Who you are is what you do, not what you own.

Toefl iBT Essay-16

2008-11-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Teachers should give students homework every day.

One of my teachers often tells the class, "You need to do homework every day in order to learn as much as possible." I could not disagree more with him. In fact, I believe that doing homework every day is counterproductive and can actually have negative effects on students.

The first reason I feel this way is that much of our daily homework is useless. It seems more like "busywork" the teachers give us because they feel obligated to give homework every day. For example, some math teachers assign the same kinds of math problems again and again as homework even though the students clearly understand the material. There is simply no need to continue training the students when they understand the lesson sufficiently. Anything more is overkill. These kinds of homework assignments do not teach students anything at all. If students will not learn anything from their homework, teachers should not assign it.

Too much homework can also make students dislike classes they otherwise would have liked. Students can often feel overburdened because teachers are giving homework to them every day in every class. With all of this homework, students get less eager to take the class itself. For instance, I really love science. However, one year, my science teacher gave us homework every day. Sometimes it helped us learn, but most of the time it was just busywork. I started hating science because of all the unnecessary homework I was getting. When a situation like this happens, students' learning suffers.

Teachers should not assign homework everyday. Their homework assigments often teach the students nothing new, and these assignments can also turn student opinion against a class. Almost all students would really appreciate it if teachers gave them a break from daily homework assignments.

Useful pattern: keep in mind

2008-10-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

1: I'm going to go drink beer with my friends.
2: Okay, but keep in mind, you must finish your homework. If your report isn't finished, your teacher will be angry.

1: I'm going to Alaska during the winter vacation.
2: Okay, but keep in mind, you must bring warm clothes. Alaska is really, really, really cold in January and February.

1: I'm going to have pizza for dinner tonight.
2: Okay, but keep in mind, you must not eat too much. You've been gaining weight recently, and pizza isn't very healthy.

1: I'm going to buy a puppy dog.
2: Okay, but keep in mind, you must take care of it. You'll have to take it for a walk every day.

1: I'm going to buy a new computer this week.
2: Okay, but keep in mind, you must save some money for school. You need to pay for your tuition next semester.

1: I'm going to take Cinderella to the party tonight.
2: Okay, but keep in mind, you must bring her home early. If you bring her home after midnight, some bad things might happen.

Useful pattern: fooling around with

2008-10-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

1: Why are John and Jack in the hospital?
2: They were fooling around with firecrackers, and they accidentally burned their hands.

1: Why isn't Peter allowed to use the computer lab at school?
2: He was fooling around with the new printer and he broke it.

1: Why does your dog have green and purple fur?
2: The dog was fooling around with some cans of paint in the garage and the lids came off of two of the cans.

1: Why did Suzy's dad take away her driver's licence?
2: She was fooling around with her dad's new car and she crashed it into a tree.

1: Why does Johnny have a scar on his forehead?
2: Johnny was fooling around with his new bicycle and he accidentally rode into the back of a pick-up truck.

1: Why did the students get a bad score on the midterm?
2: They were fooling around with their friends in Sinchon instead of studying for the test.

Speaking skills: using imprecision

2008-10-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

1. about- It's about ten o'clock.
2. kind of- It's kind of sculpture. I had a kind of feeling this might happen. That made me feel kind of stupid. She kind of hoped to be invited.
3. sort of- Her painting is sort of abstract. I sort of thought you might say that.
4. it's like- It's like they're enjoying the movie.
5. it's as if- It's as if she's worrying about something.
6. or something like that- It tastes like peaches or something like that.

Toefl iBT Essay-15

2008-10-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Grades can encourage students to learn.

Some people argue that grades cannot encourage students to learn. I disagree with them. I firmly believe grades can actually motivate students to learn.

Most teenage students in Korea are interested in attending the best college possible in order to learn more or to get better jobs after graduating. Without good grades, however, this will be virtually impossible for them. The need to receive good grades therefore inspires them to learn. For instance, my brother used to be a poor student in the first year of high school, so his school grades were lower than average. But he soon realized that no good schools accept him with those kinds of grades. He suddenly became interested in getting better grades, which made him study more. He began learning a lot, and now he attends an excellent college. Grades clearly motivated him to learn more.

In Korea, students also feel peer pressure to get good grades and learn more. At my school, most of the unpopular students get poor grades while many of the popular students get outstanding grades. Those students with low grades are often made fun of or left out by other students. So many students feel pressure to get good grades because they do not want to be treated as laughingstocks. On the other hand, those students with high grades receive awards for their good work. This encourages competition among students and stimulates some other students to work harder to win these awards or get along with those excellent students. Overall, grades make students work harder in one way or the other.

