These days, quality online learning chances are available to anyone who has an Internet connection. Most educators understand online learning’s appeal, particularly for busy students, children with special needs, students attending small schools with limited resources and students who want exposure to educational methods from around the world. Time, space, and geography don’t really matter when you’re studying online. Students can be a part of a global, virtual learning community, share ideas, and complete homework anytime and anywhere, but this doesn’t mean the learning is easier. In fact, online learning usually requires students to think more seriously about their work. It also pushes students to manage their time wisely and take full responsibility for their learning. It will also be of much help to those who don’t want to commit to full-time classes.

Michigan Virtual University (MVU) provides online education and training chances for Michigan people. Students who participated in an essay competition supported by MVU cited (引用) many benefits of taking courses online. These benefits included an increased ability to read and follow directions, better time management and greater insight into personal learning styles.

Whatever it is you are trying to achieve educationally, online chances are nearly limitless. Also, virtual students report that the benefits of online learning extend beyond subject knowledge. The focus and communication skills that they learn through online courses will help them stay ahead in the global economy of the 21st century.

There can be little doubt that online learning is here to stay. However, some people point out that virtual learning can never replace the interactive experience of face-to-face learning with a teacher. They add that only in this way can instant feedback be given to help students improve. They also point out that learning in a “real” classroom encourages social skills that cannot be achieved in the isolation of online learning. Both of these points have been largely overcome by technology. Today, webcams give students the chance to attend video conferences both with their teachers and other students.

Online learning is here to stay. Used in the correct way it can make a huge contribution to those people seeking to improve their level of education.

Part of the reason that English has grown as a world language is that it easily adjusts to (适应) change. However, this means that what one was taught as a child in school may be out of date many years later. When words or phrases change, it can make speakers feel “wrong” because they were taught that something else was “right.”

One example of this is a term connected to school itself. Today, it is common for people to say that they “graduated high school” or college. The word “graduate” has two common meanings. One is to mark off a series. The other meaning is closely related. As you move through school, you cross off a series of achievements: grade school, middle school, high school, and college. So, in a way, school itself is “graduated.”

So, when people used to speak of getting a degree, they said they “graduated from college.” “To graduate college” would have meant to mark it off by year — the first year, the second year etc. Similarly, “to graduate to college” would have meant to complete high school and move up to the next level.

But as happens often in English, when people understand your meaning, smaller words can disappear. “I graduated college” is now easy to say. This may distress people who were taught that you had to use “from” to be correct. But this is not the first time this phrase has been simplified. It used to be that you said, “I was graduated from college，” instead of, “I graduated from college.”

You can't know what English will keep and what it will lose. Who could imagine that we would still say we “dial” a phone number when we now push buttons on our cellphone? Yet we know what it means.

Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to all the buildings in the historic area of the city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons for example, economic (经济的) reasons why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should you do then if a new building is needed?

In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own hometown of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoiled (破坏) the area they have in. But the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative (保守的) and do not like change.

Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward. If you always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.