Pre-TOEFL writing, Parents are the best teachers.

Writing Topic

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

☆Let’s Think

Parents as well as others can be good teachers. Are they the best? Are they better than other people who work as your teachers such as school teachers, adult relatives, or friends? Do teaching mean only teaching subjects or other matters related to life in general?

☆Hints for Points

Reasons to agree

1.    Parents know the best ways to teach you and they are the most serious about your future.

2.    Parents can teach you what school teachers cannot.  e.g. about life, nature, relationships, etc.

Reasons to disagree

1.    In terms of teaching subjects, school teachers are usually better than parents.  e.g. specific knowledge

2.    Not all people are cut out for teaching.   e.g. lack of patience,

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】I cannot agree with the statement that parents are the best teachers since it might not always be the case.

【Point 1】Teaching requires special knowledge for teaching.

【Point 2】Parents play different roles from those of teachers in raising children.

【follow-up】Some parents can be the best teachers for their children, but they are exceptions.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Parents’ job is to give their children unconditional love in their own ways, and this does not necessarily equal the best teaching.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3/ Follow-up】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Sample Paragraph Development of Point 1 in Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】Parents play different roles from those of teachers in raising children.

【Explanation】Their love, which is the most precious thing to their children, often becomes an obstacle to teaching.

【Example】Many teachers confess that they do not teach their children the subjects that they teach at school because they are afraid of becoming emotional.

【Follow-up】It is natural for parents to be upset when their children are not doing well because a parent is not only a coach but also a fan, who vicariously shares the ups and downs of the feelings of the person they are cheering for, and it is very often the fan that encourages a person to perform better.

【Conclusion】Parents’ role is to love their children, not to stay calm and give proper directions all the time as it is the second important thing in a child’s life.