It is not necessary to travel to other places to learn the culture of other people. We can learn just as much from books, films, and the internet.

Do you agree or disagree?

The advent of new technologies, including the net, and the abundance of information at our fingertips have removed physical barriers to learn new things, resulting in the emergence of “online learning”. However, the same term cannot be applied to understanding a culture fully, which is why I do not agree that people can gain complete insights into foreign cultures by reading books or by watching documentaries or other sorts of content on the web.

Admittedly, it would be a mistake to downplay the importance of having vicarious experiences of new cultural practices through media. More specifically, when people watch a documentary or read a book about a particular society, they can mentally live through the daily experiences of that community based on the descriptions of the author or the film maker. This, as a result, gives them only an approximate idea of what it is like to practice those traditions in reality, which means they may not be provided with enough information to paint the entire picture in their minds. Thus, one can only have a partial understanding of a culture through books, movies, and Internet-based content of any kind.

Indeed, cultural explorers still need to travel to other spots to deepen their understanding of the way other societies live despite the availability of so much relevant information. This is because media cannot capture all the aspects of a culture; that is, if people do not physically go to new places, they cannot engage in cultural practices like traditional festivals where they have the chance to try the local cuisine and talk to local people, using all their senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. These are the hallmarks of travelling which cannot be found in books, movies, or the internet, making this kind of hands-on experience imperative in terms of learning a new culture.

In conclusion, I maintain that it is possible to explore the customs of other communities to some extent, not completely, which means that if one is to develop a deep and holistic understanding of a new culture, they need to physically visit specific locations to successfully attain their goal as a cultural explorer.

#essays

SCORE: 8.0+

SOURCE: @invaluableinsights

The way people live has changed over the years, since human beings have always tried to raise living standards. One aspect of their lives which they now focus on improving is the organisation of wedding parties which are becoming grander in appearance and larger in size. This phenomenon is happening primarily due to individuals’ desire to tell others that they are rich indirectly but publicly, while I hold the opinion that it makes people’s lives take a turn for the worse.

It is not a hidden fact that everone is naturally inclined to belong to a community. Most people do what they are required to so that they can blend in socially in this or that community; that is, when the majority of people in a society decide to establish a new tradition for themselves, the rest of the society is likely to go with the flow so as not feel left behind. In terms of weddings, the ulterior yet main reason why people want to direct astronomical amounts of money towards occasions of this kind has to do with their ambition to show off their wealth. More specifically, for many people in some parts of the world, holding weddings has become a sort of race where people try to outrun one another by spending more and more money on making these special occasions as memorable as possible. Since money is usually associated with power and happiness, those who successfully organize them in a luxurious way earn others’ respect and admiration, which seems to be their main motivation for dedicating excessive amounts of money to so-called ‘once-in-a-lifetime events’.

Nevertheless, this tendency might lead to dire repercussions, both socially and financially. First and foremost, making wedding parties majestic is an extravagance not everyone can afford. This means that the poor and middle class are left with two options where they either have to feel a sense of social inequality or resort to borrowing money from others – either way, they will land themselves in trouble. If they accept that they cannot afford to hold such expensive events, it may negatively affect their pride and self-esteem. Alternatively, if they decide to ask others for money which they are hardly likely to repay, they will have to spend the rest of their lives paying back their debts. Thus, it appears to be a negative tendency which should be removed from societies once and for all.

In conclusion, channeling money into such marriage-related celebrations in excess has stemmed from people’s longing for letting others know how rich they are. However, it is an unwise decision, as it is bound to bring about social and monetary issues for those who are not self-sufficient: the poor and the middle class.

SCORE: 8.0/8.0/8.5/8.0

#essays

SOURCE: @invaluableinsights

Weddings are getting bigger and more expensive.
What is the reason for this?
Is it a positive or negative development?

Part 3 questions accompanied by 8.0+ model answers

SOURCE: @invaluableinsights

Can you point out any of the many nice expressions used in the speech? If yes, share them below in the comments section.

People have mixed attitudes towards a single country holding sports events on a global scale which athletes from all over the world attend, with some saying that it is beneficial for the country in charge and others arguing that this is an unwise idea due to its negative repercussions.

Those who claim that organizing such events bears fruit have valid reasons. For one, a country that agrees to host such sports games as the Olympics is set to boost the local economy; that is, foreigners (both athletes and spectators) tend to spend astronomic amounts of money on food, accommodation, and transportation, to name but a few during their stay in the host country. The benefits of accommodating so many foreigners simultaneously extend beyond improving the local economy – it helps the country to build a better image as a well-known tourist destination. Once such a lot of tourists visit the host country to get the firsthand experience of watching international sports events, they are likely to explore many parts of the country and make posts about their trips on social media later, all of which can contribute to the country’s popularity and better status worldwide.

Moreover, taking full responsibility to arrange such sports competitions is bound to raise living standards for local residents too. Once an agreement is reached about which country will host the events in a particular period, the local government embarks on improving the infrastructure of cities where the sports games are expected to take place, which means state-of-the-art urban facilities are built as part of preparation for such events. Not only this, but the inner parts of host cities also go through clean-ups to keep pollution to a minimum. In other words, the local population can enjoy using those facilities later and living in a pollution-free area.

However, it is a daunting task to host such large-scale events due to the high possibility of things going wrong if there is a minor mistake or failure. Arranging so-called sports games requires a lot of financial resources, due to which the host country may postpone funding certain unfinished projects such as the construction of a road on the outskirts of a city in favor of hosting the Olympic games or other similar events successfully. This may have a detrimental effect on the local inhabitants, making life difficult for them. Additionally, it becomes difficult to ensure so many people’s safety when they gather in one spot: the more people there are in a restricted area, the more chances of criminals committing crimes such as terrorist attacks, which is why the host country would need to strengthen security procedures to satisfy international safety standards. Finally, the facilities built in pre-event years may fall into disuse in the following post-event years after they serve their purpose – underutilization means an unwise allocation of resources.

In conclusion, I hold the view that when a country organizes such global sports events, it can benefit from doing so in many ways as long as it can still finance unfinished local projects, ensure the safety of people involved in the events and make good use of structures constructed to hold those events in the post-event years as well.

#essays

SOURCE: @invaluableinsights

Do you guys know what "tit for tat" means and when it's used? Have you ever heard anyone saying it?

There's a mountain between you and the life you want to live. Climbing up this mountain will equip you with skills that will benefit you in the long term. In simpler terms, one day, the mountain will be behind you, but who you become in the process of getting over it will stay with you till the last day of your life.

#deepthoughts

SOURCE: @invaluableinsights

He got a rush of adrenaline enough for a lifetime ?