Grades are clearly important at encouraging students to learn. They help students gain enough knowledge to attend good colleges and also apply peer pressure on students to work more. Grades definitely play an important role in learning in Korea.

Toefl iBT Essay-14

2008-10-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
It is more important to choose the subjects that you are interested in than the subjects you need to prepare for a job or a career.

My best friend always says, "Take classes you will need for the future." I disagree with her advice. Instead, it is better to study subjects you are interested in than ones you might need for a job or career.

The first reason is that you can learn better and faster when you study what interests you. It is a well-known fact that people tend to get more motivated to learn and thus more easily concentrate on something they are interested in. For example, I once studied art and learned a lot because I loved the class. I was eager to learn more, and sometimes I even spent several hours painting a picture by myself. That made me a good painter. On the contrary, I hate math. Even though I know I have to take my math class since I am considering becoming an accountant, the class so boring that I learn little. Objectively, the math class could possibly help my career, not the art class. Yet I have no interest in the math class while I found the art class fascinating.

A second reason is that you can always get job training later. Unless you will be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, you need no special training at school. Companies will teach you the skills you need after hiring you. Therefore, it is totally possible-and advisable-to major in a subject you like and then find a job unconnected to your major. For example, my father majored in philosophy in college but is a businessman now. He said he has never used the knowledge he learned in his major at work; however, he has no regrets. He wanted to major in philosophy, so that is what he did.

In conclusion, it is ideal for students to take the classes they like instead of those designed to help their careers. They can learn better what they are interested in and can learn their job duties later. Therefore, students should study what subjects they are interested in to make their school lives more enjoyable.

IELTS writing 6

2008-10-29T23:44:00.000-07:00

There are movements all over the world to prohibit smoking from buildings such as: restaurants, bars, clubs, offices, and other indoor spaces. People argue secondhand smoke is dangerous and that such laws protect public health.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Banning smoking in public places has been a controversial issue in the United States over the last few years. Fifteen states prohibit smoking in almost all public places including work places, restaurants, as well as pubs. I strongly believe that it is very wise to protect nonsmokers.

Everyone is aware of the fact that smoking tobacco products is harmful due to the ingredients that they contain. Tobacco smoke produces nearly 4000 different chemicals, such as nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. All of these chemicals and others like benzene, ethanol, and ammonia are extremely harmful or carcinogenic. Smoking causes many types of disease such as lung cancer, heart diseases, and respiratory infections.

What is worse, smoking not only harms the person who smokes it, but also harms other people. Many studies show that secondhand smoking is as harmful as smoking itself, if not worse. When a person smokes in public places, non-smokers are left with no choice but to inhale hazardous chemicals. Secondhand smoke causes nearly 3400 lung cancer deaths and 46000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers each year in the United States alone. It is especially harmful to young children as well. Many children who are exposed to secondhand smoke suffer from illnesses such as respiratory tract infections and even sudden infant death syndrome.

In conclusion, smoking is so bad that the person smoking is destroying not only their own health, but also the health of others. People who choose to smoke have the right to make that decision. However, everyone else also has the right to live in a safe environment where they can lead healthy lives. Therefore, smoking should be banned in public places to protect other individual. (281 words)

IELTS writing 5

2008-10-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

Imagine this situation: the city you live in wants to build a "Las Vegas" style casino in the area. They think the gambling and the entertainment will bring more tourists and money and help the local economy.
What would be the advantages and disadvantages of such a proposal?

There are many business opportunities that help the economy of a city grow strong. Building a casino can boost the local economy. However, when a casino is considered source of cash, it must be carefully thought through because there are disadvantages as well as advantages that come with gambling.

One of the advantages of building a casino in a city is that it will allow many job opportunities for the locals. The casino will need people for managers. This will help the economy of the area develop, allowing the citizens to have a higher standart of living. Another advantage is having many tourists especially from foreign countries. This will help foreign currency flow into the city and help the economy grow stronger. Furthermore, the city will be able to have better roads, electricity, water, telecommunications due to the growth.

However, there are disadvantages of having such facilities in one's city. The one that citizens are mostly concerned about is education. When a casino is built in a city, young adults might be diverted from schools and further education and will pursue an easier way to earn money. This will lower education standards in the city. In addition, developing the city will cause environmental and cultural destruction.

