III. Consider
Should the brain drain be stopped by restrictions?
Arguments
1.Our government should try every way to stop the brain drain for the survival of our country.
2. Many of those who go overseas are college graduates on whom the country has spent a large sum of money. why should we educate people for other countries?
3. China now faces a keen shortage of qualified personnel, but one batch of gifted people after another have gone abroad. To change this grim situation it is imperative to stop any further outflow of talent through stricter restrictions.
4. Most propel go abroad to seek their fortunes. In order to make money for themselves, a few even take up indecent jobs. We must stop such kinds of people from going abroad.
5. Some people do not want to contribute to the construction of our country and say that they will come back when China becomes a rich and powerful country. Restrictions for these unpatriotic people should be even stricter.
6. It is true that some people go abroad to learn advanced science and technology, but what about those who major in Chinese folk songs and dances or those who major in Chinese folk songs and dances or those who major in subjects for which China has best teachers and the most materials?
7. Many Chinese students, no matter what their majors were in colleges and universities here, turn to business courses in the United States because that makes it easier for them to find a job in the US after graduation. This shows that they do not plan to come back. Should we not stop people like them from going abroad?
8. Many of the things students learn in foreign countries cannot be applied in China. Therefore, we should not waster our time and energy sending people abroad to study.
9. Many young people go abroad at such an early age that they hardly understand their own culture and are easily influenced by Western ideas. That is why stricter restrictions should be put on young people going overseas.
10. The 5-year-service-system for college graduates is necessary and sensible. This is the least a college graduate should do for the country.
11. The 5-year-service-system is good not only for the country but also for the individuals because graduates fresh from college can hardly do their research well. A few years of work experience will help them realize their own weaknesses and make them more eager to learn.
Counter-arguments
1. The brain drain should not be stopped by restrictions because they can only prevent people from going abroad, but can never make them serve the needs of our country’s construction whole heartedly.
2. Restrictions are useless, for in China there are always ways to get around restrictions and many people have already found ways to do so.
3. Backward management should be changed in order in order to bring people’s initiative into full play.
4. Unfair distribution systems should be got rid of to make sure that people who have made the most contribution are duly rewarded.
5. Intellectuals’ living and working conditions should be improved. Only in this way will people be willing, rather than forced, to stay in our country. This will induce, rather than force, people to stay in the country.
6. To those who have stayed in foreign countries beyond their time limit, we should give more trust and understanding rather then label them as unpatriotic of dismiss them from their former jobs. Only in this way can we attract those who have already gone abroad.
7. The 5-year-service-system is unreasonable because a person learns best when he is young and free from family duties.
8. What occurs as a consequence of the 5-year-service -system is that many high school graduates refuse to go to college because they do not want to be bound by this regulation.
9. People are required to pay a large sum of money if they don’t want to fulfil the 5-year-service obligation. This hurts the feelings of many who actually want to come back after their studies abroad and forces them to remain overseas long enough to earn their money back.
10. For many people their desire to go abroad becomes even stronger when there are restrictions, for people are always tempted to do what is forbidden.
11. China’s irrational employment and personnel system should be changed so that people who do return from abroad can use the skills and knowledge they have acquired abroad.
12. People abroad often suffer from loneliness and homesickness and long to come back, but certain rules and regulations have frightened them away.
Questions
1. What’s the brain drain? What are its causes?
2. Is it a loss or a gain for China when many people settle overseas?
3. Should we truest those who have stayed overseas beyond their time limit?
4. Why do so many people in china now want to go abroad? Are most of them after wealth? IV. Write
Work out an outline of your own viewpoints. The outline should consist of major statements and supporting evidence and examples. Do not write down every word of your speech.
V. Speak
1. Speak according to your outline, or give spontaneous speeches when you disagree with your classmates or when you want to support your own group with similar opinions.
2. Language devices: You are expected to extend your ability to agree or disagree with other people’s opinions and to ask them to explain their points of view.
That’s exactly my opinion.
I couldn’t agree more.
There is something in that, I suppose.
I disagree entirely
I’m afraid you are wrong.
I suppose that’s true in a way, but..
I’m not sure I quite agree with you there.
Well, I’m not so sure about that.
No, I don’t think so really.
All I’m trying to say is that...
VI. Sum up
1. The whole class decide on the best prepared speech and the best spontaneous speech.
2. The whole class pick out the most convincing statements from the arguments and counter-arguments.
3. The teacher gives comments on students’ ideas and language. |
