ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: Xuân Phi, 20/02/2023
Supported by: Ex-BC Examiner, 21/02/2023
Question: Technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
(IELTS Academic – 18/02/2023)
ANSWER (8.0+):
The way minors spend their leisure hours has been altered by advancements in technology. Although this can detrimentally affect their overall health, I believe that its benefits such as accessing information more easily and boosting their creativity are more significant.
On the one hand, the tendency of children to utilize technological devices in their spare time has an adverse impact on their general well-being. More specifically, many of the activities that children engage in with technology are sedentary, such as playing video games or using social media. This can lead to reduced physical activity, which in turn can contribute to health problems such as obesity and poor vision. Furthermore, children’s mental health can be badly affected. Since they often spend an excessive amount of time using digital devices in lieu of interacting with others in person, their interpersonal relationships would likely be weakened. Consequently, they become socially isolated and suffer from mental issues such as depression and stress.
On the other hand, using technology in leisure time can be beneficial to children for two reasons. Most noticeably, technology has made it easier for juveniles to access information on a wide variety of subjects. To be more specific, they can use search engines, educational apps and online libraries to learn about topics that interest them. This can help to broaden their knowledge and foster their passion for learning. Another justification is that it enhances creativity. This is because there are many digital tools and apps that allow children to express themselves. For instance, they can show their artistic side by using video editing software and digital art programs to create and share their own works of art or videos, which can be a source of pride and satisfaction.
In conclusion, although technological advances can pose a threat to children’s holistic health, I maintain that they can offer more noticeable advantages such as easy access to information to broaden their knowledge and promoting their sense of expression. It is advisable that children should be allowed to use technology in their study and personal lives under parental supervision to mitigate its demerits.
(Word count: 349)
WORD LIST:
ENGLISH | TIẾNG VIỆT |
Minors | Trẻ vị thành niên |
Leisure hours | Giờ giải trí |
Reduced physical activity | Hoạt động thể chất bị giảm thiểu |
Poor vision | Thị lực kém |
Interpersonal relationships | Mối quan hệ giữa các cá nhân |
Socially isolated | Bị cô lập về mặt xã hội |
Search engines | Công cụ tìm kiếm |
Foster their passion for learning | Nuôi dưỡng niềm đam mê học tập của họ |
Digital art programs | Chương trình nghệ thuật kỹ thuật số |
Holistic health | Sức khỏe toàn diện |
Promote their sense of expression | Thúc đẩy khả năng biểu đạt của họ |
Under parental supervision | Dưới sự giám sát của cha mẹ |