﻿ ELLLO Views #631 Computers in Class

631 Computers in Class

Tom and Martin debate whether computers should be used in class.

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Tom: Do you have computers in your classroom?

Martin: No and I wish we did I think it would help out a lot of the teachers and a lot of the students to have more of an interactive experience and be able to research things as teachers are talking. What do you think Tom?

Tom: I'm surprised that you want them. I think they're a terrible idea. I think they distract students they mean that the point of the lesson is lost that the teacher loses their control over where the class should go. I think it's ridiculous this drive to get computers absolutely everywhere.

Martin: Oh but don't you think it adds to giving a hands-on-experience especially with accounting or other business related applications that if the teacher is expressing it, if you don't have a computer you can't really have a hands-on experience and a lot of the lesson might be lost without actually doing it in the classroom and being able to check your work.

Tom: A lot of what you say is correct but I don't think you need to do it in the classroom. You can do all of that stuff at home and I think a computer is a very personal and individual activity. I'm not sure it's suitable for a classroom.

Martin: I still think though hat it adds a lot to it and that they're able to express themselves and utilize the information that is expressed in the classroom then and there and they know they understand it versus if they go home and use it in a more personalized context.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson


Having computers in the classroom will definitely distract students.

Something that 'distracts' you attracts your attention and makes it difficult to focus on what you should be focusing on. Notice the following:

  1. Are you trying to distract me?
  2. I haven't gotten much work done today, because I've been really distracted.

drive to get

I think this drive to get computers absolutely everywhere is ridiculous.

When there is a 'drive to get' something, it means that there is pressure to buy it or have it. Notice the following:

  1. Living in the city, there is a huge drive to get the latest technology.
  2. I don't understand the drive to get these things that you don't need.


On the other hand, computers can provide hands-on-experience during the class.

If you learn through a 'hands-on-experience,' you learn by actually doing something, instead of just reading about it. Notice the following:

  1. The idea of this museum is to make science a hands-on-experience for students.
  2. My teacher things that the best way to learn is through hands-on-experience.


Students will be able to utilize the information they get from the classrooms immediately.

When you 'utilize' something, you use it or make use of it. Notice the following:

  1. Now you have the information, and you can utilize it however you want.
  2. At the beginning of this class we will help students learn how to utilize the resources.


Some people think the use of computers is limited to more personalized context only.

The 'context' where you use something is the circumstances in which you use it. Here, it is talking about using computers in a school setting compared to using them alone. Notice the following:

  1. I can't really answer your question until I understand the context of the situation.
  2. One important thing to consider when making a product is how it will function in different context.
Answer the following questions about the interview.



Vocabulary Challenge

Complete the sentences with the words below.
distract • drive • hands-on-experience
utilize • context
  1. The books I like to read really depend on the of my life at a specific time.
  2. I don't understand her to finish with school so quickly.
  3. Many people like the learning style at our school because it's a .
  4. The easiest way to find a job is to the contacts you have with people.
  5. You need to when she comes in so she doesn't notice the new television right away.