IELTS Essay: Children Learning Languages
Because many children are not able to learn foreign languages, schools should not force them to learn foreign languages.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some feel that since it is challenging for children to learn a foreign language, schools should not emphasize this subject area. In my opinion, the challenge is the entire justification for supporting second language education.
Critics argue that the majority of children are simply incapable of learning an additional language. The best evidence for this is anecdotal and relates to the increasingly large burden of work placed on young children. Schools in many parts of the world, particularly in high-achieving nations such as South Korea and Japan, are in session for many hours and students learn an array of subjects. They are usually taught English, the world’s lingua franca, and this is especially difficult for speakers of Asian languages, where there is little shared linguistic history. The end result is often that students waste time and may feel discouraged and lack self-esteem.
However, children can learn languages better than adults and the challenge presented is itself an important lesson. If the schools have invested in proper training and use engaging materials then the lessons will not be boring and there is a stronger likelihood of success. Research has shown that language learning is most effective before the age of 7, with pronunciation becoming a stumbling block for older learners who already have fixed vocal formations. Moreover, the difficulty of learning a language encourages children to work harder and expand their ability to learn in creative ways. This applies to all subjects but languages stand out as students must seek novel memorization techniques and view the world from a completely different perspective.
In conclusion, despite the low rates of success in many cases, the impact of attempting to learn a language is itself tremendously beneficial. Schools should therefore continue funding this part of the curriculum.
Analysis
1. Some feel that since it is challenging for children to learn a foreign language, schools should not emphasize this subject area. 2. In my opinion, the challenge is the entire justification for supporting second language education.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Critics argue that the majority of children are simply incapable of learning an additional language. 2. The best evidence for this is anecdotal and relates to the increasingly large burden of work placed on young children. 3. Schools in many parts of the world, particularly in high-achieving nations such as South Korea and Japan, are in session for many hours and students learn an array of subjects. 4. They are usually taught English, the world’s lingua franca, and this is especially difficult for speakers of Asian languages, where there is little shared linguistic history. 5. The end result is often that students waste time and may feel discouraged and lack self-esteem.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- You can have a second main idea.
1. However, children can learn languages better than adults and the challenge presented is itself an important lesson. 2. If the schools have invested in proper training and use engaging materials then the lessons will not be boring and there is a stronger likelihood of success. 3. Research has shown that language learning is most effective before the age of 7, with pronunciation becoming a stumbling block for older learners who already have fixed vocal formations. 4. Moreover, the difficulty of learning a language encourages children to work harder and expand their ability to learn in creative ways. 5. This applies to all subjects but languages stand out as students must seek novel memorization techniques and view the world from a completely different perspective.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, despite the low rates of success in many cases, the impact of attempting to learn a language is itself tremendously beneficial. 2. Schools should therefore continue funding this part of the curriculum.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some feel that since it is challenging for children to learn a foreign language, schools should not emphasize this subject area. In my opinion, the challenge is the entire justification for supporting second language education.
Critics argue that the majority of children are simply incapable of learning an additional language. The best evidence for this is anecdotal and relates to the increasingly large burden of work placed on young children. Schools in many parts of the world, particularly in high-achieving nations such as South Korea and Japan, are in session for many hours and students learn an array of subjects. They are usually taught English, the world’s lingua franca, and this is especially difficult for speakers of Asian languages, where there is little shared linguistic history. The end result is often that students waste time and may feel discouraged and lack self-esteem.
However, children can learn languages better than adults and the challenge presented is itself an important lesson. If the schools have invested in proper training and use engaging materials then the lessons will not be boring and there is a stronger likelihood of success. Research has shown that language learning is most effective before the age of 7, with pronunciation becoming a stumbling block for older learners who already have fixed vocal formations. Moreover, the difficulty of learning a language encourages children to work harder and expand their ability to learn in creative ways. This applies to all subjects but languages stand out as students must seek novel memorization techniques and view the world from a completely different perspective.
In conclusion, despite the low rates of success in many cases, the impact of attempting to learn a language is itself tremendously beneficial. Schools should therefore continue funding this part of the curriculum.
