the general public

Despite the positives mentioned above, I believe online university courses are a negative development for several reasons. For one, poor internet connection is major drawback that hinders the communication between lecturers and undergraduates. Because of such interruptions, students might miss important points or not be able to ask questions which would impede their understanding of the course material. For undisciplined and inattentive students, online lectures are often used for personal purposes, as many would just have the lecture running in the background while they watch their favorite shows or play video games. This can be further amplified by the distractions at home such as conversations or interactions between family members, which can negatively impact learners’ academic performance.

All in all, while I recognize the possible benefits of online learning, I would consider it to be an overall negative trend due to its detrimental impact on how students perform academically. 

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Accessibility (n) /əkˌsɛsəˈbɪləti/:

• Vietnamese definition: Khả năng tiếp cận, sự dễ tiếp cận
• Example sentence: “Web designers aim to improve the accessibility of websites for people with disabilities.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Nhà thiết kế web nhằm cải thiện khả năng tiếp cận của trang web đối với người khuyết tật.”

Attainable (adj) /əˈteɪnəbl/:

• Vietnamese definition: Có thể đạt được, có thể thu được
• Example sentence: “Setting realistic goals makes them more attainable.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Đặt mục tiêu thực tế làm cho chúng trở nên có thể đạt được hơn.”

Internationally accredited qualifications:

• Vietnamese definition: Bằng cấp được công nhận quốc tế
• Example sentence: “Universities strive to offer internationally accredited qualifications to enhance the value of their degrees.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Các trường đại học nỗ lực cung cấp các bằng cấp được công nhận quốc tế để tăng giá trị của bằng cử nhân của họ.”

Undisciplined (adj) /ʌnˈdɪsəplɪnd/:

• Vietnamese definition: Thiếu kỷ luật, không có tự kiểm soát
• Example sentence: “An undisciplined approach to work can lead to inefficiency and mistakes.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Một cách tiếp cận công việc thiếu kỷ luật có thể dẫn đến sự không hiệu quả và sai sót.”

Inattentive (adj) /ɪnəˈtɛntɪv/:

• Vietnamese definition: Cơ hội không tập trung, không chú ý
• Example sentence: “An inattentive driver poses a risk on the road.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Một tài xế không chú ý có thể tạo ra nguy cơ trên đường.”

Work ethics (n) /wɜːrk ˈɛθɪks/:

• Vietnamese definition: Đạo đức làm việc
• Example sentence: “Good work ethics contribute to a positive and productive work environment.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Đạo đức làm việc tốt góp phần vào môi trường làm việc tích cực và hiệu quả.”

Hinders (v) /ˈhɪndərz/:

• Vietnamese definition: Gây trở ngại, cản trở
• Example sentence: “Procrastination often hinders progress and achievement.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Việc trì hoãn thường xuyên gây trở ngại cho sự tiến triển và thành tựu.”

Impede (v) /ɪmˈpiːd/:

• Vietnamese definition: Ngăn trở, làm chậm trễ
• Example sentence: “Lack of resources can impede the development of a project.”
• Vietnamese translation: “Thiếu nguồn lực có thể làm chậm trễ quá trình phát triển của một dự án.”