Topic 74 I prefer traveling alone

Some people think is better to travel in a group that is lead by a guide. For my experience so far, I am inclined to believe that (Я склонен полагать, что) such a way of traveling has more disadvantages than advantages.

Although is better not to travel alone and a guidance is always welcome, traveling alone is sometimes more desirable. The group structure is, in my opinion, quite relevant (весьма актуальна) for a pleasant vacation. It is important for me to travel with people that have the same interests as I do. Otherwise we might not agree on the spots we want to visit or the restaurants we want to eat at. Usually the most successful trips are together with my friends and not with a heterogeneous (разнородной) group of unknown people. I would rather travel alone, or with just one friend, than with a group whose company I would not enjoy.

On one hand, if for instance, I plan to visit a foreign country, a place that I have never been before, a place where people most likely do not speak my language, I feel it is better to have someone to guide me and to help me with any situations I may encounter. It is safer not to travel alone. It is also pleasant to have a guide that provides background information and interesting facts about the places that I visit.

On another hand, especially if I am to visit a museum, an art gallery, or a historical city I prefer to buy a map and walk by myself rather than with a guide that would impose on me his/her impressions and knowledge. I do prefer to discover on my own, and to choose what I want to see and to decide how much time to spent in one place or another. I think that the success of traveling in a group depends mostly on factors as the organization of the group, the abilities of the guide, and the place of destination.

I enjoy traveling in groups, but only in small ones, and with people that I know. Otherwise I think is better to travel on my own, to see what I like, where I like, and whenever I like.

Topic 75 Multiple subjects vs. one subject

The whole point of my answer is that it is better for universities to require students to specialize in one subject. It is just what the majors (специальность) are called for, even though there are a couple of the advantages for students to take classes in many subjects.

It is a more sensible decision that universities require students to specialize in one subject. They must have known that the depth of a certain subject is infinite (огромный, очень большой), and both the students' energy and time are limited. Only when a student specializes in one subject, can he focus on it. Thus it ensures the students to become proficient in a subject (овладеть предметом) when they are conferred (присваиваются) the degrees. That is just the purpose of education.

It does not mean that students do not have many classes to attend even if they just specialize one subject. There are a lot of sub-subjects or divisions of a main subject. The science of journalism, for example, can include the theories of journalism, the histories of journalism (both domestic and international), the news writing skills, the interview courses and the editorials writing and so on. The students have to study all of these above course in journalism major. It means a lot of work to do even if students just specialize in one subject.

I do not deny that there are a couple of advantages for universities to offer students the option to take many subjects. One thing, the work places require multi-disciplined personnel today. Students who take many subjects may meet that request. Another advantage is that other subjects that students take can help their main subject. Whatever the benefit it will be, however, the other subjects that students take should not interfere with their main targets.

There was no time for further urging. - Меня больше не надо было убеждать.

In the whole (В целом), if students' time and energy allowed, universities could allow students to take as many subjects as possible. However, I think that possibility is small. So I have to say that it is better for universities to urge (убеждать, настаивать) students to specialize in one subject. After all, the main subject already needs a lot of work to cope with, considering the depth and width of one subject.