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Foreign Language IELTS Essay: IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Samples

  • Last Updated On July 30, 2024
  • Published In IELTS Preparation šŸ’»

Foreign Language IELTS Essay

Writing Task 2 of the IELTS exam has displayed a large variety of questions over the years. However, there are still some general themes and topics that are often repeated in IELTS Writing Task 2. One of these recurring themes is the learning foreign language essay.

Table of Content

In this theme, you can be asked to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of learning a different language belonging to any foreign country. Additionally, you can also be asked to express your own opinion on the topic. This blog shares detailed information about the Foreign Language IELTS essay, which is one of the widely asked essay topics for IELTS.

Foreign Language IELTS Essay: IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Samples

Before we get deeper into the topic and start discussing model answers, let’s walk through some general tips that can help you leave a good impression on the examiner about your English language skills in IELTS writing task 2 topics.

Foreign Language IELTS Essay

Tips to Ace the Foreign Language Essay Writing Task 2 IELTS

Although you can find an endless number of relevant examples for the essay writing task in IELTS, there really is no fixed format that can guarantee you a good band score in the writing section. So, what really works in helping you get a good score in task 2?

  • A strong introduction and conclusion that are in coherence with the topic assigned: This will immediately get your examiner hooked onto the paragraphs written inside your piece and will leave a great impression on them!
  • Use of refined vocabulary along with excellent use of grammar: Making use of good (and sometimes complex) vocabulary accompanied by an accurate usage of the English grammar is a pre-requisite for getting a good score in writing. It shows the examiner that your own knowledge of the language is vast.
  • Providing relevant examples from different parts of the world: Many aspirants miss out on supporting their arguments along with good examples from either their own country or a different country. This leads to them losing out on marks in task 2.

Following these three tips will really catapult your writing task 2 score, which will have a greater impact on your overall band score for the writing section. To make the application of these tips more clear, let’s take a look at some of the sample answers for the foreign language theme.

Foreign Language IELTS Essay Samples

Question – Some people believe that the only reason for learning a new/foreign language is for travelling or working in a foreign land. While others argue that there are many more reasons as why someone should learn a new language apart from their native language. You have to discuss both these arguments and give your own opinion on the following topic. Make sure to give reasons for your answers and provide examples. Minimum word limit – 250 words

Foreign Language IELTS Essay: IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Samples

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Sample Answer 1

Learning a second language or a foreign language is linked to many advantages that far surpass the sole reasons of learning a new language for travelling or working in a foreign land. However, for the sake of playing the devil’s advocate, I’ll say that some people belonging to a different school of thought consider better job opportunities and travelling to be the only motive behind learning a foreign language. I am of the opinion that there are other reasons like learning about a foreign culture, and the bright prospect of cognitive development that propel many monolingual people to study a new language. With ever-increasing globalization and the opening up of international barriers, more and more people choose to emigrate to new and foreign lands in the hope of better job prospects. This often requires them to learn a new tongue. For instance, many people prefer learning languages like English, Spanish, and French, rather than the Russian language because countries speaking the former tongues have shown more affinity towards emigrants and provide a multitude of better job opportunities. This makes many people believe that jobs and sometimes travel are the only driving forces for learning a new tongue, especially for a young learner. On the other hand, some people including myself have researched the pros and cons of learning a foreign language thoroughly and have found that the pros far outweigh the drawbacks. The onset of memory ailments like dementia can be slowed down by cognitive development that comes with learning a foreign language. Furthermore, multilingual people are more confident and can easily acclimate themselves to new and alien surroundings by the virtue of their communication skills that have been expanded and upscaled. They find it easy to overcome language barriers and truly become global citizens speaking the global language. In conclusion, to go through the tough process of honing effective communication skills in a third language or a second language, people realise that it is not just for the sake of travel or work that they are doing this process. Instead, it stems from a deeper love for the language and the confidence that speaking a new tongue instills in them. Question – When living in a foreign country where you have to speak a new language, you can face serious social and practical problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and examples in your answer and write at least 250 words.

Foreign Language IELTS Essay

Also Read: SAT Writing & Language Test 2024

Sample Answer 2

Language barriers arguably form the backbone of the biggest social and practical problems that people living in a foreign land have to face and overcome often. In my personal opinion, it can also spark serious problems in various countries, however, the widespread use of technology in curbing these issues to a certain extent over the past few decades. People belonging to different cultures can have issues in understanding each other because of speaking different languages and sometimes even because of different ways of pronunciation of the same words. Migration is not on the rise in the twenty-first century and people often move to distant lands in hopes of jobs, travel, and sometimes studying. In such a scenario not speaking the land’s language can become a basis for social problems like discrimination, racism, etc. Interestingly enough, technology has played a pivotal role in curbing the extent of practical problems faced by people when moving to a new land without being savvy with the foreign language. For instance, there are many web-based applications that do the translation job for people and save them the trouble of having to explain their point to the natives merely through vague hand gestures.

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By way of conclusion, I stand firm on the point that social problems can far exceed practical problems when migrating to a foreign land without being fluent in the foreign language and perhaps, some language learning could really help in becoming a part of the foreign culture quicker and better. Although, as far as practical problems are concerned, technology is a boon that is eliminating most of them.

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Ans: The best way toĀ  practice Ā writing for IELTS is by looking at sample answers and practising as many themes as you can. You can also show this to a tutor or an online learning platform’s mentors like the ones atĀ  Leap Scholar Ā to ensure that you are on the right path.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Foreign Languages (Cambridge 13)

by Dave | Cambridge 13 | 47 Comments

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Foreign Languages (Cambridge 13)

This IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer is from a past paper and was published in Cambridge 13.

The topic is foreign languages and it falls in the ‘social problems’ category of ielts., read on for a sample answer from a former ielts examiner (that’s me, dave), analysis, vocabulary practice, notes, links and more, here is another sample answer for ielts cambridge 13: ielts cambridge 13: choice ., you can read my other sample answers here for task 2 writing ., here are my task 1 writing sample answers and here are the most recent questions on ielts from 2019 ., be sure to avoid the mistakes that most students make on writing by signing up for my exclusive ielts ebooks here on patreon., ielts examiner sample answer: foreign languages (by dave).

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?

One of the biggest social and practical challenges that people living abroad face is the language barrier. I believe that this can lead to very serious social problems in many countries but technology has made the practical issues less relevant over the last several decades.

