foreign language essay ielts

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

All 4 Writing eBooks for just  $25.86 30% Discount Find out more >>

IELTS Modules:

Other resources:.

• All Lessons
• Band Score Calculator
• Writing Feedback
• Speaking Feedback
• Teacher Resources
• Free Downloads
• Recent Essay Exam Questions
• Books for IELTS Prep
• Useful Links

Recent Articles

IELTS Bundle Writing eBooks: 30% Off

Jun 01, 24 09:55 AM

House Sitting

May 31, 24 03:59 AM

Key Phrases for IELTS Speaking: Fluency and Coherence

May 26, 24 06:52 AM

Important pages

IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening   IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests

Connect with us

Before you go...

Check out the ielts buddy band 7+ ebooks & courses.

Copyright © 2022- IELTSbuddy All Rights Reserved

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

IELTS Charlie

Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

IELTS Model Essay: Living In A Foreign Country, Languages and Problems

Here is another of my  IELTS model essays  for  IELTS Writing Task 2 . It’s an opinion essay question from the IELTS Academic Test:

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Cambridge IELTS 13 Test 1 (Academic)

This is quite a tricky question. It seems to be asking you about the problems faced by someone who is not fluent in the language of the country in which they live ; at least, that’s what I assume it means!

I think I agree with the statement, i.e. that someone not fluent in the local language will face serious social problems and practical problems. So I’ll argue that, and support it with some examples. However, I also think that smartphone apps like Google Translate can now help a lot, as can the widespread knowledge of English, so I’ll add this as a small caveat as a very short body paragraph.

BP1: serious social problems – social isolation – if not competent in local language, may avoid social contact, can -> depression – harder to understand local culture so easy to offend (e.g. in Russia number of flowers)

BP2: practical problems – getting a job – requires high level of fluency – buying groceries, especially packaged goods – may be unclear what they are or how to cook

However problems reducing: Google Translate / English as common language

Many people around the world are making the most of opportunities to live and work in foreign countries. However, this often requires the ability to speak the local language, and I do feel it’s true that failure to do this to a competent level can lead to a number of difficulties, although these are not as serious as they once were.

One of the most serious social problems is that an inability to speak the local language can lead to social isolation. If someone has not yet developed communicative competence in the language of the country in which they live, they may simply avoid any kind of social contact. Such self-imposed isolation can lead to depression. A related problem is that someone living in a foreign country with little social contact is less likely to understand the local culture, and may find themselves inadvertently causing offence. For example, in Russia, giving an even number of flowers to a woman is considered bad luck, but this might not be understood by someone who rarely comes into contact with local people due to a lack of competence in the local language.

There are also a couple of practical problems too. First of all, getting a job in a foreign country will almost certainly require some level of fluency in the local language, even in work as low paid and mundane as cleaning or cooking. So inability to speak the language can lead to financial difficulties. A second practical problem relates to grocery shopping. If you have little or no knowledge of the local language, it may be difficult to understand the contents of packaged goods, such as tins or cartons of food, or their cooking instructions, causing people to follow a limited diet.

That said, these problems can nowadays be eased using such tools as Google Translate, and as English continues to grow as a common language, people in foreign countries can often use this to help them overcome these more serious problems.

Nevertheless, lack of competence in that country’s language will still cause some difficulty socialising, understanding the local culture and navigating the practicalities of everyday life.

(356 words)

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

About the author

Charlie is a former IELTS Examiner with 25 years' teaching experience all over the world. His courses, for both English language learners and teachers, have been taken by over 100,000 students in over 160 countries around the world.

2 thoughts on “IELTS Model Essay: Living In A Foreign Country, Languages and Problems”

As a fellow teacher who sometimes refers students to your website (because it is very good), can I ask you to comment here on the “to what extent do you agree or disagree” part of the question, as I don’t feel like your model answer “indicates this clearly”. I guess, this could be a criticism, but it’s as much for me to understand how important this part of the question is.

Reading the essay again, I can see why you might think that. My position is agreement, but that it’s not as serious as it once was because of tech tools. I’m probably overcomplicating things, and giving the examiner a bit of work to do so perhaps it’s a risky way of writing. Sometimes simpler is better! Thanks for referring your students to my site – much appreciated!

Comments are closed.

