Class Supplement (TOEFL Essay, University education for senior citizens - rewrite -)

Writing Topic: Consider the following statement. People of all ages, including middle-aged and elderly people, can benefit from studying at university, and there should be no age restrictions on university study. Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

Note: Although the topic says, “People of all ages,” the focus is on senior citizens, not the rare geniuses who take university courses at the age of nine, for whom society is doing favor. Nor do you have to write about young people because they are the people you usually think of when you picture university students and therefore they cannot be subject to age restrictions. In aging society, the number of healthy and active seniors is increasing. Many of them are not satisfied with the conventional retirement life. They want to keep improving themselves and contribute to the society. Going to university is a choice that these people make when they give their answer to their plan for the second half of life. Now, objectively, is it beneficial for them or not? Benefit can be anything that does good for the person.

Ideas and expressions:
♦As society ages, as long as it is wealthy, senior citizens’ demand for university education for their second career or a place for self-development increases.
♦People who missed opportunities to get higher education when young for various reasons such as work or child-rearing and are ready to learn after retirement will be happy to take advantage of the system if universities are open to them.
♦Although young students, whose brains are young, are more advantaged in learning, learning takes more than biological factors. Other factors such as curiosity, natural inclination, aspiration, determination, and sense of responsibility are often stronger drives for leaning, and motivation could fall upon a person at any point of his or her life.
♦As a matter of fact, universities usually do not deny people of middle age or older. Many senior citizens have actually been studying among young students and there have not been any reports of problems for that.
♦Now that e-learning is in place and many universities have e-learning courses, the environment is more favorable for senior citizens to get degrees.
♦The primary purpose of university is the pure pursuit and accumulation of knowledge. In this sense, whoever wants to learn something can benefit from participating in it, for learning is a joy and learning in a good environment will give one happiness.
♦Studies at universities are also done for the profit of society. People who start learning after turning fifty could contribute to research and development in different ways from young students do mainly drawing on their experience and time. Making contribution to society can give them confidence and reason for living.
♦Universities are also for producing well-educated workforce. If the goal is practical, senior citizens can complete training for their second career of their interest. This is good for those who love to work or need to work.