COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, continues to spread all over the world. Since COVID-19 emerged, it has affected everyone in many ways. People are not able to meet each other, working from home has become common, and wearing a mask every day at almost every moment is necessary, which is not an easy thing for people to do. Since COVID-19 has impacted a lot of things in life, has it affected students’ lives, schools, and classes? The answer is of course it has. Many students either favor or disfavor online classes. Opinions and perspectives may differ depending on a student’s year of study, learning efficiency, finances, relationships, etc.
For the students who favor online classes, studying at home or any place where they can use their computers is beneficial for them. Since online classes started, the majority of universities in South Korea have relaxed their restrictions on the awarding of grades, meaning that most students can receive at least the grade that they think they deserve. This is not always possible during offline classes because the scores required for the highest grades are very high, with only a limited number of top grades being awarded, and sometimes it is difficult to score as well as expected on exams. Also, online classes are convenient. Even though there are some professors who proceed with live online classes, they usually record videos and upload them online. This makes the timetables students planned meaningless, but it is advantageous. Students can take their online classes whenever they want. They do not have to rush into things that need to be done immediately. They can use their time wisely and efficiently. While listening to classes, students can spend time focusing on parts that they do not understand, and most of all, recordings are useful for revision during the exam periods.
In contrast, studying and learning by looking at a screen while wearing earphones is not appropriate for students who disfavor online instruction. These students consider the importance of realism while studying. They need to be surrounded by people studying together, and this helps them to concentrate. Relationships are an issue for them too. Students try to concentrate on their classes, usually being influenced by their professors’ facial expressions and behavior, but as they cannot get to know a professor online, it is harder to for them to study and understand the main points. The final issue concerns finances. Since no one can deny that the quality of online classes is inferior compared to offline classes, tuition and other fees should be reduced. However, tuition and other fees are similar to those for offline classes. Many students have protested, but the results differ according to each university, and their remonstrations have only made a small difference.
As everything has advantages and disadvantages, perspectives differ on a person-by-person basis. Since the emergence of COVID-19, online classes have become commonplace. However, the majority of students may feel the need for this situation to end as they are already tired of it. It is still too risky to decide that offline classes should be
implemented, though. Currently, online classes are not an option but an obligation. Right now, there is no choice but to stick together and think about the benefits. Everyone should hope to overcome COVID-19 together, thinking that it is a hardship that all students are going through together; no student is alone.

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