There are many advantages and disadvantages when it comes to building a casino in a city. If my city was to build one, I would oppose it because I believe that there are many more serious problems with a casino than benefits. Gambling is not a wise way to earn money. Money should be earned with the hard and diligent work of citizens, not by gambling. (273 words)

Can I ask you out?

2008-10-20T11:12:00.001-07:00

It's a good-looking scene and couple are dating with a pet.
I'm a little bit jealous. So can I ask you out?
(The picture is from agshin.mn)

IELTS writing 4

2008-10-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the government of a country faces a difficult decision between protecting the environment and encouraging economic development. We can benefit from both, although we must be careful when we make a decision.

The main advantage of encouraging economic development is that, there will be more housing. The housing situation has been a very difficult task to deal with, especially for Koreans, because of the difference between the land available and population. As a result, in the Korean government deforests mountains to make new cities. Developing new cities offers advantages such as providing more businesses in the area for the convenience of citizens which means there are more jobs available for them as well.

However, such actions are extremely hazardous to our natural enviroment. Deforestation takes away habitats for many animals which ruins the ecosystem. When the ecosystem is greatly disturbed, not only do animals suffer or die, but people will also affected. Fewer forests means more cities, therefore it means more pollution which leads to global warming. Slowly, but surely, we will suffer from the effects of global warming. Soon, the Earth will no longer be inhabitable.

To sum up, a country must be careful when making a decision between protecting the environment and encouraging economic development. The best way is to preserve as much nature as possible by building environmentally -friendly cities where people and animals can coexist without harming one another. The Earth is the only place humans live, and we must protect it.

IELTS writing 3

2008-10-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

These days, there are more and more people immigrating to other countries. A majority of those who immigrate are seeking a better life. I myself have lived abroad in many different countries for many years, but I strongly believe that living abroad is not the best way for everyone.

Going abroad to developed countries opens up many doors to anyone who sets goals and works hard. There are more opportunities to get a better paying job with better benefits. Employers provide much better working conditions and the pay is usually much better compared to one's own country. Developed countries, like America or England, also offer better environment for children, which includes better education systems better school facilities, and better laws to protect young ones. Those who stay abroad to study for a short period of time, take advantage of the developed countries' advanced education opportunities. After staying in foreign countries as " international students", they are more likely to get a better job when they go back. Whatever the reason is, the common factor here is that they are all seeking more opportunities.

However, not everyone succeeds in living abroad. Some people do not adjust well into the host society for different reasons: the cultural differences as well as the language barrier. Due to those reasons, many immigrants always live as the "minority", and sometimes even face discrimination. The first generation of immigrants face huge disadvantages, which can cause financial losses.

Immigrating to a foreign country to live, to work or to study is not as easy as everyone thinks. If someone goes abroad with absurd ideas, they will be left with unprofitable results. In order to get the best out of going abroad, one must learn to adapt to differences between two cultures. Although everyone is different in their own ways, if he or she is not willing to accept new things, going abroad is not the best way for them to achieve better things in life.

IELTS writing 2

2008-10-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Communication technology has developed tremendously over the last few decades. There are cellular phones with many functions such as a built-in camera, MP3 player, and mobile games. Being able to use e-mails and messengers on the Internet has made our lives convenient. Many of us appreciate the convenience that modern communication offers, but some think otherwise. They believe that communication technology causes modern ills such as hurry sickness. There are certainly advantages and disadvantages in using modern communication technology.

One of the advantages of modern communication technology is that it has made our lives easier by providing fast connections between people. It is much easier to communicate with our loved ones now. Cellular phones and e-mail are used by many people every day worldwide. They can also be used to take care of business much faster because users are not limited by time or distance. These communication devices have also saved many lives in emergency situations.

However, there are some downsides. People nowadays are too dependent on communication tools. Not having a cellular phone can make someone nervous. Furthermore, cellular phones can bother people around the user. For example, about 98 percent of public transport users carry a cellular phone with them. Some of them do not bother setting their phone on vibrate, and when it rings, it can be quite bothersome for others. Talking on the cellular phones really loudly also makes others uneasy.

In conclusion, I believe that the technological development of communication tools must not be stopped in any way. We will have even more advanced gadgets in the near future. In order to take the full advantage of them, we must handle the advancements wisely and sensibly so that it affects human life in a positive way. After all, people come before technology. (310 words)

IELTS writing 1

2008-10-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

Education equips people with the skills they need to survive in life. Many people dream of going to university to enhance their social and business prospects. Some people desire to continue their formal education beyond the undergraduate career. Those with the means and the desire can pursue a master's degree or a doctorate. I disagree with the statement that it is a waste of money to pursue anything more than a bachelor's degree.

