Lesson 4 · Lesson guide
Education: Online Learning and University Life
Hello, my dear student!
Hello! Education is one of the most frequent topics in IELTS. It appears in Reading passages, in Writing Task 2 questions about online degrees and tuition fees, and in Speaking Part 3 discussions about the future of learning.
At band 5, students say “the school things” or “studying on the computer”. At band 6.5 and above, they use precise words: curriculum, seminar, blended learning, academic performance, self-discipline. The descriptor for Lexical Resource rewards exactly this: “uses less common vocabulary with some awareness of style and collocation”.
Today you will learn the words that describe university life and online learning, the differences between words that look similar (lecture, seminar, tutorial; curriculum, syllabus), and how to use them in a Task 2 essay and a Part 3 answer.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
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University life
Three kinds of class and the people and places around them.
Classes
lecture, seminar, tutorial
A lecturer gives a lecture in a lecture theatre. Students discuss in seminars and get individual feedback in tutorials.
- We have three lectures and one seminar a week.
Work
assignment, deadline, dissertation
Students submit assignments before a deadline. In the final year they write a dissertation, a long piece of research.
- My dissertation is on youth unemployment.
Money and life
tuition fees, scholarship, halls of residence
Tuition fees pay for the course; a scholarship pays for a good student; first-year students often live in halls of residence.
- She won a scholarship that covers her tuition fees.
Remember!
Lecture = one speaker, many listeners. Seminar = a small group discussing. Tutorial = a tutor and one or a few students.
Online and blended learning
Words for the advantages and the problems. Task 2 essays need both.
Types
distance, online, blended, face-to-face
Blended learning combines online study with face-to-face classes.
- Many universities now offer blended courses.
Advantages
flexibility, self-paced, accessible
Self-paced courses let learners study at their own speed; online courses are accessible to people in remote areas.
- The main advantage is flexibility.
Problems
isolation, self-discipline, drop out
Online learners can feel isolated, need strong self-discipline, and often drop out before the end.
- Without self-discipline, many students drop out.
Words that look alike
Not: The curriculum of my maths course has ten topics.Say: The syllabus of my maths course has ten topics.
Syllabus = the topics of one course. Curriculum = all the subjects a school or programme teaches.
Not: Our teacher at university gave a great lecture.Say: Our lecturer gave a great lecture.
At university in British English: lecturer, tutor or professor.
Not: Many students left the course in the middle.Say: Many students dropped out of the course.
drop out (of) is the precise phrasal verb.
Not: His academic performances are good.Say: His academic performance is good.
academic performance is uncountable here.
In Speaking Part 3
- Examiner
Do you think online degrees will replace traditional universities?
- Nodira
Not entirely, I’d say. Online courses offer a lot of flexibility, which suits people who work full-time. But many students need face-to-face contact, and it’s hard to stay motivated on your own.
- Examiner
So what is likely to happen?
- Nodira
I imagine most universities will move towards blended learning, with lectures online and seminars on campus.
Precise topic words (flexibility, face-to-face, blended learning) and a balanced view: this is a band 7 answer.
Check yourself
A small group of students discussing a topic with a tutor is a…
A course that mixes online and classroom study is…
Leave a course before finishing it =
Now it’s your turn!
8 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher