Task 2 :

I wish a very good morning to our principal, colleagues, fellow students, and ladies and

gentlemen. Welcome to new school term. First of all, I would like to thank our principal, Mr. Lee

Seung Gi for giving me this opportunity. Today, I would like to give a speech about one of the

most important issue which should be considered by parents in determining their children’s

future. Please lend me your ears for a while.

Nowadays, one of the issue been debated among parents is whether freedom should be

given to children in determining their own future. According to Oxford dictionary, future means at

a later time; going or likely to happen or exist. Hence, when we say children needs their

freedom in determining their own future it does not mean that they were only need to be given

freedom in determining their career or studies but other factors such as freedom in choosing

their peers and determining their life partner also should be considered by parents. Many

parents did not realize the true meaning of the word ‘future’ and tend to make mistakes in

determining their children’s future. In my opinion, parents should give freedom to their children

in making decisions regarding their future.

Firstly, children should be given freedom to make their own decision in what they want to

do in their life. In this case, parents should give support to their children and should not

condemn or control them for doing what they want. All children have right towards their own life

and they always want everything to be best in their life. Writers such as Richard Farson

(in Birthrights, Macmillan, 1974) wrote that children have the right to “design their own education

including the option not to attend any kind of school,” and the right to “conduct their sexual lives

with no more restriction than adults”. For example, children can make their decision to choose

their course in university and parents should give big support to them as they know their ability

on what they can do and they can accept. Even if they make an imprudent choice parent should

let their children on their own so that they can learn from their mistake and make wise choice in

future. Children should be able to do what they want as long as it is not against the law and

parents. Parents can admonish their children if they do any mistakes but cannot force them to

do something that they intend them to do but they should give them a chance in overcoming

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their own mistakes. In this way, children know how to manage their own life and they will learn

to solve any problems that they will face in their future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Secondly, children should be given freedom in determining their future because they have the

capability to think on their own. According to Howard Cohen (in Equal Rights for Children,

Littlefield, Adams & Co.1980) children have exactly the same rights that adults have, including

such rights as the right to choose for oneself. Richard Farson claims that adults have the right to

conduct their lives as they choose because they possess a fundamental human dignity that

demands respect from others. Hence, children also have the dignity that adults have, and they

should have the same freedom to decide the way they want run their own lives just like adults.

He also mentioned that children can think on their own and decide which is right for them since

they are mentally developed and educated. No one knows him better than the child himself. He

understands his own feelings, his own thoughts, his own interest and his own capabilities. By

allowing him making his own decisions, he would probably choose a better and more suitable

direction for himself, so that he would develop his competence to the utmost. Comparatively,

parents are more likely to take the wrong options and would regret deserting their children's gifts

only when it is too late. Thus, it is better for parents to permit their children to make their own

decisions.

Lastly, children need their own freedom in determining their future since children do not

differ from adults in ways that justify claiming that they do not have the same rights adults have.

Parent should give their children freedom in choosing their own friends because this will help

them to communicate with others even with people from different races or gender. By doing so,

children can improve their communication skills. As we all know, communication skill is crucial

factor for a promising career. Furthermore, children have their personal possessions to make

and choose friends as they know what they need in friendship and parent need to monitor their

children to avoid them to take a wrong way in their life but not shackle their life. So, children will

feel that they have their own life and they have parents whom always support them in whatever

they do and in this way the relationship between parents and children will become more tide.

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In a nut shell, children need freedom to make their own decision regarding their future.

Parents should help their children by giving them advices and motivations so that they can excel

in their future but they must not try to conquer their children ever. It should be always

remembered that success is not the key of happiness but happiness is the true key of success

as quoted by William Shakespeare once. Hence, they should not forget that if children feel

happy in what they do then it is guaranteed that they will be a successful person in their life.

They should give support to their child not a burden. Forgive me if I said anything wrong

throughout the whole speech. Thank you.

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Reflection

I have been a student at Institute of Teacher Education Ipoh Campus for about two

months, and over the course of my stay I have grown and learned more than I thought possible.

I came to this college knowing that I am going to be a teacher and I am not satisfied in it

because I had no intention of becoming a teacher. I am still trying my best to merge myself into

this new lifestyle and new environment. I am now stuffed with lot of assignments and am

struggling to finish it all. English for Effective Communication (GEC) is also included in it.

I have always been a thinker, but throughout my coursework, I have greatly sharpened

my critical analysis skills. Instead of focusing on proposed meanings or biographical

background, I have learned to continuously ask "why" on many different levels. I challenged

myself to dig into a text as sharply as possible and unpack every single detail to find out the

ideas found in it. Also, by reading multiple texts I have learned to identify different writing styles

and make connections that weave texts together and this helped me develop a deeper

understanding of those texts. I guess you could say that I have learned to read with a pen,

which has drastically taken my writing to a new level because I am able to connect back with my

initial insights marked on the page.

Throughout the course I have gained many insights. This course taught me how

powerful the written word and language can be. Also, I have learned about various things and

improved my writing, speaking and listening skills. I know that my ability to write and express my

ideas, thoughts and knowledge has grown stronger each day. I have always struggled to put my

thoughts on paper in a manner that is coherent and correct according to assignments. I can

remember being told numerous times in my past school to "organize your thoughts" or "provide

more support and examples". I have realized my mistakes and tried hard to not repeat those

mistakes again while doing this coursework.

Furthermore, I have improved my speaking skills during this coursework. I have always

had known that two way communication is vital in a group task but then I did not get the chance

to speak in English. While doing this coursework I had lot of chances to communicate with

others in English and by doing so I have improved my vocabulary. Also, I have learned how to

write and express myself, how to think for myself, and how to find the answers to the things that

I don't know.

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The changes I would like to make to the course are such as extending the period of this

course. I think that this course should not be limited by three hours per week, it should be

extended at least 5 hours per week. By doing so, we can learn much more things from this

course. Moreover, I think exam should be conducted frequently in order to create professional

students.

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