IELTS WRITING TASK 2 - Giving lectures in auditoriums to large numbers of students is an old way of teaching. With the technology available today, everything should be done online. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people claim that virtual learning should replace face-to-face learning due to cutting-edge technology. However, my belief is that in-class learning cannot be fully replaced because of its unique advantages.

I am convinced that students in face-to-face classes can study more effectively because they are usually under the control of teachers. It is clear that studying online, students can easily be distracted by some technological gadgets. For example, a student sitting in an online class may still be surfing the Internet on his mobile phone without the instructor’s notice. On the contrary, when facing directly with teachers in auditoriums, learners are frequently urged and reminded to focus on their studies because teachers can observe all their activities, behaviors, and attitudes. As a result, students’ acquisition ability as well as learning results in non-virtual classes are often higher than that in online classes.

Another reason why I believe distance learning cannot replace traditional learning is that students studying online lack chances to improve social skills. Indeed, studies have shown that when working in a group of people, students attending online courses are less confident and active than those directly connecting with teachers and friends. This issue is caused by the limit of direct communication. Virtual learning is mainly based on online platforms, so students often have to contact instructors by texting or emailing, which gradually makes them afraid to talk to people in real life, and isolate themselves. In traditional classes, this problem rarely occurs because students are encouraged to participate in group work or extracurricular activities to enhance their teamwork skills, communication skills, and many other soft skills.

In conclusion, I believe that despite the development of technology, traditional classes are an inevitable element of the learning process; therefore, they should be encouraged instead of replaced.