IELTS® is a registered trademark of Cambridge English Language Assessment, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. By using this website, you agree that you fully understand that ieltscharlie.com is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by Cambridge English Language Assessment, the British Council, or IDP Education Australia.

Unit 22489, PO Box 6945, London, W1A 6US, United Kingdom

© IELTSCharlie

Privacy Overview

Discover the 7 STEPS to BAND 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

• Test Information FAQ
• Band Scores
• IELTS Candidate Success Tips
• Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
• How to Prepare
• Useful Links & Resources
• Recommended Books
• Writing Task 1
• Writing Task 2
• Speaking Part 1 Topics
• Speaking Part 2 Topics
• Speaking Part 3 Topics
• 100 Essay Questions
• On The Day Tips
• Top Results
• Advanced IELTS

Language Essay Titles

IELTS Essay Questions for the Topic of Language. All essay questions below are reported by IELTS candidates and seem to have been repeated over the years. Regardless of the years the questions were reported, you could get any question below in your test. You should, therefore, prepare ideas for all questions given below. The topics below could appear in both GT and Academic IELTS Writing Task 2.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Language Essay Questions

As computers translate quickly and accurately, learning foreign languages is a waste of time? To what extend do you agree or disagree. (2017, 2020, 2023)

Scientists predict that all people will choose to talk the same global language in the future. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? (appears most years in the test)

Some schools are no longer teaching children how to write with a pen. Do you think children should learn handwriting skills? (2024)

Some people think that a person can never understand the culture of a country unless they speak the language. Do you agree with this opinion?

Some people think that you can never become fluent in a language unless you have spent time living or working in that country. To what extent do you agree?

Some people think that all children in school should learn a foreign language at an early age. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing this? (2020, 2023)

Reported essay questions are from students who have taken their IELTS test. That means questions may have appeared more frequently than have been reported. These questions may vary slightly in wording and focus from the original question. Also note that these questions could also appear in IELTS speaking part 3 which is another good reason to prepare all topics thoroughly.

All Practice IELTS Essay Questions

• Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS Writing Task 2 Main Page

Writing Task 2 Model Essays & Tips

Advanced IELTS Lessons & E-books

Recent Lessons

Ielts speaking part 2 topic water sports: vocab & model answer, ielts liz personal update 2024, ielts model essay -two questions essay type, ielts bar chart of age groups 2024, ielts topic: urban planning.

Click Below to Learn:

• IELTS Test Information

Copyright Notice

Copyright © Elizabeth Ferguson, 2014 – 2024

All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

• Click here:  Privacy Policy 
• Click here: Disclaimer

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2024 · Prose on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

• Writing Correction
• Online Prep Platform
• Online Course
• Speaking Assessment
• Ace The IELTS
• Target Band 7
• Practice Tests Downloads
• IELTS Success Formula
• Essays Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 2 samples – IELTS Band 9 essays
• Essays Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 8
• Essays Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 7
• Essays Band 6 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 6
• Essays Band 5 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 5
• Reports Band 9 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 9 (Academic Writing Task 1)
• Reports Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 8
• Reports Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 7
• Letters Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 1 – samples of IELTS letters of Band 9
• Letters Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS letters of Band 8
• Letters Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS letters of Band 7
• Speaking Samples
• Tests Samples
• 2023, 2024 IELTS questions
• 2022 IELTS questions
• 2021 IELTS questions
• 2020 IELTS questions
• High Scorer’s Advice IELTS high achievers share their secrets
• IELTS Results Competition
• IELTS-Blog App

IELTS essay, topic: Is learning a foreign language essential or a waste of time (opinion)?

• IELTS Essays - Band 9

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 5 Academic book, Practice Test 25

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people feel that learning a foreign language is an essential component of a child’s education. Others feel that learning a foreign language is often a waste of time that can be better spent on learning about technology and other more vocational subjects.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Band 9 Essay

Throughout the history of education, learning a foreign language or languages has been a constant component. Of course, many people feel that this is really an unnecessary part of education for everyone, but this is not a point of view that I share.

The opponents to learning a foreign language might argue that most people do not travel that often outside their own country. In addition to this, out of all the countries of the world, comparatively not many share the same language. Therefore, learning a foreign language will only be useful for the very limited time that one spends in a country where this language is used. For some people, the language might never be used in their entire lives. When one thinks about how much time and money are spent training language teachers, buying resources, going on trips and delivering lessons for such a negligible benefit, this would seem to be a very inefficient allocation of resources.

However, the benefits of learning a foreign language go further than just the ability to use it from time to time on a holiday or business trip. Firstly, through learning one language, one gains an understanding to some extent of how all languages work. Thus, no matter where people might end up around the world, the knowledge of language can be of use. Secondly, with the study of a foreign language, one also opens oneself up to other cultures. This allows in turn an appreciation for different points of view and belief systems. With an ever-shrinking world due to globalisation, the ability to empathise and understand the people from other countries is vital to reducing conflict and creating a more tolerant society. Finally, quite simply learning languages is excellent for the improvement of general cognitive skills.

It seems to me that learning a foreign language, therefore, is more than just gaining the ability to speak a few words of a foreign tongue. It is part of intellectual and social development and needs to be continued for everyone in today’s schools.

Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays

Related posts:

• IELTS essay, topic: Is fashion a significant part of society, or a waste of time and money (opinion)? This is a model response to a Writing Task 2...
• IELTS Letter, topic: Requesting information about a foreign language course This is a model response to a Writing Task 1...
• IELTS essay, topic: Some people argue that sports are essential, while others view sports as a leisure time activity (discuss + opinion) This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test...
• IELTS Report, topic: Multiple line graph describing the percentage of students learning a second language (from IELTS High Scorer’s Choice series, Academic Set 2) This is a model response to a Writing Task 1...

3 thoughts on “IELTS essay, topic: Is learning a foreign language essential or a waste of time (opinion)?”

Education today is an essential key to becoming successful in the future. The curriculum in these institutions should be designed in such a way that it is helpful in the overall development of a child. In this essay I will talk about if foreign language as a component of child’s education is beneficial or not. Learning a foreign language as a part of curriculum doesn’t have so many benefits when a child is growing up because they don’t have opportunities to go abroad and converse with people who speak that language. Sometimes these extra subjects create a burden on a child as there is already a lot to study, if time management is not done appropriately, they can lag in important subjects. Rather the focus of educational institutions should be on including more vocational and technology driven subjects as they make students more curious and innovative in approaching different things in life. But as said learning a foreign language has positive sides as well, as it makes a child open to other cultures and creates curiosity in them to learn more about that culture. Also, in future whenever they visit that place, they can have better communication with them without feeling helpless. Also, globalization has opened different spectrums in the world, a new language can always be beneficial to use it for your advantage in opening a new business or working in partnership with people of that country. In conclusion I would like to mention that learning a foreign language doesn’t come with lots of advantages when a child is growing up. If parents feel a need that their child should know a foreign language, then they can opt it as an additional subject which students can study in summer or winter breaks without jeopardizing their regular curriculum.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• General Reading
• Academic Reading
• IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing Task 1

Essay#47 | Learning a Foreign Language

How to write an advantages and disadvantages essay.

Very often in the IELTS exam, you will have to write an essay called an ‘advantages and disadvantages’ essay. This is where you have to write about the good and bad points of a common situation.

Here is a typical question:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of leaving your country to live or study abroad?

• write an introduction to the topic
• think of two advantages to the situation and provide clear examples
• think of two disadvantages and write about these with good support
• write a short conclusion giving your overall opinion

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following ways of learning a foreign language.

State which you consider to be the most effective.

• studying on your own
• taking lessons with a private tutor
• taking lessons as part of a class
• taking lessons online
• going to live in a country where the language is spoken

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer.

The question of how to learn a foreign language has become increasingly important in recent years as business has become more international. Although there are a number of effective ways, l am convinced that living in a country where that language is spoken is the most efficient way of learning.

Traditionally, people have learned languages as part of a large group in a classroom. This has the advantage of providing many opportunities to practise what you learn with a number of different people. In addition, the fees for this form of education are usually reasonable, since a large number of people are taught at once. However, the size of the group means that more demands are placed on the teacher’s time. Students may not get the individual attention they require to improve.

The amount of individual attention you receive is certainly an advantage of working with a private tutor. Also, the student can work at a pace which is comfortable for them. On the other hand, working with a private tutor can lack the social element, which is crucial in learning to communicate well in a foreign language. It can also prove to be beyond the means of many people.

By far the most natural way to acquire a language is to go where it is spoken. Not only is every social interaction a chance to practise, but you are also exposed to the real, living language. As well as that, you are able to acquire a natural accent by imitating the people around you. This is not to say, of course, that there are not drawbacks. Many people suffer from culture shock away from home, and it can be very difficult to integrate into a foreign culture.

In conclusion, I would argue that the advantages of going to another country to learn far outweigh the disadvantages, making it the best option.

(312 words)

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)

You May Like this

Table#8 | Worldwide Market Share of the Notebook Computer

The table below shows the worldwide market share of the notebook computer market for manufacturers in the years 2006 and 2007.

Table#7 | Teacher Training Qualifications

The table below shows the number of students living in the UK gaining English language teacher training qualifications in 2007/8 and 2008/9, and the proportion of male qualifiers.

Learning a Foreign Language is Difficult IELTS Essay

Many people believe that learning a foreign language is a very difficult task. What are the most difficult things about learning a foreign language? What is the best way to overcome them? Explain and include your personal experience or knowledge of these problems.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.

Practice with Expert IELTS Tutors Online

Apply Code "IELTSXPRESS20" To Get 20% off on IELTS Mock Test

Real IELTS Exam Question, Reported On:

Learning a Foreign Language is Difficult IELTS Essay – Sample Answer 1

It is argued that to become competent in other nation’s language is a quite difficult job. This essay will suggest that finding a partner for practice is the main difficulty that people face and the best way to overcome this is by joining a group of people who are learning a particular language.

The primary problem that people have to tackle while they start learning a foreign language is a lack of practice. This is because there are very few people around their vicinity who have a keen interest to become proficient in another language. Without practice, they will not have enough command on the language which they are learning. For example, a recent survey by Cambridge University found that 55% of people admitted that they were not able to practice newly learned language because they did not found anyone to practice.

The best solution to this problem is to join a group where people are already practising the same language which they intend to learn. The members of the group share their experiences of about how they are able to master a new language and the group discussions in a community enable them to have enough practice. This will make people fluent in the language. To illustrate, I was struggling a lot in learning English and my friend suggested me to join a local English learners group which I did. After a few weeks, I saw a drastic improvement in my language ability.

In conclusion, the main issue that people face while mastering a foreign language is a lack of sessions for practice. The best way to solve this is on joining a group of language learning enthusiasts.

Foreign Language IELTS Essay – Sample Essay 2

It is true that acquiring new language skills is by no means an easy task. Language learners might encounter several challenges such as unfamiliar accents or grammar structures in the learning process of a foreign language. However, in my opinion, such difficulties can be tackled by a well-rounded education system.

When it comes to languages, it is undeniably crucial to get used to a native accent and intonation for effective communication. However, picking up an accurate accent can be enormously difficult, especially for adult learners because of their lack of language learning ability. If a language learner has an unrecognisable accent and intonation, they would not be understood by native speakers. On top of that, each language has different grammar and typical grammatical sequencing of words. For example, Korean sentences always end with verbs whilst English does not, which means that a Korean English-learner should consider about the correct order of words.

Despite the aforementioned difficulties, I strongly believe that everyone can master a foreign language when a couple of feasible steps are taken. Firstly, it is more important than anything to start learning a new language at a young age. By incorporating foreign language programmes in the primary school curriculum, children can easily be exposed to languages of the world and eventually acquire language skills without difficulties. Secondly, the government can financially subsidise schools to run student exchange programmes that help adolescents to get experiences abroad and make friends overseas while improving their foreign language in a delight way.

In conclusion, I believe that individuals can have difficulties in learning a new language because of different accents and unfamiliar grammar, however, these problems can be overcome by a good quality of education system subsidised by governments.

IELTS Essay Problem and Solution Foreign Language – Sample Essay 3

Learning a new language is indeed a herculean task for many especially when it comes to adults. This essay will explore the factors which make learning a new language challenging and will also suggest some potent solutions to deal with the same.

