Online Learning (July 14-17, 2021)

When was the last time you had an online class?

The last time I had an online class was 2 days ago. It was our major subject called Persons and Family
Relations. Our topic was about separation and annulment. I really find the topic interesting because
prior to this meeting I didn’t know that it is very hard to get an annulment in this country. Now I fully
understand why many people prefer to be single than to get married and why some people have
affairs because the annulment process takes time and costs an arm and a leg.

Are there subjects in school that cannot be taught online?

Of course, there are. I think we can only teach theories online. We cannot discuss topics which
involve the use of laboratories and important school or medical facilities. For example: My friend’s
major is nursing. It’s okay that her professor discusses nursing and medical theories online.
However, nothing can substitute having a real hospital experience wherein they get a chance to
have a personal interaction with real patients like taking their vital signs, building rapport, assessing
the patient’s signs and symptoms and giving medications.

Do you think online classes in VN should continue until the end of the year?

It really depends on the situation. If the number of COVID infections will have a continuous decline,
the government might consider opening face to face classes. However, at the moment, I think the
virus is far from being contained so I can assume that online classes will push through until the end
of the year.

Are having online classes favourable to parents and teachers?

Yes, it’s favourable to parents but not to teachers. I can assume that ALL parents are worried about
their children’s welfare so seeing them studying safely at home gives parents a sense of relief and
assurance that their children are not at risk of contracting the virus. Meanwhile, it’s not favourable to

some teachers because not all teachers are familiar with computers and downloadable applications
such as Zoom or Skype. So, teachers need to adjust their teaching methods in a way that students can
absorb what they’re learning without the need of personal contact.
 Part 3
1) What are the advantages of having online classes? Cite 2-3 reasons.

I can cite 2 advantages of having online classes and these are the following:
Firstly, studying online saves time and money. Students don’t need to go to school, spend for
gas on their motorbikes or endure traffic jams like they used to. Upon waking up, students can
still do a few minutes of stretching and eat a full meal before attending the first online class in
the morning because they don’t need to hurry.
Secondly, people feel safer when they are not in crowded areas such as schools and public
transportations. So, instead of stressing over about getting infected or not, it’s wiser to do
online classes and spare themselves from worries.

2) Are online classes ideal for all age groups? Why or why not?
No, it’s not ideal for toddlers (4 to 6 years old) and elderly (people beyond 60) because these
age groups have the shortest attention span and the least amount of patience. Toddlers prefer
to utilize their energy by doing a lot of walking, climbing and playing because they are still young
and imaginative. On the other hand, it’s very rare for an elderly person to be familiar with
electronic devices such as smartphones and computers. Ironically, these age groups are the
most vulnerable to the virus because the toddlers’ immune system is still underdeveloped while
for the elderly it’s already weak.

3) Do online classes make students lazy or not? Why?

Well, anyone who sits for a few hours facing the screen can easily feel sleepy and weak but it
doesn’t make the person inherently lazy. There is no such thing. It’s just the prolonged sitting
that influences the person. I mean that when we sit for about 4-6 hours while facing the
computer, we don’t get enough blood circulation for our brain and body. In effect, the brain is
processing slowly, it relaxes and our bodies muscles too. And that’s why it’s recommended to do
stretching and even just dangling our legs whenever we feel like we’ve been sitting for a long
period.

4) Do you think online classes will replace offline (face to face classes) in the near future? Why or
why not?
Hopefully not and I don’t think it can 
Having online classes is alright if we are just discussing theories and histories about the subject.
However, there are some fundamental topics that need further explanation and can only be
understood by students through personal experience. So, exposure to companies, firms,
hospitals, laboratories can best prepare students for the real world. It also gives them a better
perspective about what their career life will be after graduation.

Recite this every morning: IELTS is easy ^^

Lyte 