Answers
since because of
challenging difficulty
foreign language a language from another country
emphasize focus on
subject area what you study at school
entire justification whole reason
supporting second language education giving resources to classes for foreign languages
critics those against it
majority most of
incapable aren’t able to
additional language another tongue
best evidence for this clearest support in this area
anecdotal stories
relates to concerning
increasingly large getting bigger
burden of work pressure from homework
placed on put on
in many parts of the world in numerous countries
particularly in especially in
high-achieving nations countries with good scores
in session operating
array variety
lingua franca common language among non-native speakers
little shared linguistic history not much the same in the past of the languages
end result final outcome
waste time not use time well
discouraged not encouraged
lack self-esteem don’t think highly of yourself
presented shown
invested put money into
proper training good preparation
engaging interesting
stronger likelihood of success better chance of working out
research has shown that studies indicate that
effective useful
pronunciation how well you say words
stumbling block difficulty
fixed vocal formations muscles in your mouth can’t change
encourages engenders
expand move beyond
creative ways new methods
applies relates to
stand out especially
novel memorization techniques new ways of remembering
completely different perspective totally new way of seeing things
low rates of success doesn’t often work
in many cases sometimes
impact effect
tremendously beneficial hugely helpful
therefore thus
funding money
curriculum studies
Pronunciation
sɪns
ˈʧælɪnʤɪŋ
ˈfɒrɪn ˈlæŋgwɪʤ
ˈɛmfəsaɪz
ˈsʌbʤɪkt ˈeərɪə
ɪnˈtaɪə ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
səˈpɔːtɪŋ ˈsɛkənd ˈlæŋgwɪʤ ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ˈkrɪtɪks
məˈʤɒrɪti
ɪnˈkeɪpəbl
əˈdɪʃənl ˈlæŋgwɪʤ.
bɛst ˈɛvɪdəns fɔː ðɪs
ˌænɪkˈdəʊt(ə)l
rɪˈleɪts tuː
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli lɑːʤ
ˈbɜːdn ɒv wɜːk
pleɪst ɒn
ɪn ˈmɛni pɑːts ɒv ðə wɜːld
pəˈtɪkjʊləli ɪn
haɪ-əˈʧiːvɪŋ ˈneɪʃənz
ɪn ˈsɛʃən
əˈreɪ
ˈlɪŋgwə ˈfræŋkə
ˈlɪtl ʃeəd lɪŋˈgwɪstɪk ˈhɪstəri.
ɛnd rɪˈzʌlt
weɪst taɪm
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤd
læk sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm
prɪˈzɛntɪd
ɪnˈvɛstɪd
ˈprɒpə ˈtreɪnɪŋ
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ
ˈstrɒŋgə ˈlaɪklɪhʊd ɒv səkˈsɛs
rɪˈsɜːʧ hæz ʃəʊn ðæt
ɪˈfɛktɪv
prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən
ˈstʌmblɪŋ blɒk
fɪkst ˈvəʊkəl fɔːˈmeɪʃənz
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz
ɪksˈpænd
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv weɪz
əˈplaɪz
stænd aʊt
ˈnɒvəl ˈmɛməraɪzaɪˈzeɪʃən tɛkˈniːks
kəmˈpliːtli ˈdɪfrənt pəˈspɛktɪv
ləʊ reɪts ɒv səkˈsɛs
ɪn ˈmɛni ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈɪmpækt
trɪˈmɛndəsli ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl
ˈðeəfɔː
ˈfʌndɪŋ
kəˈrɪkjʊləm
Vocabulary Practice
Some feel that s______e it is c____________g for children to learn a f________________e, schools should not e_____________e this s________________a. In my opinion, the challenge is the e_______________n for s____________________________n.