To begin with, grown-ups particularly find it difficult to learn foreign vernaculars because as they grow, their brains lose that flexibility to adapt to any language and become hard-wired to specific languages that they speak or know since childhood. Moreover, the level of intelligence in an individual also matters as some people are blessed with superior cognition and hence are better equipped for learning an alien language. Also learning coherence and cohesion is the hardest part as one can learn vocabulary and rules of a language but putting them in order to make a grammatically correct sentence comes with a lot of struggle and practice. People also tend to apply their native tongue’s grammar and characteristics to make sense of an identically structured foreign language. Research conducted by Mark Pagel, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Reading in the U.S.A. states that the brain affects one’s thoughts and perceptions and it alters the way one thinks, hence our mother tongue tends to dominate our neural system which makes adhering to other languages an ambitious task.

To cope with this, firstly, although people may feel silly when they make mistakes while learning and practising a language, they must not feel bad about it or pretend to be perfect as everyone learns by making mistakes. An excellent approach is to uptake some other activity or skill and take instructions in the language to be learnt. For instance, in California ‘apprentice’ programmes are run in which apprentices pair up with the speakers of native American tongue to learn a traditional skill such as basket weaving, with instructions exclusively in the native language. After a certain time, learners become well-versed with that language. Furthermore, aspirants must also naturally try to get used to listening and understanding the language by watching foreign movies with descriptions in the form of subtitles in a known language through applications like Netflix as by doing so they come across various slangs, range of vocabulary and grammatical structures of sentences. It is an interesting way to grasp a language.

In summary, one needs to be motivated enough to get used to and memorize foreign languages. The advent of social media has eased this process as folks can converse with the native speakers and gain a lot of knowledge by making friends with them. Travelling overseas can also be of great help for becoming familiar with the international language.

Also Check :  Individual Greed and Selfishness IELTS Essay

Oh hi there! It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every week.

We promise not to spam you or share your Data. 🙂

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Oh Hi there! It’s nice to meet you.

We promise not to Spam or Share your Data. 🙂

Related Posts

Recent IELTS Exam 13 April 2024 India Question Answers

Pacific Navigation and Voyaging IELTS Reading

Recent IELTS Exam 23 March 2024 India Question Answers

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 Yes, add me to your mailing list

Start typing and press enter to search

This website uses cookies.

You need to be logged in to view this member page.

Please log in  or sign up .

IELTS General Training

A hub for IELTS GT test takers to help them reach their goal.

Essay 286 – The potential benefits of foreign language study

Gt writing task 2 / essay sample # 286.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In some educational systems, children are required to study one or more foreign languages. In others, foreign language study is not a requirement.

What are the potential benefits of foreign language study? Do you think foreign language study is an important part of education?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer 1:

Many education systems offer one or more foreign languages, while some do not integrate them into their curriculum. Personally, I assert that learning a second language is a vital part of education because of the advantages it brings.

Foreign language study reaps many advantages of bilingualism. For a start, a second language improves children’s skills on SAT and GRE. One recent study has revealed that SAT-verbal scores increase with the duration of time pupils have studied the second language. Besides, a second language study provides a competitive advantage in career choices as it enhances employability. That is to say that, language education is crucial for the workforce of the future and being bilingual or multilingual can open up a horizon of job opportunities. An increasing number of companies than ever are operating businesses in several regions across the world, but they cannot do it without recruiting employees who can speak at least one foreign language.

In my opinion, foreign language study is an essential part of education in this conflict-stricken world. The reason is that it promotes empathy. Put simply, children in a multilingual atmosphere gain social experiences that offer routine practice in considering the different paradigms of thought, thereby helping them to become broad-minded, sensible, and tolerant individuals. In fact, if people are aware of the fact that human beings are all cultural products of their own environment and can recognize the cultural foundation for their own behaviour and attitudes, they are more likely to accept others in a more favourable light. Consequently, it will avert conflicts between nations. This is why foreign language study proves to be a core part of education.

It seems logical to conclude that foreign language study is a crucial part of an education system. Therefore, every school should create a conducive environment for learning at least one foreign language.

Model Answer 2:

The requirement of studying foreign languages in educational systems has been a subject of debate. While some educational institutes have made foreign language study mandatory for their students, others do not have this requirement. This essay will explore the potential advantages of learning foreign languages and present arguments supporting the view that foreign language study is indeed an important part of education.

One of the significant benefits of learning foreign languages is the development of cognitive abilities. Research has shown that studying a foreign language enhances critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and overall mental agility. Learning a new language requires understanding grammar rules, memorising vocabulary, and practising communication, which, according to different research, stimulate brain activity and improve cognitive functions.