In the working world, a person is often paid a salary based on his or her qualifications and background. A person with a higher education generally gets paid more. This is often the reason why a candidate is deemed "overqualified;" there might be a problem regarding the applicant's salary. In some countries, like South Korea, where appropriate jobs for those with master's degrees and doctorates are scarce, people will sometimes purposely omit their higher educational degrees. That specific kind of situation, though, does not make pursuing an advanced degree a waste of money.

A master's degree or doctorate can open up different kinds of opportunities for those able to acquire them. The whole process involves a level of specialization not possible for undergraduates. This specialized knowledge gives a person an advantage over other applicants in the job market. Even if they eventually end up working in a field unrelated to their degree, the academic discipline that is learned and the personal contacts make during the whole process helps them to be successful. In a world where borders are more open, countries often seek to attract those with advanced degrees. Even if it's hard to find a job in one's own country, they can have good employment opportunities elsewhere.

It takes a lot of hard work to get a master's degree or a doctorate. Many countries and institutions recognize this effort. Rather than being a waste of money, an advanced degree gives people more options in their life.

Cooking is important, why?

2008-10-12T12:05:00.001-07:00

Because it means...
"Cooking makes confident."
"Cooking is like an art."
"Cooking creates creativity."
So let`s cooking...

Passion is important, why?

2008-10-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Because it means...

"Passion makes perfect."

Team play is important, why?

2008-10-12T11:43:00.001-07:00

Because it means...
"Many hands make light work."
"Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success. "
"None of us is as smart as all of us. "

As you are looking at the picture, team play will give you so many benefits. I`m sure you can't deny this truth.
So "All for one, one for all." gogo

Focus is important, why?

2008-10-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Because it means...
FOCUS=Follow One Course Until Successful
If you can't focus on one thing, you don't get a success. It's a life time success. Like now or never, focus or nothing, porsche or no car. Keep it in your mind. Focus on one thing you like doing it the most and keep going!

Toefl iBT Essay-13

2008-10-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
In high schools or colleges, it is more desirable for a group project to be evaluated the same regardless of the individual students` performances.

One of my teachers recently gave every member of a group project the same grade. I was not pleased about this. I feel students should be evaluated based upon their individual performances even when they are doing group projects.

One reason I think this way is that every member of a group project makes a different contribution. Therefore, it is logical for students to be graded based upon the work they did, not on how the other team members did. If teachers give individual grades, they can reward the hardworking students. Simultaneously, teachers can punish lazy students or ones who performed poorly. I was actually negatively affected by a teacher`s grading policy recently. We had a group project in our Korean class. We had to write several articles to make a class newspaper. In my group, only I tried hard; the other students did nothing. Because of their poor work, I too got a poor grade despite working hard. Giving a group grade in that situation was simply unfair.

Also, giving individual grades can inspire more students to try. Lazy students often do nothing on their group projects since they can depend on the diligent students to do the work. But if teachers give individual grades, getting a "free ride" like this will no longer happen because even lazy students will have to do more work. I know this grading policy works because my sister`s university instructor did exactly the same thing and succeeded in getting more students actively involved in their projects. Since more members worked harder on their projects, all the groups not only finished their projects faster, but they also did better work.

Teachers should definitely give students individual grades on group projects. This will reward the hardworking students and force the lazy ones to work harder. Diligent students should not be punished for the laziness of other students.

Wow, Drum Cat`s performance

2008-10-11T10:49:00.001-07:00

Let`s feel the rhythm of the drum!

Toefl iBT Essay-12

2008-10-10T02:51:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
It is better to take the most difficult and challenging classes in university or at college even if it means that you probably will not get top grades in them.

Some college students take hard classes on purpose while knowing they will not get the best grades. I respect those people. In fact, it is better to take the most difficult and challenging classes in college even if it will not ensure the highest grades.

Students can learn much more in difficult and challenging classes. The point of college is to attain knowledge, not to get the best grades. Thus, students should expect to leave college better educated than when they entered school. Taking challenging classes can greatly contribute to this purpose. My cousin currently attends a university. He constantly takes the hardest classes he is qualified for. While he does not get straight A`s, he finishes every semester having learned an incredible amount. This is the admirable way to approach one`s education.

