Some say that homework is helpful to one's learning whereas others believe it is harmful to students as it interferes with one's time for leisure.
Therefore, I propose two positions. You may choose to agree or disagree with one or both positions and you must offer supporting statements to confirm your position.
Which of the positions below do you agree and/or disagree with and why?
Position one: Homework is helpful to students
Position two: Homework is harmful to students
Before stating your point, please click on the following link to obtain background information and additional vocabulary to help you support your position.
http://www.scilearn.com/blog/homework-debate-is-homework-helpful-or-harmful.phpThe Great Homework Debate: Is Homework Helpful or Harmful?
Hi Students! Please click on the "comments" link to publish your post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Rita:
DeleteI'm Wei.In my opinion,homework is helpful to students.Because we are adults not in the elementary school,and most of us want to keep learning to the collage or university in the future.There must be homework in collage or university,so we should better practise from now on.Furthermore,we nearly don't have any homework to do everyday,do we?How can you give us less?That's it.Thank you.
Thank you for your comments, Wei. As I can see, you are in favour of position one -- am I correct?
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A question I have for you now is: how do you view a student who is in favour of homework but neglects to do it? Should we assume this student is getting too much homework and should be given less or that this student is too busy to do the assigned homework or perhaps that the student is just not interested in any homework at all?
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I welcome your thoughts about this!
Hi Rita,I apologize for updating quite late,because I have not fixed my computer as well.Anyway,I will keep on track to reply you blog.
DeleteYes,I agree with position one.I think everybody is positive to homework.However,some of them should be feel tired for all days learning or have lots of other things to deal with,and neglect to do it.Therefore,you could give us more choice,so everyone can choose theirselves life.Do or not to do.
Thank you.
Hi Wei, I am pleased that you are 'back here' and that you will be able to contribute to our discussion once again.
DeleteI agree with the 'giving the learners options' when it comes to homework. Everyone leads busy lives outside the school; therefore, as adults, they should be the ones who should decide how much (if any!) homework to do.
As students learn at different pace and have different learning styles, some students may not need or want to review, so these learners may not wish to be forced to do homework. However, these learners are encouraged to 'go the extra mile' and move forward on their own.
I believe some learners need to become more self-directed learners, and study on their own to move ahead faster. "Grammar in Context" is one option for home study; however, there are many online resources, such as CBC EAL Online that are useful and highly recommended.
What is your opinion about the CBC resources? If you check the upper right side of this blog, you will notice that we now have a different topic for our discussion. I hope you will choose to participate once again. Thank you!
Hello Rita,I agree with homework is helpful to students because we need to review the knowledge that the teacher has taught us in the class and it helps us to train good habit to study.After we finish the homework,the teacher will correct it for us,we can know what is correct and what needs to be changed on time.If the teacher doesn't give students homework,some studends will play games or watch Tv in thier whole spare time.Homework forces these students to review the new knowledge.Of course,the homework isn't too much and the comment should be chosen by teacher carefully,so the homework is helpful to students .
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, GuiXin. Based on your comments above, you are in favour of position one -- am I correct?
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I appreciate your suggestions regarding homework, and I understand the reasons behind your being in favour of homework.
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A question I now ask you is: Why should adult learners be "forced" to do homework? Why couldn't they take ownership of their own learning and plan a program of studies for them regardless of whether there is homework assigned or not?
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Please give me your thoughts on this!
Hi Rita, I am Hyejin. I really appreciate you to make this blog for us! In my opinion, homework is good for students, and there are some reasons why I am thinking of it. At first, students can spend more time for studying English. In my experience, My feel is not good when I hang out with my friends without doing my tast such as homework, studying for examination, and reviewing. So, I study first and I go out with my friends. If I do not have home assignments, I may go out and play before studying by myselft. Second, students can improve their English. There is no way to improve Engllish quickly without practice, and it is the only way to reach students' CLB goal what they want. Third, students can get diverse material to study Enlgish. There are many home assignments, it means students got a lot of content can using in diffent situation for example, sending a email, writing a letter, inverview with employer, and etc. As these reasons, I agree with homework is helpful to students and I want to get it many times.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, Hyejin. Based on your post above, you are in favour of position one -- am I correct?
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Now, I propose a question for you: Why don't students become more self-directed learners and search for their own home tasks? Shouldn't adult students be able to go to the library on their on -- both in person or online -- and select their own study material?
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I welcome your thoughts!
Rita, I do not understand the meaning 'you are in favour of position one'?
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In my oponion, homework is more effective than search for our own home tasks at our stage. I have many books and I know some web sites for studying English, and I have used them often. But, I think these are not effective than your homework. There are some reasons why I think to like it. First, I do not know my English level exactly, therefore I am not sure which material is the best to me. Second, I trust your teaching ability, so I believe you find and give me very good material. Last reasone is there are many material for studying English in library and online, so it is hard to find good contents in there. As above reasons, I like receive some material by you than search my own home tasks. But, I will try to become more self-directed learner because I want to learn English during my entire life to use English like as native speaker, and nobody can teaches me forever, so I have to practice from now on.