Another advantage is the cultural enrichment that comes with foreign language study. Language is deeply intertwined with culture, and by learning a foreign language, students gain insights into the customs, traditions, and values of different societies. This promotes intercultural understanding, fosters empathy, and cultivates a global perspective, for example, which are essential in today’s interconnected world.

Foreign language study is an important part of education for several reasons. Firstly, it enhances communication skills. In a globalised society, being able to communicate in multiple languages opens up doors to diverse career opportunities and facilitates meaningful cross-cultural interactions. Proficiency in foreign languages enables individuals to engage with people from different backgrounds, build relationships, and bridge cultural gaps. Moreover, foreign language study promotes academic achievement. Research indicates that students who study foreign languages often perform better in other subjects, including mathematics, reading, and problem-solving.

In conclusion, foreign language study offers numerous potential benefits, including cognitive development, cultural enrichment, improved communication skills, and enhanced academic achievement. Considering the interconnected nature of the world and the growing importance of cultural competence, it is clear that foreign language study is an essential component of education.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Overview

Welcome Guest!

• IELTS Listening
• IELTS Reading
• IELTS Writing
• IELTS Writing Task 1

IELTS Writing Task 2

• IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Speaking Part 1
• IELTS Speaking Part 2
• IELTS Speaking Part 3
• IELTS Practice Tests
• IELTS Listening Practice Tests
• IELTS Reading Practice Tests
• IELTS Writing Practice Tests
• IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
• All Courses
• IELTS Online Classes
• OET Online Classes
• PTE Online Classes
• CELPIP Online Classes
• Free Live Classes
• Australia PR
• Germany Job Seeker Visa
• Austria Job Seeker Visa
• Sweden Job Seeker Visa
• Study Abroad
• Student Testimonials
• Our Trainers
• IELTS Webinar
• Immigration Webinar

Children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school – IELTS Writing Task 2

Updated On Jan 29, 2024

Share on Whatsapp

Share on Email

Share on Linkedin

IELTS Writing Prediction Questions for 2024

The Essay Writing section of the IELTS Writing Module can be a difficult task for many IELTS Aspirants. Thus, it is vital that you polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS.

Below is a sample IELTS Essay for the IELTS Essay topic:

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Structure of Essay 1:

Introduction

Sentence 1- Paraphrase question

Sentence 2- Thesis statement (state which one outweighs the other)

Main Body Paragraph 1 (Stronger Side)

Sentence 4- Topic Sentence 1 (Advantage 1)

Sentence 5- Explain how this is an advantage

Sentence 6- Example

Sentence 7- Topic Sentence 2 (Advantage 2)

Sentence 8- Explain

Sentence 9- Example

Main Body Paragraph 2 (Weaker Side)

Sentence 10- Topic Sentence

Sentence 11- Refute this viewpoint (Explain why it is not strong)

Sentence 12- Example

Sentence 13- Summary of main points and restate position.

Band 7.0 Sample Answer

One of the highly controversial issue today relates to whether to begin learning a foreign language at primary school or at secondary school. This essay will further discuss whether extending foreign language study to the primary stages is beneficial and if disadvantages may occur in the later stages.

[do_widget id=custom_html-25]

On one side of the argument, there are people who argue that the benefits of practising a foreign language at primary school considerably outweigh its disadvantages. The main reason for believing this is that the children have the golden age period when they are at elementary school. One good illustration of this is some developed countries have been implementing the bilingual language in the primary school’s curriculum for decades, and most of the children can speak the second language as well as their native language.  Another reason is that children are much more enthusiastic about exploring and learning new things at a young age. The timetable for them should allow more frequent, shorter sessions for maintaining learner’s enthusiasm and progress.

Opponents reckon that the students at secondary school are better prepared than at primary school for acquiring a new language. However, there is no actual evidence to support this view and children at their early ages (ranging from 5 to 10) can even learn faster and are better at pronunciation.  For example, my second daughter had started to learn English when she was five years old and can speak English more fluently compared to her older sister, who just learnt English when she attended secondary school.

In my opinion, both arguments have their merits. On balance, however, I tend to believe that learning a second language at an earlier age will have a more positive impact on  most of the children around the world.

