▶ Your Answer : It is no doubt that students learn many things from their teachers at school. However, in my opinion, learning can be more activated when they learn from their peers. They ask questions to their friends freely at any time and in any place. Moreover, they are all in the position of learners, so friends can explain what is asked more easily and comfortably.
To begin with, students can ask their friends difficult questions whenever and wherever they want to do. If they would like to ask some questions to their teachers, they should make an appointment with teachers. Time may be limited since teachers have official time to work. Even more, it is not easy to meet teachers out of school building. Teachers are not available all time time. However, friends can meet each other to study together after class, even on the weekend. They can ask questions and give answers outside school such as at home or at cafe. For example, I had a friend who felt difficulty in studying math. He asked me to help him with math. We met and study together every Saturday at a cozy cafe. We solved many tough problems together, and after a few months, he got a better grade in math. He got confidence in math because of my assistance. Peers' help can be effective enough to improve their ability.
On top of that, students are all learners, not teachers. Teachers are professionals in teaching their own subject. Thus students feel evaluated if they are shown to be ignorant of something in front of teachers. That is why students hesitate to ask some questions to their teachers. On the contrary, peers are likely to understand difficulties when learning and are able to explain easily and comfortably what a friend doesn’t know well. For instance, there was a boy who felt chemistry was too difficult. But he was afraid of asking his teacher because he didn't want his teacher to recognize his ignorance. Instead, he came to his friend who was quite good at chemistry and asked him. In doing this, he got better and better in chemistry. As a result, he got a prize of improvement in that subject at the end of that semester.
To sum up, learning from peers can be more effective than learning from teachers. Peers are more available to be asked and what is better, it is more comfortable to get help from peers. In this regard, I agree with the idea that learning from friends is better than from teachers. |