The main reason that having to speak a foreign language can cause social problems is through the breakdown in understanding between people of different cultures. the most salient example of this is in the united states where there has been an influx of hispanic immigrants, especially along the southern border. these immigrants are typically able to integrate well if they learn english but those that have not learned have provoked social problems and even violent reactions. many english speaking residents resent the immigrants failure to integrate and this has resulted in discriminatory practices and widespread racism towards hispanics. this in turn has caused many hispanics to develop an antipathy towards other residents and segregate themselves in homogeneous neighborhoods., there are comparatively fewer practical problems caused by not knowing the language of the country where you live because of the development of technology in general and smartphones in particular. computers have made it much easier to look up directions, find important information and get quick translations. smartphones have made this even easier. if someone doesn’t know the language of the country where they live, they can still find restaurants to their liking on facebook and get simple directions through google maps. they can even order food online without having to use another language at all. if they need to communicate with someone who does not speak their language they can simply take out their phone and use google translate to slowly, but effectively, convey a message. the problems that not knowing the language of the country where you live causes are therefore minimal and easily overcome., in conclusion, i only partly agree with the statement in question. not knowing a language when living abroad can cause social unrest but pragmatic concerns have been mitigated by recent technology. in the future, it will become even less important to know the language of the country where you live although there is great potential for increased social unrest and heightened tensions in many parts of the world., ielts examiner sample answer analysis, my first sentence simply paraphrases the question and topic. write this sentence fast as it isn’t that important., my second sentence states my opinion and includes the main reason why (technology)., my first sentence is a topic sentence that states why not knowing the language of the country where you live can be a problem., my second sentence gives an example in the united states., my third sentence further explains this example., my fourth sentence states the results of this (in the united states)., my fifth sentence further describes the results and continues to develop the same example. pick one great example and develop it with 3 – 4 sentences., my first sentence is a topic sentence that states why not knowing the language of the country where you live isn’t much of a problem anymore because of technology., my second sentence explains how computers have made it easier to get translations., my third sentence extends this to smartphones., my fourth sentence gives two specific examples of facebook and google maps helping people., my fifth sentence gives another example – ordering food online., my sixth sentence gives another example of using google translate to have a conversation., my seventh sentence concludes that technology has made it easier to communicate with people who speak another language., my first sentence summarizes my position and makes it completely clear. it can never be too clear, my second sentence summarizes my argument that technology has done enough to overcome this problem., my third sentence extends my opinion by talking about how in the future this will be even less of a problem. i add the caveat that i may be wrong about certain parts of the world., sample answer vocabulary, what do the phrases highlighted below mean in your own words, one of the biggest social and practical challenges that people living abroad face is the language barrier . i believe that this can lead to very serious social problems in many countries but technology has made the practical issues less relevant over the last several decades., the main reason that having to speak a foreign language can cause social problems is through the breakdown in understanding between people of different cultures. the most salient example of this is in the united states where there has been an influx of hispanic immigrants, especially along the southern border. these immigrants are typically able to integrate well if they learn english but those that have not learned have provoked social problems and even violent reactions. many english speaking residents resent the immigrants failure to integrate and this has resulted in discriminatory practices and widespread racism towards hispanics. this in turn has caused many hispanics to develop an antipathy towards other residents and segregate themselves in homogeneous neighborhoods ., there are comparatively fewer practical problems caused by not knowing the language of the country where you live because of the development of technology in general and smartphones in particular. computers have made it much easier to look up directions , find important information and get quick translations. smartphones have made this even easier. if someone doesn’t know the language of the country where they live, they can still find restaurants to their liking on facebook and get simple directions through google maps. they can even order food online without having to use another language at all . if they need to communicate with someone who does not speak their language they can simply take out their phone and use google translate to slowly, but effectively, convey a message . the problems that not knowing the language of the country where you live causes are therefore minimal and easily overcome ., that people living abroad: people who live outside the country where they were born, language barrier: the challenge of talking to people who don’t speak your language, less relevant: not as important or related, breakdown in understanding: inability to understand, the most salient example: the best example, the one that stands out the most, influx: big rush of something, hispanic:  relating to spain or to spanish-speaking countries, especially those of latin america, to integrate well: to become part of a group, community, or nation, provoked social problems: causes social problems, resent   : feel angry towards, failure to integrate: inability to join a group, community, or nation, discriminatory practices: doing things to keep certain genders or races out/away, widespread racism: lots of people disliking an ethnic group or race, this in turn: this causes, antipathy: hatred, segregate: to separate or stay apart, homogeneous neighborhoods: communities with only 1 ethnic group, comparatively fewer: less of something compared to something else, in particular: this one area emphasized or standing out, look up directions: find the way to get somewhere, at all: in any way or completely, take out: to remove something from a pocket or somewhere else, convey a message: communicate something, minimal: negligible or little impact, easily overcome: not hard to get over, i only partly agree: agree to some extent but not 100%, pragmatic concerns: practical issues/questions, mitigated:  make less severe or serious, great potential: a very good chance or possibility, social unrest: social problems, heightened tensions: stressful relationships between people or groups of people, vocabulary practice, one of the biggest social and practical challenges ____________________  face is the ____________________ . i believe that this can lead to very serious social problems in many countries but technology has made the practical issues ____________________  over the last several decades., the main reason that having to speak a foreign language can cause social problems is through the ____________________  between people of different cultures. ____________________  of this is in the united states where there has been an ____________________  of ____________________  immigrants, especially along the southern border. these immigrants are typically able ____________________  if they learn english but those that have not learned have ____________________  and even violent reactions. many english speaking residents ____________________  the immigrants ____________________  and this has resulted in ____________________  and ____________________  towards hispanics. ____________________  has caused many hispanics to develop an ____________________  towards other residents and ____________________  themselves in ____________________ ., there are ____________________  practical problems caused by not knowing the language of the country where you live because of the development of technology in general and smartphones ____________________ . computers have made it much easier to ____________________ , find important information and get quick translations. smartphones have made this even easier. if someone doesn’t know the language of the country where they live, they can still find restaurants to their liking on facebook and get simple directions through google maps. they can even order food online without having to use another language ____________________ . if they need to communicate with someone who does not speak their language they can simply ____________________   their phone and use google translate to slowly, but effectively, ____________________ . the problems that not knowing the language of the country where you live causes are therefore ____________________  and ____________________ ., in conclusion, ____________________  with the statement in question. not knowing a language when living abroad can cause social unrest but ____________________  have been ____________________  by recent technology. in the future, it will become even less important to know the language of the country where you live although there is ____________________  for increased ____________________  and ____________________  in many parts of the world..

Overcoming the Language Barrier Tips

Comment below – are there a lot of people who live in your country who can’t speak the national language.

Well, where I live… It’s a bit of a mix actually in … Honestly, it’s a huge problem in … Frankly, we don’t really have to deal with this issue much in ….

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47 Comments

Makara

Kindly take a look at my answer:

It is true that communicating in a different language than a local one is a requirement and lifestyle for people in some nations. However, different kinds of problems can arise out of any issues, and there is no exception to this one.

One obvious problem that the society should look at is how an older generation views this development. For one reason, old people tend to frown upon something they are not comfortable with. For example, in a society with a deeply ingrained conventional point of view, people are more likely to disapprove of how a younger generation uses a foreign language in a normal conversation, while the local one would do the job. However, in the meantime, people can also enjoy the diversity and beauty of the language which gives them a chance to express themselves in a new way they want. So, people of the previous generation might not appreciate the use of a foreign language, while younger people see it as an advantage.

Nevertheless, the actual problem can be an identity crisis as well. The truth is if there is an ever growing number of people using a foreign language, perhaps they will feel more comfortable with the new language than their own. Take English as an example. In my experience, I have seen people expressing themselves very well in English but in many occasions are stuck at communicating in a local one due to an inadequate amount of vocabulary. However, in this globalisation era, this trend cannot be completely avoided. As suggested by the definition, globalisation demands us to redefine how jobs, communications and developments should be done, and a foreign language is part of this. Therefore, if we want to go global, a foreign language will be what it takes, but less attention might be paid to the local identity.

In conclusion, I agree that a foreign language can certainly bring about problems for the society and how it functions. However, the benefits it brings should be taken into account as well. So, while being faced with the problems, we can also benefit from some accompanying advantages too.

Dave

Wow! Well done! Here are some corrections:

Paragraph 1: ‘from the local one’ requirement isn’t quite the right word… doesn’t make sense exactly ‘lifestyle choice’ don’t use phrases that are too general like ‘different kinds of problems can arise out of any issues, and there is no exception to this one’ try to write something that responds to this specific question.

Paragraph 2: ‘the older generation’ I don’t understand exactly why older people would be against this – be clearer – is it because they don’t have the opportunity or ability at their age to learn a language?

Paragraph 3: Very good! very specific and I understand your point exactly. The only issue is that it is unlikely people actually forget their native language – but it is more likely that they are more interested in culture in English – music, movies, etc and that changes their national identity.

Conclusiong: You must choose a side! This will get a 5 for task achievement because you didn’t choose a side.

Hope that answers your questions – let me know if you have any others!

x a

Kindly take a look at my answer: There are an increasing number of people learning and using a foreign language in a different country. Owing to the fact that they might use it improperly which can lead to significant social problems and also practical problems. This social pheromone has increasing peopleā€™s concern.

From my point of view, I agree with it. For the reason that there are certain culture difference between countries. There is no doubt that people from various culture background will view one thing from different perspective, as a result, they might misunderstand each other. Asian people tend to refuse a gift to show their humbleness, however, American can fail to understand and thus feel upset about being rejected. It is also hard to social if you are not capable of using local language. This is especially common to find in foreign students. For example, most Chinese students are good at paper work but are too shy to speak and consequently, they tend to hang out with other Chinese students.

As for practical problems, it seems more serious because you may break the law. Take my friend as an example, he once smoked under a ā€˜Smoking Freeā€™ sign since he thought it means smoking freely. Under this situation, he was faced fine even sent to jail.

Overall, if one hold the foreign language poorly, they will be faced with all kinds of dilemma in daily life: misunderstanding others, having trouble making friends with local people, etc. In the practical aspect, they will have the risk of disobeying the registration as well as break the law.

Sure! Some corrections ‘in different countries, The fact that they might use it improperly could lead to…, phenomenon is a great concern for many people, I agree with this view because…, cultural backgrouns, many different perspectives, are more likely to refuse, Americans, the local, this is more serious, since he thought it meant he could smoke freely, In this case, he could face a fine or even jail time, dilemmas, if one has poor command of a language, people, and so on, In terms of its practical aspects, risk of being rude as well as breaking the law.’ The gift one doesn’t work because it is not related to language – also take a look at the structure above and try to follow it more strictly! Good effort though!

Deniz

I will be very appreciated if you check my essay and give a score kind regards.

One of the social and practical challenges that people who live in a foreign country face is the language barrier. In my point of view, language is the main factor which should be taken into consideration when someone tries to adapt to a new nation and country. In this essay, I will try to address these problems.

Communication has a crucial role when a person settles to a new country and adapting a nation. For example, if we come across with conflict situations we should better explain ourselves in appropriate ways. At this point, being deprivation of speaking foreign language accurately would cause misunderstandings. Many immigrants are not integrated easily in their new societies unless able to talk and understand their tongue. Besides, unfortunately, there are still lots of racist minded groups around the world which making problems harder.