Furthermore, in the workplace, knowledge is more important than high grades. Once a person begins to work after graduating, grades are really not that important. Few future employers will ever ask or even care about that person`s college grades since they know from experience that grades do not correlate significantly with good performances. My parents have both changed jobs many times. However, it has been years since they have had to show anyone their college transcripts. Employers do not care about grades; they are interested in a person`s knowledge. And a person can get more knowledge by taking harder classes.

It is much better for college students to take the hardest classes even if their grades are not the best. They can gain more knowledge this way, and knowledge is much more important than high grades when they work. When I go to college, I will make sure every class I take is challenging.

Toefl iBT Essay-11

2008-10-10T02:29:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
It is more important to learn knowledge from studying than to develop creativity.

My teachers are always encouraging the students to memorize lots of different facts. However, I feel this is the wrong approach to education. Instead, it is more important to develop student`s creativity than to learn knowledge from studying.

For one thing, creative people are often more successful. It does not take intelligence to do well in life. In fact, many of the most successful people were the most creative. One example is Henry Ford. He did not invent the assembly line. Instead, he used his creativity to adapt it to make cars on it. That made his company incredibly profitable. Additionally, there are many artists and other individuals who lack "book learning". Instead, they have huge amounts of creativity. These people range from Pablo Picasso to Steven Spielberg, but they all have two things in common: they were highly creative and highly successful.

Additionally, creative people can dramatically change the world. This is possible because they think "outside the box". They are open to new ways of seeing the world and are willing to explore them. Bill Gates is one such example. He never graduated from college. Instead, he quit school to help form Microsoft. His creativity made Microsoft a world leader in computer technology, and now the great majority of people in the world use its software products on their computers. Steve Jobs of Apple is another success story through creativity. He too never graduated from college. Thanks to his creative mind, however, he has led Apple to success after success. Thanks to Jobs, people listen to music on their iPods and call their friends on their iPhones today. Creative people like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have improved the world by introducing new ideas and products.

Therefore, developing creativity is more important than learning knowledge from studying. Creative people usually have more success and can also change the world in a positive way. I would much rather be creative than have lots of book knowledge.

Attitude is everything

2008-10-06T05:27:00.000-07:00

A SMALL TRUTH TO MAKE LIFE 100%

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is equal to
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Hard Work
H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

Knowledge
K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

Love
L+O+V+E
12+15+22+5 = 54%

Luck
L+U+C+K
12+21+3+11 = 47%

M+O+N+E+Y
13+15+14+5+25 = 72%

L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P
12+5+1+4+5+18+19+9+16 = 89%

ATTITUDE
A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

It is OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes OUR Life 100% ! ! !

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
If you change Your Attitude, you can change your life.
Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our attitude.

Toefl iBT Essay-10

2008-10-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Classmates have more influence on a child`s success in school than parents do.

I recently read an article about how classmates are more influential to a young student`s success than his or her parents. I fully agree with this study. In my experience, classmates are much more likely than the student`s parents to help a young student succeed in school.

For one, students spend much more time with their classmates than with their parents. In my case, I am at school with my classmates at least from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I also spend much time with my friends after school and on weekends. We go to the same private cram school, play baseball or soccer, go bicycling, go to the movies, and do other activities together. Therefore, I cannot overstate how my classmates have influenced me to become the person I am today. In contrast, I only spend time with my parents for a couple of hours each night. That is not enough time to be influential.

Classmates can also help each other study because they know the material they must learn. In the past, I have sometimes asked my parents for help with my studies. But some material, like math questions, was too hard for my parents. Thus, I had to ask my friends for assistance, and they helped me very easily. Additionally, when we have a big test coming up, we often form study groups. This lets us learn much faster and better. Even if one member in a group is not doing well, we can encourage him to study harder and work together to improve his level. These are things that our parents cannot help us to do.

It is obvious that classmates are much more influential than parents at helping young students to succeed in school. Classmates spend more time with each other, and they are familiar with the material the students need to learn. This has definitely been true in my experience as a student.

Earth

2008-10-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful earth, isn`t it? I`m recommending all of you this movie. I think everyone should watch seriously this film and appreciate the environment, it is worth watching. Let`s pay attention on our earth and let`s love the nature. It is so beautiful and brilliant.

Best global brands 2008

2008-10-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

Which brands do you think should be on the top of a list? Let`s take a look at the list. (source:http://www.interbrand.com/best_global_brands.aspx?langid=1000)