C________s argue that the m_________y of children are simply i_____________e of learning an a___________________e. The b__________________s is a____________l and r__________o the i________________________________k p_____________n young children. Schools i____________________d, p_________________n h____________________________s such as South Korea and Japan, are i_____________n for many hours and students learn an a_____y of subjects. They are usually taught English, the world’s l____________________a, and this is especially difficult for speakers of Asian languages, where there is l___________________________y. The e____________t is often that students w__________e and may feel d________________d and l_____________m.
However, children can learn languages better than adults and the challenge p___________d is itself an important lesson. If the schools have i__________d in p____________________g and use e__________g materials then the lessons will not be boring and there is a s____________________________s. R_________________________t language learning is most e_________e before the age of 7, with p_____________n becoming a s_______________k for older learners who already have f_________________________s. Moreover, the difficulty of learning a language e_____________s children to work harder and e___________d their ability to learn in c______________s. This a________s to all subjects but languages s_________t as students must seek n________________________s and view the world from a c_________________________e.
In conclusion, despite the l__________________s i_________________s, the i______t of attempting to learn a language is itself t___________________________l. Schools should t______________e continue f_______g this part of the c_____________m.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Language
- Can learning a language help you understand more about a culture?
- Why is it so difficult to learn a new language?
- How will language learning change in the future?
- Should governments invest more in second language learning in schools?
- What are the benefits of learning another language for your country?
Writing Practice
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?
Well written essay, Sir Dave.
There is a statement that language lessons should be banned, as it is difficult for kids to learn. In my opinion, the capacities of children are not good enough to learn foreign languages, and it is unnecessary for most people. Therefore, it should be removed from the educational plans.
For most children, it is hard to learn a new language because of the lack of learning abilities and interests. Firstly, the main mission of students in school is learning basic knowledge, including native language, math, science, and so on. But learning a new language may be too difficult for them, as they can not even fully handle their native language. Secondly, children can not find out the importance of learning a new language, which would likely result in little interest in this lesson. As a result, students can not have great performance in such teaching activities.
Only a few people would have opportunities to engage foreigners in their future. Thus, it may be useless to learn a foreign language. In most cases, people seek local jobs after graduating. It would likely be enough for most people to communicate in their native languages. Learning a new language looks like a waste of time, and that time could be used to learn a new skill. Moreover, students who have plans to go abroad could spend their time on learning those languages that they need to use. Hence, it may be unreasonable to force all students to learn a certain language.
In sum, handling a new language is not only difficult for kids, but also a waste of time for most students in their careers. In addition, schools should present more lessons for students to select.
Hi Dave!
would you please evaluate my essay and spot out my improvement area.
Some people believe that school children should not be forcibly taught a foreign language. In my opinion, the challenge is not the hardship to learn a different language; it is the method of how they are being taught.
To begin with, Learning a language of another nation, child age is the best time to learn. It is considered that babies can copy anything they hear spoken by seniors as they start to pronounce even any sound or music they hear from TV. Contrastly, adults have many difficulties being habituated in a language other than their local one because their tongue has made a shape of fixed pronunciation. As a result, a large set of practice needed to be accustomed to the new language. Moreover, the teaching method of foreign language in school is not learning-friendly for the kids, since they are taught writing first, then reading, and lastly speaking. Here, if anyone cannot speak, how can they write or read anything in a foreign language because it is how we learn our mother tongue in childhood.
Furthermore, in this globalization era, it is frequently more beneficial for being multilingual or bilingual. Communication between two people from different countries, language is by far the essential tool. If the exchange of language is successful many benefits like trade, knowledge, jobs can be easier to have from anywhere across the globe. That is why schools started to teach foreign languages as mandatory in the kids’ curriculum. Powerful countries like Japan and South Korea, for instance, keep several sessions in school for foreign language studies, especially English and French and provide sufficient resources to make the learning process easier and allocate more finance if needed. Thus, if the foreign language is kept optional in the academic curriculum, students might eliminate the subject and miss the countless opportunities.
In conclusion, the challenge of learning a foreign language is widely based on justification. If the teaching style is made appropriate, students will be motivated to learn and grab immense opportunities worldwide. So, it is needed for schools to add foreign language subjects as mandatory in the curriculum.