In addition to the social facts, lack of language has significant impacts on practical areas such as workplaces, educational institutions etc. For instance, even though English is valid and widely used at almost every university today, knowing the native language makes a great difference in many times. According to my experiences, majority of the teachers prefer their native language frequently. As a result of this most of foreign students couldnā€™t understand lessons efficiently during class.

In conclusion, I completely agree with that statement in the question. While living abroad, it is vital to know the language of the country which is for overcoming social and practical problems. Somehow people need to recognize this and therefore ought to improve themselves

One of the biggest social and practical challenges that people who live in a foreign country face is the language barrier. In my point of view, language is the main factor which should be taken into consideration when someone tries to adapt to a new nation and country. In this essay, I will try to address the chief problems.

Communication plays a crucial role when a person settles to a new country and begins adapting. For example, if we come across conflicts we can better explain ourselves in an appropriate way. At this point, being unable to speak a foreign language accurately could cause misunderstandings. Many immigrants do not integratd easily in their new societies unless they are able to talk and understand others. Besides, unfortunately, there are still lots of racist groups around the world making problems harder.

In addition to the social facts, lack of language has a significant impact on practical areas such as the workplace, educational institutions and so on. For instance, even though English is valid and widely used at almost every university today, knowing the native language makes a great difference in many situations. In my experiences, the majority of the teachers prefer their native language . As a result of this most of foreign students cannot understand lessons effectively during class.

In conclusion, I completely agree with the statement in the question. While living abroad, it is vital to know the language of the country which is for overcoming social and practical problems. Somehow people need to recognize this and therefore ought to improve themselves.

Great work! If you need more help: course.howtodoielts.com

Garth

Kindly take a look at my answer;

Due to the spread of globalization, there has been a tendency that more and more people are starting to immigrate to the other country nowadays. Some people argue that living in a foreign country where you have to speak an additional language can cause not only serious social problems but also practical issues. I agree with that idea the lives in a country where we do not well unable us to communicate with others spontaneously. There are two reasons why I agree with this idea

First of all, immigrants cannot understand how native speakers feel perfectly during the conversation with them. In my own experience, when I talk with English native speakers, I can understand what they are talking about, but I cannot make myself understood the subtle difference of wordā€™s nuance such as ā€œseeā€and ā€œwatchā€ specifically. Therefore, the perfect mutual understanding may be needed when we talk with foreigners

In addition, immigrants are not able to do work efficiently in a foreign country rather than their nationality. For example, immigrants from Japan are capable of doing both of presentation and tasks smoothly because they can utilize their mother language. On the other hand, immigrants from Japan is forced to speak foreign language such as English, French and Chinese in foreign countries, which can cause them to slow down their product efficiency because they are only permitted to speak additional languages.

To sum up,there is a possibility that a little difference between native speakers and immigrants can cause big problems. Perhaps it is needed to learn foreign languages more careful in case we do not face the bad situations.

Good work! The conclusion is a bit long – try to limit it to a maximum of 3 sentences and spend more time supporting your main ideas – that is much more important! ‘Cannot grasp the full meaning of what…, understood in terms of the subtle differences betweeen nuanced words such as…’ this paragraph could develop moreso or give a better example of the repercussions of not understanding such as when you are in a shop or talking to a teacher, something with greater stakes.

‘in a foreign country. are forced, which can slow their, only understood when speaking these languages’ This main idea and support is ok but would be better with a more specific example – what job exactly?

Good conclusion! (differences can lead to, to make life easier)

Ewa

Hi, could you please take a look at my essay? I would really appreciate your help! :

“These days, many people seeking work and better life opportunities, decide to leave their home country and emigrate abroad. Very severe social issues and practical obstacles may appear when we live in a foreign country in which we can not use our mother tongue. This essay will argue that knowledge of different languages is essential for people who moved abroad to be able to communicate with the other members of society to avoid problems in everydayĀ life.

Some people believe that it is not necessary to learn languages in case we want to change the place of living. There are some foreign-Ā countries around the world, and Taiwan is a good example. Taiwanese and Chinese are the languages most frequently used on this island, however, it is not necessary to know them before we visit this place. The reason why is that most of the names of public sites, menu in restaurants and other signs are translated to English so it makes it easier to travel around the island and stay there. Communication skills consist not only of speech and the very important part of interacting with other people is body language which can help us to solve many problems even if we don’t know the language.

On the other hand, when we are able to communicate in a foreign language it can prevent us from having difficulties in many situations. Not being able to talk in the official language, can make life more complicated andĀ mastering this skill in the new country is crucialĀ to avoid difficulties in everyday life including social and practical part of it. Ā Although there are some countries that help foreign when they have problems with communication in common situations, the majority of them is not that keen to help. Poland is one of the places which can be a source of frustration for those people who don’t know Polish. Even in the immigration centers, workers don’t have basic English knowledge andĀ that makes dealing with office issues very complex for foreigners. People can not make relationships, as well as meet new friends when they are not able to communicate with others. When people want to stay longer in this new place and be a part of it, this is not possible to fully understand the culture and heritage of a foreign countryĀ without knowing the language.

This essay argued that however some people it is not necessary to learn a new language before emigration abroad, it makes life more difficult and many obstacles can appear when we can not communicate with foreigners in their mother tongue. I fully agree that knowledge of foreign languages is essential and can prevent many problems when people want to change their place of living for a longer time.

Good work Ewa! Here is some feedback by paragraph: Introduction: great introduction – clear opinion, with your main ideas. The only issue is that it (and the whole essay) is too long. If you can do it in 40 minutes, it is fine though! Paragraph 2: This paragraph is good because you have specific examples but would be a bit stronger if you last sentence was more specific and related more to your example of Taiwan/China. For example, a situation where body language would be helpful when living there. Paragraph 3: The beginning of the paragraph is a little general – try to get to your example faster. The whole paragraph is a little general and would be better with more detail on the specific issues that foreigners face at the immigration centres – almost there! Conclusion: Good conclusion!

Overall: Try to be more specific with your examples, you are very, very close to an ideal IELTS essay!

Reina Jeong

Kindly take a look at my writing : Many people wish to live in a foreign country dreaming about perfect weather, exotic foods, meeting new people and learning new culture. However, in reality, living in a foreign country could be challenging, especially when you donā€™t speak their language. It could cause not only social problems but also practical problems. First, from social perspective, it is hard to get into community. Language is the most important key for communication. If you donā€™t speak same language with others, it is extremely hard to communicate as well as get along with them. For instance, when I used to work as an English teacher in Korea, there was an English teacher who came from America. He didnā€™t speak Korean at all when he first came to Korea. He had trouble communicating with other teachers and students. Therefore, I had to be around him all the time to help him out at work. Also, out of work, he had a hard to time to make friends or enjoy social life because of language issue. He usually stayed at home after work. Second, practically, it could be hard to perform basic living activities. Things that we do very easily every day can become very tough when you donā€™t know the language including buying groceries, asking for different color of pants, or opening a new account at a bank. In addition, it is challenging to get a job without speaking language. The opportunities probably limited to the jobs that donā€™t necessarily require language such as cleaning workers or physical labors. Most likely, those jobs can only earn minimum wages, which could lead to financial problems depending on personal situation. In conclusion, language is very important to live a normal life. Therefore, living in a foreign country without speaking the common language can cause various problems including lack of social connections and unsatisfied basic living performance.

Hi Reina! Thanks for putting in the hard work on that answer.

Some of the things that you did well: Your example in the second paragraph is excellent – very well developed! The second paragraph also has a long, well-argue example. You focus on paragraph on the social problems and the other on the practical ones – excellent!

What you could improve on: The first sentence is a bit irrelevant. The final detail/thought sentence at the end is too repetitive.

Great work overall!

Reina

Thank you so much for your help!

You’re welcome!

Saeed Parsamehr

Hi dear Dave! Would you please take a look also at mine and specify some of my mistakes? Thanks a lot.

Q: 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?

A: Many believe that people who immigrate to a foreign country, where the prevalent language is different from their mother tongue, will confront difficulties dealing with others in public and also face troubles in practice. I agree with this claim because the cultural differences and practical experiments of individuals who come from different backgrounds could come with a lot of troubles.

An individual grown up with a particular language contex will most probably possess some cultural specifications different from the host country. This also goes for the language details which may lead to mutual misunderstanding. For example, a foreigner may face severe difficulties making friends with native residents. Take for instance, he or she is more likely going to misinterpret others when they are trying to tell a joke and consider them offensive, comparing that with their own ethnic culture or may not fully understand what others are trying to explain because of the small items they do not thoroughly understand.

