STANAG 6001 Level 3 – Speaking Task (Discussion): The Influence of Parents, Teachers and Friends on a Child’s Education
Examination Task
Many people influence a child’s education. Look at the list below. Discuss the different groups of people and try to decide which of them is the most and the least influential. Be ready to justify your choice.
- Parents
- Teachers
- Friends
Sample Discussion
A: Many people influence a child’s education. Let’s discuss parents, teachers and friends and try to decide which of them have the greatest and which the least influence on a child’s education. Let’s start with parents. In my opinion, they have the greatest influence because they are the child’s first teachers and shape their development from the earliest years.
B: I agree with you that the role of parents is very important. Parents organise the material and psychological conditions related to nutrition, rest, sleep, and safety. They teach basic habits such as regularity, responsibility, and attitudes towards learning. Children imitate their parents’ behaviour – if parents read books and are interested in the world, the child will also be more motivated to learn.
A: Exactly. Parents also support the child emotionally, which is very important in the educational process. Closeness and affection from a parent are essential for a child. Parents shape the child’s personality, and their attitudes have a very strong impact on the child’s development. Children observe their parents and imitate how they deal with emotions, conflicts, and how they interact with others. When children experience kindness and warmth from their parents, they feel safe and secure. In this way, the need for safety is fulfilled. The home and parents are a child’s safe haven.
B: Undoubtedly, the family is the first and most important environment in which children learn about the world, build self-esteem, and learn relationships with other people. It is the parents who decide how much time a child spends on learning and how much on entertainment, and they also provide an appropriate place for studying. Parents also help children with learning, for example by doing homework with them. On the other hand, in dysfunctional families there is a lack of stability, emotional or physical safety, and space for free development.
A: That’s true. As we can see, the influence of parents on a child’s education is very significant, as it includes both emotional and practical support, as well as shaping attitudes towards learning. What do you think about the influence of teachers on a child’s education? Do you think it is greater than that of parents?
B: Teachers also have a very strong influence on a child’s education because they transmit knowledge and develop students’ skills. They introduce pupils to various fields of study such as mathematics or geography, explain difficult issues, and help them understand the world. However, the role of a teacher is not limited only to teaching. A good teacher can motivate a student to work, arouse interest in a subject, and encourage independent thinking. As a result, students are more willing to learn and achieve better results. However, I believe that the role of parents is greater than that of teachers because they have continuous, daily influence on the child’s development.
A: I agree with you that it is at home where basic values, habits, and attitudes towards learning are formed, and these are later difficult to change. Parents not only teach but also provide emotional support, build a sense of security, and motivate the child to act. Moreover, their influence is more long-lasting and covers all areas of life, whereas teachers mainly operate within the school environment. They teach cooperation, responsibility, and the principles of functioning in a group. Their approach can increase or decrease a student’s self-confidence. And how do you assess the influence of friends on a child’s education?
B: Friends naturally have an influence on a child’s education, especially in the later stages of development. Children usually spend a lot of time with their peers, so their opinions and behaviour often affect attitudes towards learning. Through joint activities and play, they learn cooperation and openness towards others. Children surrounded by friends show greater self-confidence and are more willing to cooperate, more open and socially competent. Being with peers gives a sense of happiness and satisfaction, improves well-being, and teaches life skills when children have to make choices such as who to play with, whom to lend toys to, or whom to invite home.
A: It seems to me that a lot depends on the environment in which children grow up. On the one hand, friends can have a positive influence. Children can motivate each other to study, help each other with homework, and share knowledge. Joint learning can be more interesting and effective and also develops cooperation skills. On the other hand, the influence of friends can also be negative. If a peer group does not value education, skips school, a child may lose motivation, neglect school duties, or focus more on entertainment than on education. Peer pressure can lead to poor decisions and sometimes have negative consequences for a child’s health.
B: Generally speaking, the influence of friends can therefore be either positive or negative and depends on the environment. However, I believe that relationships with friends change with age, but friends have less influence on a child’s development compared to parents or teachers.
A: To sum up, do you agree that parents have the greatest influence on a child’s education, followed by teachers, and lastly friends?
B: Yes, that order seems correct. Regardless of parents’ social status, wealth, or opportunities, their influence on a child’s education is the most important.