Self-Study or Learning with a Teacher

Both studying by one’s own and learning with a teacher have their advantages. One is more individualized, and the other is more systematic. Take myself for example, I prefer combining these two study methods, and I believe that, in this way, I can get the most efficient and suitable learning.

Classroom learning can provide students an initiation of the subjects, and input the fundamental knowledge to students. Lectures can inform the students in a short time, and the teachers can also explain the difficult subjects in their ways, and solve the students’ various questions. The interaction between teachers and students, or among students, can be a spark of further thinking, discussion, and research. With a teacher, students can learn from his or her experience, and try to get the essence of the lectures. For me, from lectures, I learn what I don’t understand when I read alone. The learning becomes effective, and I find out some important details I overlooked. Classroom learning kindles my interests, teaches me the rule of thumb of studying the subject, and paves an easy way for me to future learning.

Self-study also has its own benefits. For instance, people can learn by themselves anywhere they are, anytime they want. Self-study makes learning more elastic and individualized. People can choose any subject and material they like, which substitutes the static contents of text books. Nowadays, online learning is a convenient and useful way, too. It suggests several programs which fit the individual’s level and create a low-stress environment. As to me, I enjoy self-study for I can read whatever I am interested, regardless time and space. Some computer learning programs also enable me to learn at my personal pace. I can emphasize my weakness in some specific aspects and make progressive advances on what I’ve already learned. Self-study can add to my classroom learning, and the learning turns out to be more enjoyable and multifaceted.

Combining self-study and classroom learning not only compensate for the shortcomings of each other but also strengthen both advantages. Adding the two learning methods together can let me get rid of boredom and stimulate my interests. Studying by myself and learning with a teacher both have a good influence on me and make my learning more lovable and refreshed day by day.

Classroom Learning and Personal Experience

I agree with that some people say, “Not all learning takes place in the classroom.” From classroom instructions, we can gain a lot of knowledge, but we may have more impression from the experience of the application in daily life.

Classroom learning can provide students an initiation of learning. The teachers can suggest efficient study skills and solve the students’ questions with their proficiency. However, merely memorizing the studying material or having tests can not clarify the understanding of knowledge. For example, even though we read the maps, see the pictures of other countries, we still have a vague impression of the exotic lands. Instead, if we really go abroad, meet the natives, taste the food, and see the architectures and the scenery, we can get a stronger feeling and memory because it’s a part of our experiences.

In learning, the classes and the books can give us a basic knowledge. The experiences, in another way, enhance our abilities and make the knowledge surefooted and near to life. For example, when we are learning a language, we just see the words and phrases in the books, but if we really use the terms we have learned, we can make more progress in that language. It’s more practical to ask and find how to take a bus in foreign language in that country than just writing down the possible conversation on the paper.

Moreover, the personal experience can give more insights to the individuals. For instance, we may improve our communicative and problem-solving skills in work, activities, and life experience. The reflection from experiences may be invaluable help for us and it is beyond the mere classroom learning. In every minutes, we are learning form life, from what we do, what we see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. We accumulate these experiences and feed ourselves with the response to the things and the world. The interaction with the outside world can open our inward eyes, and we may generate a correspondent wind to the world and enlarge our mind. This kind of knowledge can be taught, but can not be gained in the classroom.

The sources of knowledge are various, but I think personal experience is extraordinarily important. The classroom learning has its value, but it can not replace the real experience. Personal experiences impress us, inspire us, and render us acquire the knowledge in a natural way. In a nutshell, learning takes place not only in the classroom, but also in the experience, in life, and everywhere.

Time-limited Writing

Time-limited writing is my weakness. In a short period of time, it is hard for me to come up with a creative idea, to analyze things in details, to make a point clearly, or make some arguments. While writing, I feel that it is hard for me to choose the precise word, that is, I need to increase my vocabulary and to be familiar with how to use it correctly. As to idioms and slang, those are also challenges for me. Most of time, I prefer sitting in front of my desk, writing, and revising my essay for many hours. However, I know how to express oneself effectively in the limited time does show one’s capability of that language. Time flies, and it push me to try to make the best of time in both writing and other things in life. I wish I can have more time practicing my English and making a good foundation of it. In one of my class, I am asked to memorize some poems. I hope I can recite it and try to put it into practice. I hope it can enhance my memory and color my everyday conversation and my article with the beautiful words, though I am not good at that. Maybe writing some flash cards can do some help. If the time permits, I think I should also do more free-writing. I try to make myself feel comfortable in writing, and I am learning to use the clear and concise description when writing. Besides, I have to learn how to be a good reader before being a good writer. I still have a long way to go. I have to keep learning and practicing. In that way, maybe I can do better in time-limited writing and in other aspects.

Writing Practice: the Microwave and Fast Food

In my opinion, the invention of the microwave and the increasing popularity of fast food restaurants show a negative impact on this fast-paced society. Nowadays, people seem to be frenzied in their work or social lives, and don’t even want to spend one minute on their meals. However, preparing and having a traditional meal with family and friends is beneficial to our health, and it is a medium for mutual communication for which a microwave and fast food cannot be substituted.

With microwave, we can easily have our meal done, but the taste of the food is less delicious than what we predict. Also the sense of fulfillment of cooking on one’s own or the thankfulness for a family member’s cooking vanish in the process which emphasizes speed, but not quality. We may be quickly tired of microwave food, but we may certainly remember the savoring tastes from our hometown. The microwave, a technological product, can bring us temporary convenience, but never true satisfaction from the relationship between the food and people.

Fast food is another product of the efficiency-claimed society. We choose to eat fast food to buy time; however, we neglect that we should keep balance in every nutrients. The procedure of deep-frying food in reused oil many times not only results in obesity, but also has a bad influence on our health. On the scale of our life, we should balance our time and our health, instead of letting either side sink.

Microwave and fast food restaurants spring up everywhere nowadays, but they cannot replace the delicate and close human connection by traditional food. We should not pursue the fastest way in cooking and other things all the time. Waiting with patience and stewing for more time can bring us much more delight and awing surprise.

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation is a common phenomenon nowadays. People may accumulate sleep-debt because of their work shift, baby care, somnorexia, or biological clock.Some surveys even find that teenagers stay awake in the middle of night using cell phone. No matter what the cause, lack of sleep bothers people in many ways.

Because of melatonin secretion, youngsters feel energetic at night and easily feel drowsy during the day time. Students may nod off in class and cannot focus on study. People usually fail to be alert while doing their work in the day time if they don’t get enough shut-eye. Shortage of sleep can also cause danger when people are driving or using machines. Some say that short sleepers may easily become tired, make bad decision and be emotionally instable. They may be more likely to feel depressed and frustrated. Besides, the amount of sleep is linked to the appetite-regulating hormones, and sleep deprivation might lead to weight increase. Having enough sleep is beneficial to our brain function and metabolism, and it can also affect our efficiency at many things.

Take myself for example: if I stay up late, fatigue and drowsiness will overcome me the next day, and I can hardly keep my eye open. Much worse is that I have to make up my sleep hours in the following days, which causes inconvenience and abnormality of life. Therefore, I believe that enough sleep and good sleep quality are required.

Recently I have tried to go to bed earlier and get more time to sleep. Although actually I am a night owl, it is still worth giving it a try for my health. Otherwise, I may face what my classmate says is the biggest problem—aging—in a horrifying way.