Some other nuisances that one may deal with as a new immigrant to a country with a different language would be fulfilling practical tasks. Take for instance, creating a bank account to deposit some deal of money in, as a basic practical experience. A recent survey found that more than 80 percent of Iranian master students in Canada did not initially have any idea how they can have a credit card and they were not aware that not only they are not going to receive a profit for the deposit they are making in a bank, but they would be charged for protecting their cash and other monetary services offered by those financial foundations.

In conclusion, I agree with the idea that an stranger would normally have to tackle problems pertaining to language differences both in social and pragmatic situations. And such inconveniences are mostly provoked by misunderstandings due to lacking a common cultural background and the differences of some typical social experiments any two countries have.

Hello! That’s a nice piece of writing.

Some feedback:

Careful using words you aren’t totally sure about Good examples! Your opinion is really clear and you main ideas relevant Careful with modal verbs

Keep it up!

Thanks for your time and attention. But could your feedback kindly be a bit more specific?

like: Naming some words you thing I am not totally sure about but are still used? Some modal verbs that are not used properly.

and: Would it be considered as a band +7 or not?

Thanks again dear Dave

For more specific feedback, you can see my correction service here: https://course.howtodoielts.com/band-scores-corrections

Hope it helps you out!

You’re welcome, Saeed!

Anonymous

Thanks it’s so help for me it’s contains all which I need eg. Links, vocabulary and whole explanation āœŒļøāœŒāœŒā¤ļø

Happy to hear that – keep up the hard work!

Anonymous

Hi! I used to go to school in the us, and that’s where I learned to write essays. I’m currently back in my home country though, and I’m taking Ielts in a couple months. When I learned to write essays in the us, they taught us to write more formally and not at straightforward as the Ielts essays I’ve seen so far.

For example, we were taught to avoid writing in first person using “I” unless specified, and to never clearly and plainly state our claim, but rather to word it in such a way that made it clear and understandable what our stance was.

In all of my practice so far, I’ve been writing my essays like this, and I was wondering if that is all alright? My main concern is that the examiners reading and checking the essays comment on mine saying that it has unnecessary detail and information, or that not all of the sentences relate to the topic (for example, if I started an essay with the above foreign language topic by saying how many people of the younger generation feel pressure and stress from today’s technology, thus making more and more of them want to travel the world to both take a break from social media and to create their own adventures and memories. Then I tied that into how those planning to go to foreign countries may face a variety of issues. How would that sound?). Do you know anything about this? Thanks so much!

Yes, there are some differences depending on the country and school and so on when it comes to academic writing.

‘I’ is absolutely fine in these essays and IELTS states that themselves on their website. Because there are a number of standards depending on the country, IELTS is a little more flexible about academic writing.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to candidates.

Your opening sounds slightly irrelevant so I would advise you stick to a stricter paraphrase of the topic. But if you quickly relate it back to the topic and stick to it, then that wouldn’t be a big deal.

Is that clear?

Anonymous

Yeah, I can see how it’s a little off topic now. Thanks so much for the info!

No problem, keep up the hard work, whoever you are!

Alice

Hi,Dave. Could you please take a look at my essay? I really appreciate your work!

It is often thought that living in a foreign nation where you are required to speak a different language will have negative effects both socially and practically. Personally, I agree with this opinion because this makes people have difficulty in handling daily tasks and integrating into the local community.

Firstly, language barriers can cause problems for people who live overseas in their everyday lives. If they were not able to speak the local language, they would find it hard to deal with daily routines ranging from paying bills, making reservation for health check to studying and working. This is because all these activities make demands on good communication with other people. In other words, you have to get across your ideas by using the foreign language. For those who cannot speak foreign languages well, they may suffer from this. For example, students may have poor academic performance because they could not understand the classes or lectures delivered in the foreign tongue and they might even end up dropping out of school.

Another issue is that people who want to settle in a foreign country will find it extremely hard to integrate into the local community. This is because all relationships are based on communication, which means that if these individuals cannot strike up a smooth and engaging conversation with others, they will be unlikely to build rapport with foreigners. As a result, the languages becomes a hindrance for them in making friends with local residents and they will not feel a sense of belonging without socializing with others. Instead of feeling warm and accepted, they will go through loneliness and isolation, which may take a toll on their mental health and even leads to depression. 

In conclusion, I strongly agree that studying or working in a foreign country can cause both social and practical problems. Therefore, it is necessary to think twice before going abroad. 

Anonymous

Thanks for commenting!

And great work on the essay, Alice!

Great main ideas – and well developed as well.

Careful with your modal verbs – keep your claims weak and defensible!

Mino

Hi, I think it’s cool you are giving feedback and stuff. Would you mind to look at my answer too? One of the frustrating things of living in a foreign country is language barrier. I totally agree with the given idea that living in a country where you struggle with the language barrier may result in some problems such as communicating with people or expressing yourself and other practical problems. To begin with, it is quite a challenge to make a conversation with people and share your opinion during your time in a different country when you can’t speak fluently its language. As an effect, it may make it difficult to build a friendship. For instance, seven out of ten children whose family suddenly moved to an another country can’t easily make a new friend since they can’t speak any language other than their mother language. Consequently, they begin to build low self-esteem and grow up to be someone unsocial. Aristotle, the legendary Greek philosopher, said “Man is by nature a social animal.” So being unable to communicate properly with others is like forcing a fish to live on land. Another point to consider is that incapability of reading in a foreign language, especially with Asian characters, is time and money consuming. To illustrate, here is an example of my distant relative who lived in China for a short period of time due to his work. As he can’t speak nor read in Chinese, he couldn’t find the right train to his destination. Therefore, he got lost and was late for his meeting. After that, in a Chinese restaurant, he ordered cuisine that he was not quite fond of and pretty much expensive. So he ended up spending a lot of money on that day. In general, to live or to travel, whatever the reasons might be, going to a country without acquiring the language indeed result in severe social and practical difficulties.

Sure, Mino!

Try to write shorter topic sentence and make your writing a little more formal – no contractions and fewer quotes!

Kiarash

Hi! It would be highly appreciated if you could check my essay too. Thank you in advance.

There is a widely held belief among people living in another country can be problematic due to language differences. In other words, when people have to speak the language of a foreign country which are living in it, they can be led to various problems referring to society and daily routines. I fully agree with the statement due to several reasons arising from cultural and lingual aspects of the specific country such as struggling with culture shock (social problems) and career fulfillment (practical problems) which are going to be fully explained in this essay.         It is clearly obvious that the most vital issue that a non-native person should cope with is culture shock. It is defined as a situation in which a person encounters a state of confusion in terms of communication. It causes a lack of adequate interaction with native people. As a result, the person might be face up to social isolation and eventually become homesick and frustrated. For instance, a friend of mine who has migrated to Denmark experienced the problem of not being able to get on well with the Danish people. So after a while, he came back to his origin country because he couldnā€™t tolerate such a situation.         Another potential difficulty refers to job opportunities and careers. It is crystal clear that a person can not utilize his/her full potential in a workplace unless he/she is capable of speaking fluently in order to convey the right message to his/her colleagues. To clarify, one of the most underlying reasons for everyone with regards to developing the career is to have the ability of an appropriate interaction at the workplace in order to be considered a reliable person. The fact is that people should improve their linguistic command not only to do their job tasks sufficiently but also to broaden job opportunities for themselves. The best example in this term is my aunt who found herself in such a condition. She had to change her job numerous times because of her lack of English command when she had just immigrated to the US.         To summarize, living in a country whose language is different from your mother tongue has been always fraught with a lot of challenges. The inability of establishing a cross-cultural relationship and losing job opportunities are two types of the most significant problems which should be solved in order to achieve what we deserve.

Good job, Kiarash!

Some really nice ideas though there are a lot of informal expressions and lack of academic style. Work on that!

Ani

Hi Dave, could you please take a look at my essay?(I really need you help)

Q= is the same question in the below

It is argued that being in a none-native country requires people to speak an unfamiliar language which causes social and practical challenges. This essay agrees with the statement below because it’s difficult for people to apply for a job, and also it would be difficult to make friends.

Firstly, people who immigrate to foreign lands for business purposes or study often face difficulties to find a job. The reason behind this is that local companies and businesses mostly hire native speakers, who don’t struggle with language barriers, so the employers don’t have to spend extra hours on training employees’ language. For example, Indian scientists look down on Spanish students speaking Indian poorly and coming to Indian to conduct a research project on scientific studies, as they cannot easily define scientific concepts for none native pupils, as they don’t speak the Indian language at an appropriate level.

Secondly, engaging with people in a foreign country is difficult skill for an immigrant to learn. The primary reason is because students or immigrated people lack the ability to interact with none native people because they didn’t overcome their language barriers and improve their language enough. Moreover, some people have acts of racism, and they don’t accept foreigners very easily especially when it coms to specific countries. An ample evidence could be American people who blame Hispanic immigrants’ accent and language, and therefore Spanish people are frequently encountered violent reactions by English speaking residents. Clearly these reasons cause difficulties for foreigners to form a friendship with local people.