Hi Hyejin, as you can see in my original post, there are two positions, as follows:
ReplyDeletePosition one: Homework is helpful to students
Position two: Homework is harmful to students
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On another note, I am very pleased to hear that you like when I give home assignments. Therefore, from now on, I will assign home readings for classroom discussions more often. Would you like that?
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I welcome your thoughts!
P.S. Would you like to suggest to the class that we will do the "marriage" reading at home instead? We never seem to have time to complete it during class time...
I wrote once, but it has dissapeard....
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I like to receive some materials for reading at home, but I am not sure all my classmates agree with the opinion.
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I do not want reading "marriage" because I am not interested in the topic, and I think most of my classmates think like that(maybe)...
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I welcome recieve other topics!
Thank you for the recent post, Hyejin. I am actually surprised to hear you are not interested in the reading "picked by the majority of your classmates..."
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A question I have for you is regarding the "Grammar in Context" book which includes reading and writing passages in addition to grammar. Do you think this constitutes homework?
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I look forward to your reply!
In my opinion, many people didn't choose topic. I chose the topic about "tell the taboo".
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I have not used "Grammar in Context" book yet, for I have a grammar book "Grammar in Use" and I thought it is enough when I study grammar. But, I think it is very good material if you decide to use the book for our homework.
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It is getting cold. take care!
I have enjoyed our "online chat" on the topic of homework -- pro or con? for or against?
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As far as I can see in this forum, all the students have opted for homework. However, in reality, the story is a little different as many of the students 'for' homework actually end up not doing it at home.
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Do you have any suggestion for our next topic? How about the benefits of online learning?
It is important to make homework because we need to review and repead the new information we learned in the school, so we will be able to remember it. If we work constantly, the new staff will go from our short-term memory to our long-term memory.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, Olga. Based on your post above, you are in favour of position one -- am I correct?
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Would you agree that the "Grammar in Context" book serves as homework? It has not only grammar, but also reading and writing passages.
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I welcome your opinion about "this kind" of homework!
Right, I agree with statement one which says that "homework is helpful to students",so our brain has to learn to work not only in our language, but also in our new language.
DeleteYou are absolutely right, if you accept that the "Grammar in Context" is our homework. In my opinion, we got home this book to study; therefore, we should learn and not hope that the knowledge will inspire us by looking at this beautiful grammarbook. All we have to do is study, study, study and review.
On the other hand, maybe there is a student who doesn't need to review the new information because he/she remembers everything than he/she is a lucky person. But if this student is really clever than he/she will not lose time, but study by him-/herself.
Thank you for creating this blog. I am sure, it will help us to write and discuss.
Hi Olga, thank you for your 'proactive' way of thinking when it comes to student achievement.
DeleteI do agree that students learn at different pace and have different learning styles. You are right when you say that some students may not need to review; these learners may have 'photographic memory' which enables them to remember the topic studied. However, these learners are encouraged to 'go the extra mile' and move forward on their own.
Some learners nee to become more self-directed learners, and study on their own to move ahead faster. "Grammar in Context" is one option for home study; however, there are many online resources, such as CBC EAL Online that are useful and highly recommended.
What is your opinion about the CBC resources?
Hello Rita,
DeleteAt this time I have no opinion about the CBC resources because I didn't use it so far. I guess, it is a program to learn English.
From time to time I listen to the CBC News, but I think it is something different; however, it helps to become stronger in listening, and to know more about our new country.
First, I continue and I hope I will finish the book "Grammar in Context", after that, I will take a look to the CBC resources. I like to work with system, so I want finish one step and than move on to the next.
Hi Olga, I am pleased to see you here once again. I am glad that you are continuing to work on your "Grammar in Context" home-study program. I hope you are finding the exercises useful.
DeleteRegading your systematic approach to learning and studying, I find it quite appropriate. Please continue working at your own and pace, and enjoy the journey!
Hi,Rita.I'm Carrie.I agree "Homework is helpful to students
ReplyDelete".In my opinion, I think the homework is helpful to us review everyday what we learn in the classes.After the classes sometimes we use to forget study by ourself.But we have the homework after the classes that will be remind us to study or review the knowledge.As you can see, I think the homework is helpful to us.
Last,thank you for making the blog to us.I appreciate it.
Thank you for your comment, Carrie. Thank you for joining our blog!
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What kind of homework would you prefer? Would a textbook like the "Grammar and Context" suffice or do you wish to take something similar to the "green folder" you took home after the conference?
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I welcome your thoughts!
Hello Rita!
ReplyDeleteI hope you see this mail.....