Essay Structure  2

Sentence 2- Outline sentence

Supporting Paragraph 1 (Advantages)

Sentence 3- Topic sentence (Advantage 1)

Sentence 4- Explain

Sentence 5- Example

Supporting Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)

Sentence 6- Topic sentence (Disadvantage 1)

Sentence 7- Explain how this is a disadvantage

Sentence 8- Example

Sentence 9- Summarize and restate your opinion

Band 8.0 Sample Answer

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign languages at secondary school, but introducing them earlier is recommended by some educationalists. This policy has been adopted by some educational authorities or individual schools, with both positive and negative outcomes.

The obvious argument in its favour is that young children pick up languages much more easily than teenagers. Their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue , which facilitates learning another language, and unlike adolescents, they are not inhibited by self-consciousness.

The greater flexibility of the primary timetable allows for more frequent, shorter sessions and for a play-centred approach , thus maintaining learners’ enthusiasm and progress. Their command of the language in later life will benefit from this early exposure while learning other languages subsequently will be easier for them. They may also gain a better understanding of other cultures.

There are, however, some disadvantages. Primary schools teachers are generalists, and may not have the necessary skill themselves. If specialists have to be brought in to deliver these sessions, the flexibility referred to above is diminished . If primary language teaching is not standardised , secondary schools could be faced with a great variety of levels in different languages within their intake , resulting in a classroom experience which undoes the earlier gains . There is no advantage if enthusiastic primary pupils become demotivated as soon as they change schools. However, these issues can be addressed strategically within the policy adopted.

Anything which encourages language learning benefits society culturally and economically, and early exposure to language learning contributes to this. Young children’s innate abilities should be harnessed to make these benefits more achievable .

You can also follow this outline for a 4-paragraph essay:

• Introduction: Topic = best age to learn a foreign language. Our opinion = better to learn at primary school age.
• Disadvantages of learning languages at primary age: -Learning a new language is confusing and wastes time, could delay development of child’s first language. -Other subjects are more important at that age (maths, mother tongue language, science)
• Advantages of learning languages at primary age: -Young children learn faster -They are less self-conscious or shy -They pick up the pronunciation better -Nowadays languages are just as important as maths
• Conclusion: repeat / summarise our answer.

Bonus essay topic:

Introducing two or more foreign languages in the school curriculum has been in trend lately. Do you think the benefits of this trend outweigh its drawbacks?

Also check :

• Tips to Improve IELTS Writing Skills
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• Band 9 essays
• Advantage and Disadvantage Essays
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS map vocabulary

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

Effective IELTS Essay Connectors for Writing Task 2 & Task 1

Janice Thompson

Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

Explore other Writing Actual Tests

Akanksha Tripathi

Kasturika Samanta

Post your Comments

Recent articles.

Raajdeep Saha

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Our Offices

Gurgaon city scape, gurgaon bptp.

Please enter Email ID

Please enter phone number

Application

Please select any one

Already Registered?

Select a date

Please select a date

Select a time (IST Time Zone)

Please select a time

Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on

Which exam are you preparing?

Great Going!

Get a free session from trainer

Bài mẫu IELTS Writing Task 2 – Languages

No Comments

By Nguyễn Huyền

Because computers can translate all languages very quickly and accurately, learning a foreign language is a waste of time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2 câu – paraphrase lại đề thi bằng cách dùng từ/cụm từ đồng nghĩa.

Vậy là chúng ta sẽ có một mở bài hoàn chỉnh:

All languages can now be translated in a much easier and quicker way thanks to machine translation programs; therefore, some people believe that it is no longer necessary to learn a second language. I completely disagree with this idea.

OUTLINE THÂN BÀI

CHUẨN BỊ TỪ VỰNG

THÂN BÀI HOÀN CHỈNH

It is true that thanks to technological advances, these days we can easily translate any foreign language into our mother tongue and vice versa. It only takes a few seconds or so to translate a language into another one using Google Translate or other translation apps. Also, machine translation is often more accurate due to the fact that translation software is designed so that it is able to translate a word or a phrase based on its own context. Therefore, some people think that such programs are a substitute for learning a language, which takes years to study and practise.