In conclusion, based on the examples, conversing in an entirely unknown language will cause problems for those who live abroad, such as finding a job and developing a friendship with new people.

Nice job Ani! Your ideas are good and you develop them really well!

There are a lot of little mistakes with grammar and vocabulary, though.

Gh

Please, kindly, take a look at my answer, too. Thanks in advance.

Living abroad and having to speak and communicate in a language other than your own can be tremendously beneficial in oneā€™s life journey and self-growth. I strongly disagree that such an experience can be problematic.   Having a chance to live in a foreign country can open many doors to oneā€™s personal life journey. First, it provides the realization that how much variety is there on this planet, various cultures, customs, foods, and cuisines. Second, exposing to a completely new language and culture provides a more dynamic, flexible, and adaptive life perspective. One of my closest friends who had to live and work in South Korea for two years explains it as a breakthrough in her life, and a very precious experience that helped her become more accepting and grateful for everything life reveals to her no matter where she lives, what language she has to communicate through, and what circumstances are. However, living in a foreign country and communicating in a totally new language can be quite challenging, and lead to misunderstanding sometimes but the fact is that this whole experience can be dramatically different depending on the personality and the motivations why one is undertaking such an experience. A friend of mine who is Irish didnā€™t know even a tiny word in my first language, Farsi, and completely unknown to Iranian culture and customs, however, could survive and even now explains it as a thought-provoking experience. He says he wishes he had known about the Iranian culture beforehand but the leading factor that worked for him was his ability to adapt to the new environment and his flexibility to accept the new rules and norms. Thus, this experience can vary according to oneā€™s personality and purpose. To sum up, I personally believe that living in a foreign country and having to speak in a foreign language can be quite life-changing but not dramatically problematic depending on oneā€™s personality.

Good try Gh!

Nice examples though be careful with using too many personal examples. Technically, they should not hurt your score but some examiners may be strict on them…

Razieh Pourafshari

Hi Dave. when we want to specify the main topic of this question as you taught us, we should consider it as “foreign language and language barrier” or “living in another country”. I ask this question because I feel confused.

This one is about the language barrier so it should be focused on that. It highlights for you the part of living in a foreign country that you should focus on.

Is that clearer, Razieh?

Riffat Shaheen

Please I need your valuable feedback which will help me lots to improve my writing too. Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social and practical problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?  ļ»æ

When anyone has to talk in another language but he does not know so this situation may create severe social and practical troubles. As a rule, language is used as a medium to communicate with people, if they are not well in the use of this specific tool as per the country, it can be turned into the worst situation. I am in favor of this statement and I will highlight some important points in favor of my agreement.

There are two key points that need to be understood accurately. First of all, in English, there are many words that are the same in sound but in spelling, they are different as well as meanings that are different too, such as see and sea, two or too, same, and shame. I will explain that if a person does not know the right pronunciation of same and shame and he says to his boss or customer that “you shame as like my brother” instead of “you are same as like my brother” so this situation can create a worse condition.

2nd reason, in many languages the same words has a different meaning and social value. To illustrate, In England, the rubber word is used for the eraser which can remove the pencil writing but in America, the word rubber is used for the popular contraceptive. For example, there is a man in the office in America, he is not aware of the actual meaning of rubber and if he asked rubber from a female colleague so this situation can make him embarrassed and even he could be in an investigation.

In Conclusion, language can be creating a social and practical problem if people do not know the appropriate word or accent of any specific society. It is really very significant to learn the language of the country where the person needs to go for any reason.

Amiirah

Can you please have a look at my essay and give me a score? Kind Regards.

Some people believe that in order to fully integrate in a country abroad, they need to learn the local language otherwise they will find themselves facing social and practical problems. In my opinion, people who do not familiarize themselves with the native language, experience a certain amount of difficulty when dealing with the residents on different levels. 

Firstly, language barrier makes people feel ignored and isolated. This is because it easier to communicate with someone who understands and can speak a language rather than someone who can hardly utter a few words. For example, many foreign students find themselves unable to make friends with the locals because they cannot master the language. Some may even feel that they are laughed at when trying to have a conversation in a foreign language. At times, this can have a very detrimental effect on the mental health of the students. They may even get suicidal thoughts, especially because they are already undergoing a lot of pressure of being away from home and coping with their studies.

Secondly, interacting with the locals may prove to be very challenging.  The reason being that if someone is unable to read or understand a foreign language, he or she might be conned by local merchants. For example, someone who has no knowledge of the Chinese language may be easily tricked into paying for something twice or thrice the actual amount. Tourists often find themselves victims of such incidents. 

To conclude, I firmly believe that unless foreigners can speak the language of the country they live in, it is very probable that they will face some types of difficulty. Whether it be on a social basis or in the practical world. Hence, it is important to learn the language to be able to interact with the natives.  

Anonymous

Great explanation ..

Thank you, Ginimol!

Anonymous

Well, National language isn’t really a big problem in China, most of the people can speak Mandarin,expect for some senior citizens residing in provincial areas. But what’s really urgent is that village tones are dying out: In where a I live, lots of My generation(incluing myself) living in city can’t speak in the local accent which is quite different from Mandarin and have some invaluble folklores and adages, we can still understand it though.But think about the next few generations whose lives will be completely devoid of their local dialect, then a language now used by millions of people will vanish into thin air.

That’s really interesting – thanks for sharing!

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Learning a Foreign Language Essays

by Dhruvisha Shah (Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India)

foreign language essay ielts




good points and well organised
Feb 08, 2016



didn't like it
May 12, 2016



Your writing skill is very good, you have used many pinpoints in your essay, and I get very good tips from it. thank you good luck.
Jul 11, 2016



Good essay with strong vocabulary
Sep 19, 2016



thank you so much and nice essay well written (Y) appreciated.........
Nov 14, 2016



its written correct here.
the points are very good and in systematic way and pretty correct.
its easy and understandable essay.
keep it up
Jan 19, 2017



Nothing about languages
Mar 14, 2017



It's a gud n impressive statement
Apr 26, 2017



This essay has been taken from Cambridge Ielts book. The answer has been prepared by an examiner, therefore a perfect example of Ielts sample.
Jul 24, 2017



good essy but conclusion is too small. Otherwise it is excellent.
Feb 10, 2018



The last para does not provide any supporting reasons, and the conclusion is poor. Moreover, the paragraph supporting the argument also does not talk anything about how it is beneficial to learn language at an early age. It just talks about the grasping capabilities and the like but it has to talk specifically how it is going to be benefit like finding good jobs, taking a course in foreign language,etc.
Mar 26, 2018



Cohesion and Coherence issue
Nov 17, 2019



Hi, can you help me identifying the thesis statement? Many many thanks

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Learning a Language Abroad

by Phuc (Vietnam)

Please check my writing and give me feedback. Thank you very much. As a part of education, students should spend a period of time living in another country to learn its language and culture. Do you agree or disagree? It is said that living abroad would help improve your foreign language abilities and knowledge of another culture. According to my point of view, I partly agree with this opinion. Firstly, while we live among people who use the language, we will have a chance to practice it all the time. Rarely can we find a native speaker in our hometown. To almost all students, they usually find it difficult with speaking and listening skills. These cannot easily be improved if we use it uncommonly. Moreover, we may confront many situations which we have never faced up before. To deal with those difficulties after a few times, we will easily recognize the differences between the two cultures. Some factors are acceptable in our country but they are totally naughty in another one. For example, in many Asian nations, people usually ask about the othersā€™ ages, work and also family; but to Western citizens, it is impolite to do so. These things are only taught while we stay in its culture. On the other side, each country has each education system. To study in another language is a challenge. To get used to their teaching manner, which is totally different from ours, is more challenging. People studying abroad often get ā€˜culture shockā€™ while they are not accustomed to the new lifestyle and the new way they have to study. Generally, living abroad is one of the best ways to learn the culture and language. But there are still some disadvantages. We have to overcome the shocks so that we can become proficient.