Hi Irina,
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Welcome to our class blog! Thank you for joining our discussion!
Hello RITA again.......
ReplyDeleteHI!
I think to do homework it is very helpfull if I don't have housework.However, I like you way to give homework you always say it is option.I make my homework if I can.
Hi Irina,
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I admire my students who are parents and have so many other (very important) responsibilities outside the classroom. Therefore, I do not like to have a 'homework system'per se; however, I do appreciate when my students make use of technology to help them advance their studies.
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As you can see, I do like to incorporate technology for 'homework' or "anywhere anytime" home tasks. I welcome your thoughts on this!
Hi Rita,
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion homework is very helpful for us because we can review everything what we learn the class room.Sometime we forget new things ,so we needs to review.It is very good opportunity for us to remember new things.
Narinder
Welcome to our blog, Narinder! I am very pleased to see you here. I hope we can start lovely discussions on different topics on a weekly basis.
DeleteBased on your comments above, you are in favour of position one -- am I correct?
I appreciate your point of view regarding homework, and I understand the reasons behind your being in favour of homework. However, a question I have for you is: Why should adult learners be required to do homework? Why couldn't adult students in general take ownership of their own learning and plan a program of studies for them regardless of whether there is homework assigned or not?
As one of your colleagues commented earlier, the library is full of resources, and all students have to do is ask the librarian for help. Please give me your thoughts on this!
HI Rita,I try to say that the homework is helpful for students. However,homework might be harmful for some of students.ON my side,I have two childrent,and I also need to work.Therfore,too much home for me,I might feel pressure.Anyway,you did not rush us,and you only haned out proper homework to us.As a result ,I am still happy to do some homework.
ReplyDeleteHi Feng, I am happy to see that you posted comments on both weekly topics -- homework and technology. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned to one of your colleagues in an earlier post, I admire my students who are parents and have so many other (extremely important) responsibilities outside the classroom. As a result, I do not like to have a 'homework system'per se; however, I do appreciate when my students make use of technology to help them advance their studies.
As you can see, I do like to incorporate technology for 'homework' for our "anywhere anytime" home tasks. Furthermore, it is all optional as you mentioned. As adult learners, you have choices in my class.
I welcome your thoughts on this!
Hi dear Rita
ReplyDeleteIn my openion, I think homework is helpful for students that they don't have any job or children. Homework is useful for me, and I really enjoy doing it. But we should have a balance in our life otherwise we will get tired or our life will become standstill and boring without any excitement. I mean, for doing homework we should have limit therefore; we can learn of doing homework. For students that are busy, they can just review the lessens that they learned during the week. In this case, they can improve our English and have some fun with their family. Also for students who don't like to do homework they can watching English movies, listen to Enlish musics or reading some desirable books. As you can see, there are lots of chance to do homework and enjoy from it.
Welcome our virtual blog, Parisa! Glad to see you here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. Based on your post above, you are in favour of position one provided the student has time to do it -- am I correct?
You also mention that there should be a balance in life, and I totally agree with you. Therefore, for the students who cannot do homework because they have a lot of 'housework' to do, they can always watch a movie in English.
Now, I propose a question for you: Why don't students become more self-directed learners and search for their own home tasks? Shouldn't adult students be able to go to the library on their on -- both in person or online -- and select their own study material?
I welcome your thoughts!
Hi dear rita,
Deleteyes, you are right. For students who have more free time same as me, they can do homework in a relaxed manner. However for those students who have more responsibilities like housework or job there are lots of strategies to practice English. For example, for someone who is feeding a baby, she can listen to the English news.
For your second question, I agree with you. I believe to be successful in life, every individual should be self motivated to study English. Although, unfortunately; I need someone to push me to study english and encourage me. Because, otherwise sometimes we feel lost and get confused and disappointed.
Hi Parisa thank you so much for visiting our blog again. I do appreciate your sharing of information with us.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your comment on needing someone to 'push' you, I would be more than happy to do that. However, I feel that as a young adult, you know best! What I can do for you is ask you to please continue doing all your exercises in "Grammar in Context" and start doing the CBC lessons (see the upper right hand side for the link for the technology discussion). Would this help?
I welcome your thoughts!
Hi Rita,
ReplyDeleteI think we discussed about our homework on Email before; furthermore, I also think as a student, we should do some assignment at home. It is necessary for us to do our homework to review what we learned today, even though we need much time to work on it.
Hi Jason, I am pleased to see that you posted in both debate topics -- technology and homework.
ReplyDeleteI am curious to know if you are doing your "Grammar in Context" home study program. Would you consider that a form of homework?
How about this blog? I have posted debated questions and links with information to read -- would you this be homework in your opinion?
In addition, I have included a link to the CBC EAL webesite with worksheets and a listening podcast. Have you had a chance to complete this task yet?
I welcome your feedback!