49)Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, email, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

With the increasingly large amount of information available to society , the methods of communication have also advanced. Various people have different ideas about the best form of communication. While some believe that face-to-face communication is superior than other forms of communication, others believe that other forms are better. I believe that letters, email and telephone calls are superior to face-to-face communication because they are more convenient and allow people to avoid embarrassing situations.

First, letters, email and telephone calls are more convenient than face-to-face communication. E-mail and the telephone allows business people and students are able to ask for, send or convey information almost instantly. A businessman needing to send a report to his boss in another country can conveniently give his boss a call. If he was required to meet his boss face-to-face, it could delay a report or information for days or even weeks. An essential element of increasingly global business is time. Information must be relayed in a convenient and timely fashion, something that face-to-face communication does not always allow. Students are also able to exchange information for projects from home without having to waste time scheduling a meeting at the library or school. This saves the students from having to carry around books or other study materials.

Second, telephones and e-mail allow people to avoid the embarrassment of face-to-face situations. For example, a student not understanding a topic in class may feel too awkward to ask questions about a topic their classmates seem to understand immediately. By asking questions in class, the student may be subject to ridicule or torment from their classmates. Students may also feel distracted and bored as the teacher answers any questions. However, by using e-mail students will be free to ask any questions without being overheard or their classmates knowing. This method of communication enables them to get the information without fear of embarrassment. The threat of embarrassment will often hinder students in their studies. Through e-mail and the telephone, higher academic performance can be achieved easier because of the ability to avoid embarrassment.

In conclusion, while face-to-face communication offers some advantages, I believe that the telephone, email and letters are a far better form. Using these methods people gain additional convenience in their personal and academic lives. People can avoid embarrassing situations that are associated with face-to-face communication.