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Learning Languages at Primary School (2)

by Abrar khan (Sydney)

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? The idea of whether children should be taught a foreign language at primary or secondary school is still debatable. Many people are of the opinion that it is more beneficial for a child to learn a second language at secondary school rather than primary. In this essay, I will attempt to explain the advantages and disadvantages of this view from my own personal perspective. To begin with, a child's mind cannot absorb too many contents at primary school and bombarding him with words from two languages (native and foreign) may lead his mind into a state of confusion. A student studying at Class one for instance, who just started to talk in his mother tongue will face great difficulty in learning a second language. Thus, it would be more appropriate to teach such a child a second language at secondary school where his mind will be ready to learn a new language. Secondly, in some situations, for instance in the case of an immigrant child, it would become very stressful for the child when he has to learn three languages (Native, Country Language, foreign language at school) simultaneously at primary school. In worse circumstances, as some researchers have shown from their studies, such children have difficulty in deciding which language to speak and may end up learning nothing. clearly, this child would face no difficulty if he is taught the third language at secondary school. Other commentators are of the view that foreign languages should be taught at primary school as it will spark the interest of learning new languages in the child's mind and as he grows up, by the time he enters secondary school he might be able to communicate in the foreign language. The argument here is that if such language is taught at secondary school, most of the children will not take interest in learning and may find it unnecessary. To recapitulate. children are mentally ready to learn a second language at secondary school and also suitable in circumstances where the child has to learn more languages. It is the responsibility of the child if he wants to continue learning this language after secondary school or not. In conclusion, I believe that teaching a foreign language would be more appropriate at secondary level as its advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages. ***** Please give me comments for my learning a foreign language at primary school essay.

Learning Languages at Primary School (3)

by budi (indonesia)

Could anybody help me to assess my essay? 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? The right time for children to learn second languages has been a riddle since society started thinking about global citizenship and opportunity, especially in countries whose first language is not English. Most professional in the field believed that it is best to start learning second language at primary school while other practitioner suggested that start to learn that in secondary school is more efficient. I believe that the best time to start learning second language is at primary school. It is due to the fact that for biological reason, it is more beneficial and children can have an early exposure to the language. Medical research found out that the primordial part of the brain is responsible for emotional sensing, reflexive movement, and imitating ability. This imitating ability, which is developing significantly during primary school period, contributes significantly in language learning. On the other hand, logical thinking ability is developed later, that is during secondary school phase. This brain development knowledge is very fundamental information to support the idea that the best time to learn second language is during primary school. Many language researchers, educators, and experts believed that each individual needs different time to absorb every aspect of new language learned such as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. This learning curve, which can not be accelerated, can only be balanced by starting it at early as possible. By doing so, children can get early exposure to the language. Thus, they also more get used to and are more confident in using it. For this reason, it is obvious that starting it early in primary school give children more benefits. After compiling that brain development phase information about imitating ability that contributes to language training as well as the fact that getting early exposure that can give more advantages, it is clear that the best time to begin learning foreign language is at primary school.




This essay has a high range of good vocabulary but there are some grammatical errors that you should improve. Also, you need to add two examples for each of the students responding to elementary school or secondary school. Thank you. I hope this helps you.

Learning Languages at Primary School (4)

by Md Abu Bakar Siddiq (Bangladesh)

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? Learning a foreign language such as English is essential for our daily life, continued higher education, business, etc. But itā€™s a big controversy when to start it. Whether it should be initiated at primary level education or at secondary school level. I think it would be better to inaugurate learning another nationā€™s voice at primary level education. If we organize our children to be taught a foreign language at primary school, they can catch and follow instructions regarding this easily. Furthermore, it is easier for them to remember this early period learning for a long-time, since at this tender age the brain remains fresh and sharp to follow any instructions. Along with this, childrenā€™s foundation on that particular language becomes stronger that ultimately makes them more interested about that nation. Yet, some experts think differently. According to them, it is not wise making studentsā€™ interest about a second language before secondary level education. Firstly, it will put extra pressure on their brain. Secondly, this approach may make students reluctant about their mother language, which will hinder them to learn more about their culture, customs, and country as well. But, I do not agree with these cheap, awkward opinions. This is because I donā€™t believe beginning foreign language learning at primary school will put that much of an enormous stress on the kidsā€™ mind and body. If adequate measures are taken during teaching they can enjoy it. On the other hand, side by side teaching institutes should be cautious about their attitude toward the mother language. So, it is crystal clear that learning another language along with the native one at primary level education has some added benefits over learning it at secondary school education. *** You can comment below on this learning a foreign language essay.

Learning Languages at Primary School (5)

by Rehmatullah Saeed (Pakistan, Karachi)

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? Some school of thoughts argue that a foreign language should be learnt in the primary school while others argue that this strategy would put extra amount of pressure on the innocent children and subsequently considering the importance, necessity and obligation of learning a foreign language then I strongly believe the thoughts of the first party. Apparently the advantages of learning a foreign language in the primary level cross the minor number of disadvantages. Generally the age of childhood is very fresh and not any type of psychological pressure from their home and outside the home is on their shoulders and they are just free to play, enjoy and study, so the structure of the foreign language can easily be copied in their minds and finally they can become more mature when they get qualified to the secondary school due to the long term procedure. On the other hand some school teachers devise quiet complicated teaching methodologies for teaching students and in the result the children get bored and failed in clearing the examinations of the foreign language. Therefore students could get mentally confused and discouraged to follow up the other school subjects as well. For instance my cousin was trying hard to learn the English language but did not succeed to pass the very basic English language examinations and he also complained for the identical reason. To sum up all the observations then we can get a perception that teaching a foreign language to the students of the primary school is the best idea and beneficial for the future of the students but meanwhile a very slow and progressive, enjoyable and transparent teaching strategies should be planned in order to provide a very delightful environment to the lower aged students. Please comment on my essay about learning a foreign language at primary school.




Generally, the grammar in this essay does not have errors that would cause strain for the reader. Also, there is a wide range of vocabulary used and the structure and tone appropriate.

However, there are a couple of weaknesses that need to be addressed. Particularly in the introduction and in the first body paragraph, the sentence length is too long. This results in loss of coherence. It is best to have a variety of sentence lengths throughout your essay.

Also, the essay asks you to address learning a language in primary school rather than secondary. To my mind, this means that you should talk about language learning in secondary school as well.

Apart from that, there are some misused lexical items.
Jan 25, 2015



The essay is a nice one but needs to be more coherent.

There should also be some discussion on secondary school as we are comparing the learning with that of primary school.

Vocabulary range is very good.
Apr 19, 2015



The answer does not read smoothly because you didn't make use of cohesive devices. Most of the sentences are very long, and this will make the reader lose your trail of thoughts.

Your answer lacks insight as you didn't get deeper into highlighting the issue (learning languages at an early stage). You need to write with a good sense of audience.

The topic sentences of each paragraph (2 & 3) are not effective. We can hardly talk about any development of ideas.

You used a good range of vocabulary, but there are times when the meaning is spoilt. There are some grammar mistakes, and there is no variety in sentence structure.
Aug 17, 2015



Itā€™s very good if one speak very well other languages. For that, experts discuss what is better for children. Is that learning foreign language in the primary or secondary level?

I notice that analysts giving some advantages and few disadvantage with explanation and include my knowledges what I get from my experiences.

First benefit is that children can speak very well another language, like their mother language's word and it became easy to have lot of words and sentence vocabulary. Because at age, the memory is empty, and able to receive more and fast.

Second benefit; is the improvement their intelligent. While, at secondary school, learn this new language, became difficult. And proposed one the big problem is pronunciation.

For disadvantages are:

At the primary school, children can easy speaking and learn a vocabulary. But they like playing and painting. So, they donā€™t accept to practice writing, reading and learn a grammar, however this materials become really worked at secondary school.

In conclusion, speaking, learn a vocabulary with alphabet are worked at primary school especially the pronunciation which is big hurdle, for who want learn new language because itā€™s my problem for a foreign language. I pronounce it like my mother language, because I studied it at secondary level not at the primary.

Nov 16, 2015



Some school of thoughts argue that a foreign language should be learnt in the primary school while others argue that this strategy would put extra amount of pressure on the innocent children and subsequently considering the importance, necessity and obligation of learning a foreign language then I strongly believe the thoughts of the first party.

Apparently the advantages of learning a foreign language in the primary level cross the minor number of disadvantages. Generally the age of childhood is very fresh and no any type of psychological pressure from their home and outside the home is on their shoulders and they are just free to play, enjoy and study, so the structure of the foreign language can easily be copied in their minds and finally they can become more mature when they get qualified to the secondary school due to the long term procedure.

On the other hand some school teachers devise quiet complicated teaching methodologies for teaching students and in the result the children get bored and failed in clearing the examinations of the foreign language. Therefore students could get mentally confused and discouraged to follow up the other school subjects as well. For instance my cousin was trying hard to learn the English language but not succeeded to pass the very basic English language examinations and he also complained the identical reason.

To sum up all the observations then we can get a perception that teaching a foreign language to the students of the primary school is the best idea and beneficial for the future of the students but meanwhile a very slow and progressive, enjoyable and transparent teaching strategies should be planned in order to provide a very delightful environment to the lower aged students.

