The Benefits of Selecting Courses Freely

張貼日期：Dec 08, 2014 9:40:59 AM

Wilson Chou

Some people hold that university students are supposed to study imperative courses assigned by the government or professors while others argue that they should have the right to select whatever subjects appealing to their own interest. Fortunately the policy implemented in PCCU supports students to choose the optional courses freely. I side with the latter point of view for making choices is our rights and selected courses can be more suitable and efficient for us to learn.

First of all, it is the basic human right to make one’s own decision. Universities are places for students to receive education rather than getting something imposed on them. In this semester, as a student of law department, I took an economic course instead of criminology, for I specialize in the science of civil law and the expansion of basic criminal law is not so relevant for my area; on the other hand, economics is closely linked to the part of commercial law that holds the balance in the structure of civil law. Some courses of other departments sometimes suit our demands better. What’s more, I’ve already stepped into adulthood and am no longer an inexperienced youth. I was naïve during my high school’s learning and I was always dreaming to escape from taking those harder courses, while now I have realized the importance of having the courses I need no matter they are hard or easy as this is a way to make me become competitive. As university students are maturer they should have more rights to make their own decisions.

Second, each individual is distinctive and has his or her own attitude. I think different learning styles and preferences need specially designed academic projects and schedules. For me, I just prefer to take courses set up with group reports or lectures because in that way I can expand my horizon and enhance my ability of cooperation, while some students may enjoy those courses with more internship so that they can make preparations for their future jobs. It can be disappointing if we are required to take the same courses. Also, I believe that different people are talented in different fields. So how can they be cultivated in the same way? The time of learning in a semester is limited and it is not possible for most students to master all sides of a subject. Rather than having commonplace results in all aspects I would be better to be exceedingly good in one part of the subject. I think only by selecting courses related to my specialty can I develop my key strength.

Last but not least, to select courses at my own will can contribute to my studying efficiency. No one can deny that it is easier for students to concentrate on what they are interested in. When professors are teaching the knowledge I am eager to learn, when my classmates are arguing about the controversial problems I care about, when my group members are debating how to make our speech more vivid, I will be obsessed with issues under discussion. Furthermore, students may have more motivation to do some deeper research apart from finishing their assignments. Last week I just borrowed an assembled thesis about the comparative analysis of Tort in Taiwan legal system and Anglo-American law system, which brought me a total new thought on the direction of amending the current law. The next time when I am asked to write an assignment of tort, I would have a deeper understanding and more valuable opinions, due to my great interest in and invest on them.

To sum up, the courses suitable for students can be the best subjects for them to select as it is easier for them to go deeper in those fields they are really talented an interested in. As the competition in the modern society is more and more intense, only people with personal strength will be needed and only those who can exploit and cultivate their interests will stand out and shine.