The best way to teach children to cooperate is through team sports at school.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some believe that cooperation skills should be taught to children through team sports at school. In my opinion, although engaging in team sports allows children to enhance their communication skills and social prowess, group-based learning in classrooms is a superior approach to help children collaborate more effectively.
On the one hand, children can significantly improve cooperation skills through team sports as they are required to work together to achieve a shared goal. In sports such as football and basketball, each player needs to discuss strategies and express their ideas openly to capitalize on the opponents’ weaknesses. This teaches them not only verbal skills, but also non-verbal ones, because body language, eye contact, and hand signals play an instrumental role in team sports. For instance, children playing football might become more attuned to subtle cues like a quick hand gesture, even under great pressure, leading to a heightened level of social awareness.
However, I would contend that group-based learning in the classroom is a more effective way to teach children collaboration skills as this is done in a controlled setting. Rather than letting children navigate teamwork on their own during a sports match, teachers can directly monitor their activities, provide specific guidance for interaction, and intervene when necessary to resolve conflicts. For example, if a student dominates others in a group discussion by constantly speaking and interrupting others, teachers can get involved to set boundaries, ensuring that all students make equal contribution. In contrast, due to the fast-paced nature of sporting activities, there is little opportunity for intervention if one player keeps possession of the ball all the time, while others rarely receive any passes. Therefore, classroom group work provides a better environment to cultivate cooperation skills.
In conclusion, despite the potential for improved social and communication skills from partaking in sporting activities, organizing group discussions in classrooms is a more efficient way to teach collaboration skills thanks to the structured setting.
Words: 321
🔹 B2 Level
cooperation skills: kỹ năng hợp tác
be taught: được dạy
children: trẻ em
team sports: các môn thể thao đồng đội
engaging in: tham gia vào
communication skills: kỹ năng giao tiếp
group-based learning: học theo nhóm
collaborate: hợp tác
on the one hand: một mặt
work together: làm việc cùng nhau
achieve a shared goal: đạt được mục tiêu chung
express their ideas: bày tỏ ý tưởng
body language: ngôn ngữ cơ thể
eye contact: giao tiếp bằng mắt
hand signals: tín hiệu tay
for instance: ví dụ
under great pressure: dưới áp lực lớn
however: tuy nhiên
rather than: thay vì
on their own: một mình / tự mình
provide guidance: cung cấp hướng dẫn
for example: ví dụ
in contrast: ngược lại
all the time: mọi lúc
in conclusion: kết luận lại
🔹 C1 Level
social prowess: năng lực xã hội / kỹ năng xã hội vượt trội
superior approach: phương pháp vượt trội hơn
significantly improve: cải thiện đáng kể
discuss strategies: thảo luận chiến lược
capitalize on: tận dụng (cơ hội/điểm yếu)
play an instrumental role: đóng vai trò then chốt
become more attuned to: trở nên nhạy bén hơn với
subtle cues: những tín hiệu tinh tế
a heightened level of: mức độ cao hơn
social awareness: nhận thức xã hội
I would contend that: tôi cho rằng
a controlled setting: môi trường được kiểm soát
navigate teamwork: xoay xở / xử lý việc làm việc nhóm
directly monitor: trực tiếp giám sát
intervene when necessary: can thiệp khi cần thiết
resolve conflicts: giải quyết xung đột
dominate others: áp đảo người khác
interrupting others: ngắt lời người khác
set boundaries: thiết lập giới hạn
make equal contribution: đóng góp ngang nhau
fast-paced nature: tính chất nhịp độ nhanh
little opportunity for intervention: ít cơ hội để can thiệp
rarely receive: hiếm khi nhận được
provide a better environment: cung cấp môi trường tốt hơn
🔹 C2 Level
more effectively: một cách hiệu quả hơn (mang sắc thái học thuật cao)
non-verbal: phi ngôn ngữ
instrumental: mang tính then chốt / có vai trò quyết định
contend: lập luận / khẳng định
cultivate cooperation skills: nuôi dưỡng / phát triển kỹ năng hợp tác
partaking in: tham gia vào (trang trọng hơn “taking part in”)
efficient way: cách thức hiệu quả (tối ưu)
structured setting: môi trường có cấu trúc rõ ràng