May 10, 2017



learning a new language at a later stage stage of life can be a challenge , but children can learn a new language pretty well. In my opinion its better and easier to make children familiar with a new language than its to an grow up person . in my essay i will state some reasons for the same .

firstly , with the advance in science and technology , new facts about human brain are surfacing , one fact being that brain in its early years of development is more capable of learning new complex human behavior , language being such complex human behavior . thus introducing a foreign language at a primary level will yield better results .

secondly , introducing a foreign language in primary schools also means that children can communicate with different people from different cultures much more easily thus enlarging their circle of friendship which will prove beneficial for the overall growth and development pf children .

to conclude , i strongly suggest that foreign language should be introduced early in academic curriculum so that our children will grow up into much more responsible human beings .

Learning Languages at Primary School (6)

by Milan Jetha (Rajkot, Gujarat, India)

Hi guys, please give me suggestions on my essay: 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? Some schools of thoughts argue that children should start learning foreign languages from primary school while others argue that it would be more of burden on primary school pupils to start learning foreign languages at an early age. I strongly believe that students should learn foreign languages from primary school. Both the pros and cons of this argument will be discussed before reaching a reasonable conclusion. To begin, some people think that a student does not have any psychological burden in his/her childhood so this is the perfect age for learning a new language. Moreover, pupils will be more confident to speak a foreign language with anyone if they learn it in primary school. Also, childrenā€™s minds are ready to learn new things easily in their early age. As an example, some high secondary students are having difficulties in speaking English language, the reason being that they did not learn English language in their childhood. However, there are some plausible counters to this argument. Some plebeians believe that by learning English in primary school students would feel a burden on them. Also, there will be some chances to lose the importance of their native language if students concentrate on foreign languages from an early age. For instance, by giving priority to foreign languages some students are not properly able to speak their native language. In conclusion, according to these arguments it seems that there are strong benefits of learning English in primary school rather than secondary school. By giving knowledge of a foreign language from primary school children will grow smart. *** You can comment below on this learning a foreign language essay to help the student improve their score.




The article is well composed covering all the necessary points. But shall i ask a query of mine, i have recently started preparation for IELTS last week. And am just worried about writing as i want to score 7.5+. What sort of things should be included?
Nov 09, 2015



Hi Rockko,

Check out this lesson:

English as the Primary Language

by Rakez (hyderabad,india)

It is very clear now that English should be the primary foreign language taught in all schools around the world. Learning a different foreign language before English is, in todayā€™s world, a waste of time. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? There is no deny that English is the top most widely spoken language in the world. The practice of speaking and writing in English came into existence since centuries. It continued to be popular and familiar to various nation, majorly because of the British influence. However most of the people, agree that learning a foreign than English is waste of time. First of all, the popularity of learning English is increasing day by day in countries like Middle east, South east asia and African countries. Teaching English in the schools helps the pupils to gain international language experience. For example, it broader employment and higher education opportunities in English speaking countries more than non- English speaking countries. Moreover, all the famous literatures from the ancient to modern are written in English. On the other hand, in a few countries like Japan, China and Korea the government and public only shows interest in their respective native languages. In the todayā€™s present busy world, people learn foreign language like Spanish, French as a hobby which would not be a beneficial in their real life, except unless they visit the language spoken country. However, English has international reorganization and only primary foreign language to promote the business across the globe. Although, teaching a new foreign language in schools other than English will not be a success in practice, because hardly students find the person who speaks outside the school. In summary, English is the only ultimate foreign language that can be taught in schools without second the thought. However, I feel that learning a new language other than English is waste of time because it will be less in practice. Please could someone give me some feedback?




Hi
Good points and well developed essay.

Apart from few mistakes, except & unless, either one will do.

Use of the in some places is unnecessary

This is comment from my knowledge
Best way is to read and correct the essay yourself

But, write, leave for few hours, come back and read , mostly able to find the mistakes.

Hope that helps
Oct 27, 2014



You use repeated word maximum
Oct 27, 2014



here in India particularly in Kerala, this essay may get maximum 6.5.
Oct 27, 2014



Thank you, for the feedback. I will try to minimize the errors and try avoiding in the future.
Oct 28, 2014



you could be able to mention the points, however some grammar needs to be corrected.
Nov 12, 2014



I need improve my preposition
Dec 09, 2014



What do you have to change exactly?

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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.

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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.

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Real IELTS Exam Question, Reported On:

Learning a Foreign Language is Difficult IELTS Essay ā€“ Sample Answer 1

It is argued that to become competent in other nationā€™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 ā€“ 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 ā€“ 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 tongueā€™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 oneā€™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 ā€˜apprenticeā€™ 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 :Ā  Individual Greed and Selfishness IELTS Essay

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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)

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay: Living In A Foreign Country

language-learning

Here is another of myĀ  IELTS model essays Ā forĀ  IELTS Writing Task 2 . Itā€™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)

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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 Writing Task 2 Sample Essay: Living In A Foreign Country”

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!

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Ielts writing sample #42.

Learning a foreign language offers an insight into how people from other cultures think and see the world. The teaching of a foreign language should be compulsory at all primary schools. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

  • You should write at least 250 words.
  • Allow yourself 40 minutes for this task.
  • You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples.

model answer:

(Clear statement followed by a question based on the premise.) Language is linked to the identity of a nation, and speakers of a common language share many things, but does this give governments the right to restrict the way a language is used or taught? (Concession mode to the "For" case, but followed by the Against' point of view. An example is given which comments on the likely effectiveness of such a policy.) It can be argued that a nation maintains its culture through its language, and so there is a need to restrict the use of foreign words and changes in pronunciation. However, in reality this approach is fruitless, because language is a living thing and it is impossible to stop it from changing. This policy has been tried in some countries, but it never works. People, especially young people, will use the language that they hear around them, and which separates them from others; stopping the use of certain words will only make them appear more attractive. (Puts the case Against' governments preventing spelling reform, but concedes it may be useful.) As for spelling, we all know that the English system is irregular and, I believe, it would benefit from simplification so that children and other learners do not waste time learning to read and write. On the other hand, some people may feel, perhaps rightly, that it is important to keep the original spelling of words as a link with the past and this view is also held by speakers of languages which do not use the Roman alphabet. (Puts both sides of the argument about which language to use in schools.) While it is important for people who speak a minority language to be able to learn and use that language, it is practical for education to be in a common language. This creates national pride and links people within the society. Realistically, schools are the best place for this to start. (Ends with a clear statement.) Ultimately, there is a role for governments to play in the area of language planning, particularly in education, but at no time should governments impose regulations which restrict people's linguistic freedom.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 – Topic: FOREIGN LANGUARE

ielts writing topics 2019

1.Ā  Studying the English language in an English-speaking country is the best but not the only way to learn language. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Ā Ā 

Sample Answer

Studying a language in a country where it is widely spoken has many advantages. It is,Ā  therefore, a good idea to study English in a country such as Britain. However, I believe itĀ  is not the only way to learn the language.

In the first place, most students in non-English-speaking countries learn English atĀ  secondary school, and sometimes at university nowadays. Although their spokenĀ  English is not usually of a very high standard, their knowledge of grammar is often quiteĀ  advanced. This is certainly useful when students come to an English-speaking countryĀ  to perfect the language.

Secondly, studying the basics of English at secondary school is less stressful thanĀ  learning the language while overseas. This is because students living at home do notĀ  have to worry about problems such as finding accommodation, paying for their studyĀ  and living costs, and trying to survive in a foreign country where day to day livingĀ  causes much stress.

However, there are obvious advantages of learning English in Britain. Every day thereĀ  are opportunities to practise listening to and speaking with British people. Also, studentsĀ  can experience the culture firsthand, which is a great help when trying to understand theĀ  language. This is especially true if they choose to live with a British family, as exchangeĀ  students for example. Furthermore, if students attend a language school full-time, theĀ  teachers will be native speakers. In this case, not only will students’ speaking andĀ  listening skills improve, but attention can be given to developing reading and writingĀ  skills as well.

In general, even though it is preferable to study English in an English-speaking country,Ā  a reasonable level of English can be achieved in one’s own country, if a student is giftedĀ  and dedicated to study.

Ā (289 words)

2.Ā  Learning a foreign language offers an insight into how people from other cultures think and see the world. The teaching of a foreign language should be compulsory at all primary schools. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Language is linked to the identity of a nation, and speakers of a common language share manyĀ  things, but does this give governments the right to restrict the way a language is used or taught?

It can be argued that a nation maintains its culture through its language, and so there is a needĀ  to restrict the use of foreign words and changes in pronunciation. However, in reality thisĀ  approach is fruitless, because language is a living thing and it is impossible to stop it fromĀ  changing. This policy has been tried in some countries, but it never works. People, especiallyĀ  young people, will use the language that they hear around them, and which separates themĀ  from others; stopping the use of certain words will only make them appear more attractive.

