So, I asked my 'friend' Copilot today for a Cambridge C1 essay topic. I haven’t written essays like that since my A-Levels. That’s already 20 years in the past. I went to my class reunion this summer. T_T

This being said, I really struggled to get my thoughts in line. It is obviously a language problem but mainly a mental one. Every day I read German students struggle through their C1 essay. Now I know how they feel. Or at least I understand their struggle to develop a proper question and structure for their essay.

I went cold turkey there and didn’t read up any advise or guides in preparation books. I called it a day after 30 minutes. If you have any ideas where to read up on essay structure for lazy people, let me know. 😊

Finally, my lovely “essay”.

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Which factors are most important for successful learning?

With the rise of AI in the last few years, the world of education has changed drastically. With various apps and online resources one questions regularly surfaces: What does impact learning more – the use of modern technology or the presence of teachers?

As I am a language teacher and learner myself, the examples used as well as the perspective of this discussion is mainly from this point of view. Naturally, it can easily be expanded and applies to other fields of education and subjects.

With the start of every new semester we conduct placement tests to gauge the new students’ language levels and therefore place them in the correct course. In this context, we also ask for their learning history. In almost all cases language learning apps like duolingo but also other online materials readily available on Youtube or other platforms are mentioned. It is therefore obvious that technology opens resources to interested learner to study in their field of interest with little to no impact on their finances. At the same time, learners who might be cut off from educational institutions due to their employment, gender or residence can use technology to study and learn on their own. Therefore, technology makes education more accessible.

So, why do we still have people strife for the occupation of teacher and educator? Let’s circle back to our placement test at the beginning of the semester. Despite their investment of time and money many students are still placed in the lower level language courses. Often, these students were motivated and studied daily with the online resources available.

This is where the role of the teacher is not to be dismissed. The years spent at university and in teacher training teachers have the most effective tool to further their students’ learning journey: the knowledge to educate. This means the knowledge on how to break down and relay information. This in combination with a certain degree of idealism and integrity builds the foundation studying purely with technology can’t offer. Teachers can readily respond to their students’ needs and also help to impact their students’ lives not only from a perspective of transfer of knowledge but personal growth. Competent teachers wield technology as well as they manage and influence their students’ motivation.

In summary, technology these days gives learners a plethora of material, but it is down to the teachers and/or educators to make the puzzle pieces click together. Technology is nothing without a good teacher while a good teacher is able to teach without technology. 

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Yeah, so I know I lost track of the topic somehow. That’s as I pointed out, not necessarily a language issue. I need to get used to writing like this again. And I need more standard phrases to sound more C1. I'm aware that the standard essay length for Cambridge C1 is 220-260 words. This monster has around 420 words.

Have a lovely evening! I’m going to de-stress now and bake a cake.