Despite the benefits mentioned above, I personally believe that using translation apps or websites does not mean that we no longer need to spend time learning a foreign language. In the case of an emergency when we are not allowed to use any technological devices, for example, the inability to understand and speak English could cause us great trouble. Another example is that those who decide to work or study overseas might encounter various problems if they rely entirely on their translation apps for their daily communication. We can hardly ever build a close relationship with our neighbours in a new country if we are unable to speak or understand their language.

Huyền thường làm kết bài bằng cách paraphrase mở bài:

Vậy là chúng ta sẽ có một kết bài hoàn chỉnh:

In conclusion, although technology has made it much quicker and easier to translate any language, I believe that learning a foreign language is still necessary.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Bài mẫu đã được review bởi 1 giám khảo bản xứ nên bạn có thể yên tâm tải về làm tài liệu tham khảo nhé.

(band 8, written by Nguyen Huyen )

Tất cả các ngôn ngữ giờ đây có thể được dịch một cách dễ dàng và nhanh chóng hơn nhiều nhờ các chương trình dịch máy; do đó, một số người tin rằng không còn cần thiết phải học ngôn ngữ thứ hai nữa. Tôi hoàn toàn không đồng ý với ý kiến ​​này.

Đúng là nhờ những tiến bộ công nghệ, ngày nay chúng ta có thể dễ dàng dịch bất kỳ ngoại ngữ nào sang tiếng mẹ đẻ và ngược lại. Chỉ mất khoảng vài giây để dịch một ngôn ngữ sang ngôn ngữ khác bằng Google Dịch hoặc các ứng dụng dịch thuật khác. Ngoài ra, dịch máy thường chính xác hơn do phần mềm dịch được thiết kế sao cho có thể dịch một từ hoặc cụm từ dựa trên ngữ cảnh của chính nó. Do đó, một số người nghĩ rằng các chương trình như vậy là một sự thay thế cho việc học một ngôn ngữ, cái mà phải mất nhiều năm để nghiên cứu và thực hành.

Mặc cho những lợi ích được đề cập ở trên, cá nhân tôi tin rằng sử dụng các ứng dụng hoặc trang web dịch thuật không có nghĩa là chúng ta không còn cần phải dành thời gian học ngoại ngữ. Trong trường hợp khẩn cấp khi chúng ta không được phép sử dụng bất kỳ thiết bị công nghệ nào, chẳng hạn, việc không thể hiểu và nói tiếng Anh có thể gây rắc rối lớn cho chúng ta. Một ví dụ khác là những người quyết định làm việc hoặc học tập ở nước ngoài có thể gặp phải nhiều vấn đề khác nhau nếu họ hoàn toàn dựa vào các ứng dụng dịch thuật cho việc giao tiếp hàng ngày. Chúng ta khó có thể xây dựng mối quan hệ thân thiết với các hàng xóm ở một quốc gia mới nếu chúng ta không thể nói hoặc hiểu ngôn ngữ của họ.

Tóm lại, mặc dù công nghệ đã giúp việc dịch bất kỳ ngôn ngữ nào trở nên nhanh chóng và dễ dàng hơn nhiều, tôi tin rằng việc học ngoại ngữ vẫn là cần thiết.

Tải bản PDF: Tại đây

>>> Các bài mẫu IELTS Writing 

Bài mẫu IELTS Writing Task 1 – Cambridge 12 – Test 8

Bài mẫu cho đề thi ielts writing 17/01/2019, viết một bình luận hủy.

Notify me by email when the comment gets approved.

• Forums New posts Search Forums
• Members Registered members Current visitors Recent Activity
• Free Assessment

SSCE 2024 WAEC Government Exam Objective & ESSAY Questions and Answers

• Thread starter Steadygist
• Start date Today at 4:23 AM

Full Member

Get SSCE WAEC GOVERNMENT (OBJ AND ESSAY) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024 ===================================== WAEC SSCE GOVERNMENT OBJ 1-10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11-20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21-30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31-40 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 41-50 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CLICK HERE TO GET FULL ANSWERS Solving/Typing... ===================================== GOVERNMENT ESSAY NUMBER 1 Solving/Typing... ==================== NUMBER 2 Solving/Typing... ==================== NUMBER 3 Solving/Typing... ==================== NUMBER 4 Solving/Typing... CLICK HERE TO GET FULL ANSWERS