As for spelling, we all know that the English system is irregular and, I believe, it would benefitĀ  from simplification so that children and other learners do not waste time learning to read andĀ  write. On the other hand, some people may feel, perhaps rightly, that it is important to keep theĀ  original spelling of words as a link with the past and this view is also held by speakers ofĀ  languages which do not use the Roman alphabet.

While it is important for people who speak a minority language to be able to learn and use thatĀ  language, it is practical for education to be in a common language. This creates national prideĀ  and links people within the society. Realistically, schools are the best place for this to start.

Ultimately, there is a role for governments to play in the area of language planning, particularlyĀ  in education, but at no time should governments impose regulations which restrict people’sĀ  linguistic freedom.

Ā (292 words)

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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 childrenā€™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.

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15 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

Learning to speak a foreign language is often times considered a necessity of successfully integrating and functioning in a particular community.

Communicating effectively helps you to get the most out of your foreign experience. Imagine being lost in a country where you donā€™t speak the language and the locals donā€™t speak yours. You have to retort to signing, pointing and google translate.

The need for communication is essential and quite evident in these kinds of scenarios. The same can be said for someone who has moved to a different country for a new job, vacationing in a foreign country or an English teacher teaching abroad.

Benefits of learning a new language

In all these cases knowing a foreign language would prove to be quite useful in day-to-day life. There are a number of benefits attached to learning a foreign language , and here are just a few of them.

1. Learning a foreign language accelerates brain power

Speaking a language helps you to access multiple areas of your brain, this is because each language requires differing skills with regards to pronunciation, etymology, structural rules and varying degrees of complexities. It therefore makes sense that the more languages you speak the more brain power you exude. Think of a foreign language as a gym session for your brain. The result? Quicker and clearer processing of information, enhanced reading techniques, and accelerated problem-solving skills.

2. It helps your brain develop how to multitask

Have you ever watched someone switch between two or more languages? It is something quite awe-inspiring. It could be equated to watching a juggler juggling a bunch of clubs with intense precision, switching back and forth between languages creates the same effect. Your brain is essentially tapping into each languageā€™s specific mechanics, simultaneously. Your brain is exercising and stretching its multitasking abilities, therefore speaking a foreign language could help you increase your ability to switch back and forth between various daily activities with ease.

3. The onset of Dementia and Alzheimerā€™s is stalled

Studies that focus on the onset of Alzheimerā€™s found that the development of dementia and Alzheimerā€™s amongst multilingual individuals was delayed. According to the study, Alzheimerā€™s symptoms only start developing at the age of 75 or more amongst those who were multilingual compared to the age of 71 or less for those who only spoke one language. This outcome was concluded considering that all other factors were held equal. This means factors such as overall health, diet, economic status, and education level werenā€™t considered.

4. It improves memory and retention

learning a foreign language

Learning a new language requires you to retain a great amount of new information. This includes an excess amount of vocabulary, structural rules and pronunciation requirements. Not only are you learning and memorising all these new concepts you are also making your brain use them as a communication tool. As such, learning a foreign language essentially strengthens your brainā€™s memory as it forces it to recall newly learned information, the brain is then required to associate this information with mnemonics resulting in better retention.

5. Gives the mind a slight information processing edge

Learning a new language can prove to be a rather challenging task. This is because languages tend to be linked to more than just learning vocabulary but also have historic and cultural links to their country of origin. This makes learning a new language quite difficult and challenging and as such requiring strong will, discipline and focus, ultimately building critical thinking skills. These skills can then be aptly used in an online course for passing IELTS .

6. Improves decision-making abilities

When you learn a foreign language not only are you learning new vocabulary you are also learning idioms and phrases that are nuanced and specific to that language. This means learning a new language is not simply about knowing vocabulary but also knowing how appropriate and relevant the words you have learned are in a social construct. Multilingual people not only have to weed through different languages in their minds, they have to decide which words to use appropriately in any given conversation. This requires critical-thinking, decision-making skills and on the spot problem-solving.

7. Improves ability to speak first language

One of the tools used for learning a new language is translating words back to the learnerā€™s home language or first language. This means that the foreign language is first introduced through the lens of your home language, as a result, you are forced to expand your own home language skills. It also means you might need to search for the appropriate home language words to accurately translate the foreign words you are learning.

8. Enhances performance in various academic areas

learning a foreign language

Knowing a foreign language while tackling academics could prove to be quite a magic trick to pull out of the hat. As already stated, learning a foreign language requires intense focus and self-discipline. This means when it comes to studying techniques such as cramming and memorisation your brain has already been basted. You have exercised brain muscles that monolinguals havenā€™t even accessed yet. This will of course translate to test and exam scores that have been affected by your brainā€™s ability to study and retain information. Learning a foreign language also helps you to improve your comprehension abilities as your brain has to not only learn new words but also understand them. As such, studying and comprehending what you have studied becomes a lot easier. As a result reading and understanding exam vocabulary becomes easier and correcting written work such as essays requires less effort.

9. Allows individuals to be more open and receptive of other peopleā€™s cultures

As previously mentioned learning a foreign language requires you to somewhat understand the history and culture of the languageā€™s origins. This means delving head first into the languageā€™s associated culture; including foods, political associations, music, dance, and history. In order to successfully immerse yourself; you will need to have an open mind and receptive energy. This allows you to be appreciative of differences and less fearful of learning how different people do things.

10. Speaking a foreign language opens up various career opportunities

Well this one makes total sense, earlier we mentioned moving to a foreign country for a new job. Even though you donā€™t need to speak a countryā€™s language to get the opportunity to work there, knowing the language certainly gives you an advantageous edge. Corporates want to know that you will do well in your role before hiring you, knowing the language strongly signals that you would be in the best position to perform your role well.

11. Builds self confidence

learning a foreign language

Successfully mastering a concept that is foreign and completely new to you is reason enough to feel extremely accomplished within your own abilities. Learning a new language helps you prove to yourself that you have enough self-discipline, perseverance and strong-will to produce results, which is certainly a confidence booster. Every time you are able to flex your language skills you are essentially injecting a new dose of confidence into your life.

12. It helps in self-discovery and self-actualization

Proving to yourself that you are completely capable of achieving something that you put your mind to helps you come to terms with yourself and all your capabilities. As you dive into all the intricacies and complexities that go with learning a foreign language you get to know yourself a little more, and finally having a full conversation in that language allows you to reach a state of self-actualization.

learning a foreign language

13. It opens doors to different forms of expression

This benefit is especially perfect for those who express themselves in some form of artistic expression. Whether this is poetry, music, writing or singing, learning a new language gives you a new form of self-expression. You allow your brain to tap into a new artistic wave length where you can produce your art in a different and new way.

14. Expands your potential pool of dating candidates

A language barrier is absolutely not a sufficient reason to eliminate a potential dating candidate as history proves that people from different backgrounds and languages can successfully fall in love and live happy lives. However, knowing your potential love interestā€™s language promises a much smoother romantic interaction.

15. Allows you to successfully integrate yourself into a different culture

Moving locations and starting over is certainly not an easy feat, in fact, it is one of the most difficult things one might ever have to do. Knowing the foreign language of the country you will be calling your new home will make this transition much easier. You wonā€™t struggle with basic things such as asking for directions or reading road signs. The challenges of moving wonā€™t disappear but they certainly wonā€™t feel all-encompassing.

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts writing task 2 sample 1028 - advantages of learning a foreign language at primary school, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, 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.

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  14. IELTS Writing Sample #42

    IELTS Writing Sample #42. Learning a foreign language offers an insight into how people from other cultures think and see the world. The teaching of a foreign language should be compulsory at all primary schools. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view? You should write at least 250 words. Allow yourself 40 minutes for this task.

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    In general, even though it is preferable to study English in an English-speaking country, a reasonable level of English can be achieved in one's own country, if a student is gifted. 2. Learning a foreign language offers an insight into how people from other cultures think and see the world. The teaching of a foreign language should be ...

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  19. IELTS Essay # 217

    Model Answer 1: [Advantages outweigh disadvantages] The ideal age for children to start learning a foreign language is a topic of intense debate, with some advocating for primary school as the optimal time. This essay will examine both the benefits and disadvantages of introducing foreign language learning at the primary school level.

  20. Essay 286

    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 ...

  21. IELTS Essay # 1296

    Foreign language study offers numerous advantages to students. Firstly, it broadens their cultural horizons by exposing them to different languages, customs, and traditions. This exposure fosters cultural understanding and tolerance, and promotes global citizenship. Secondly, learning a foreign language enhances cognitive skills such as problem ...

  22. 15 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

    As such, learning a foreign language essentially strengthens your brain's memory as it forces it to recall newly learned information, the brain is then required to associate this information with mnemonics resulting in better retention. 5. Gives the mind a slight information processing edge. Learning a new language can prove to be a rather ...

  23. IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

    IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic: Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school.