This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of early language learning from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Early Language Learning

Some believe that students should begin learning a language very early in school while others think these subjects should be taught later.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Many have argued that the earlier students begin learning a language in school the better. Although this can pose challenges for schools, I am in complete agreement with this opinion.

Those against early foreign language courses contend it is not always practical. In many school systems, the cost of such courses can be prohibitive. More specifically, in more remote areas, teachers will often not have the ability to teach another language and it may be difficult to recruit foreign native language speakers. If the schools teach a foreign language anyway, then they will have to rely largely on textbooks and the classes are not likely to be as productive. This reality can create a situation where wealthier school districts receive a disproportionately superior education.

However, even when the conditions are not ideal, there is tremendous value in learning a language early relative to learning it later in life. Studies have shown that languages can be acquired far more easily early in one’s education. As a person gets older, the muscles in the mouth become more fixed making it more difficult to pronounce sounds from another language similar to a native speaker. Their brains are also less flexible and this is clearly evidenced in the considerably slower progress for adults when learning a new language. Attempting to acquire another language younger therefore has greater overall value for any given individual.

In conclusion, the effectiveness of early language acquisition justifies its inclusion in curricula at all schools. This educational reform should be a priority.

Analysis

1. Many have argued that the earlier students begin learning a language in school the better. 2. Although this can pose challenges for schools, I am in complete agreement with this opinion.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those against early foreign language courses contend it is not always practical. 2. In many school systems, the cost of such courses can be prohibitive. 3. More specifically, in more remote areas, teachers will often not have the ability to teach another language and it may be difficult to recruit foreign native language speakers. 4. If the schools teach a foreign language anyway, then they will have to rely largely on textbooks and the classes are not likely to be as productive. 5. This reality can create a situation where wealthier school districts receive a disproportionately superior education.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. The more detail, the better!

1. However, even when the conditions are not ideal, there is tremendous value in learning a language early relative to learning it later in life. 2. Studies have shown that languages can be acquired far more easily early in one’s education. 3. As a person gets older, the muscles in the mouth become more fixed making it more difficult to pronounce sounds from another language similar to a native speaker. 4. Their brains are also less flexible and this is clearly evidenced in the considerably slower progress for adults when learning a new language. 5. Attempting to acquire another language younger therefore has greater overall value for any given individual.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Keep adding in the result to develop your ideas more.

1. In conclusion, the effectiveness of early language acquisition justifies its inclusion in curricula at all schools. 2. This educational reform should be a priority.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many have argued that the earlier students begin learning a language in school the better. Although this can pose challenges for schools, I am in complete agreement with this opinion.

Those against early foreign language courses contend it is not always practical. In many school systems, the cost of such courses can be prohibitive. More specifically, in more remote areas, teachers will often not have the ability to teach another language and it may be difficult to recruit foreign native language speakers. If the schools teach a foreign language anyway, then they will have to rely largely on textbooks and the classes are not likely to be as productive. This reality can create a situation where wealthier school districts receive a disproportionately superior education.

However, even when the conditions are not ideal, there is tremendous value in learning a language early relative to learning it later in life. Studies have shown that languages can be acquired far more easily early in one’s education. As a person gets older, the muscles in the mouth become more fixed making it more difficult to pronounce sounds from another language similar to a native speaker. Their brains are also less flexible and this is clearly evidenced in the considerably slower progress for adults when learning a new language. Attempting to acquire another language younger therefore has greater overall value for any given individual.

In conclusion, the effectiveness of early language acquisition justifies its inclusion in curricula at all schools. This educational reform should be a priority.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

Many have argued that lots of people think that

the earlier … the better sooner in life is superior

Although but

pose challenges creates problems

I am in complete agreement with this opinion I agree 100%

contend argue

practical works, is possible

school systems the schools in a specific town/district

courses classes

prohibitive prevent you from doing it

More specifically in particular

in more remote areas in the countryside

recruit foreign native language speakers find teachers from other countries

rely largely on textbooks use books too much

productive efficient

reality situation, fact

create a situation lead to the problem

where wealthier school districts in which richer schools

receive a disproportionately superior education have better schools

even when in the case that

conditions situations

not ideal bad

tremendous value in lots of importance in

relative to learning it later in life compared to learning later on

Studies have shown that research indicates that

acquired far more easily learned more efficiently

As a person gets older as you age

muscles parts of the mouth

fixed unable to change

pronounce sounds from articulate, say

similar to a native speaker not that different from a foreigner

less flexible more rigid, fixed

this is clearly evidenced in this is definitely the case

considerably slower progress for not nearly as fast

Attempting trying

acquire get

greater overall value more importance

any given individual a person

effectiveness how well it works

early language acquisition justifies learning a language early in life is reasonable because

inclusion adding it to

curricula what is learned in class

educational reform changes to school

priority important

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

M________________________t t_______________r students begin learning a language in school t______________r. A__________h this can p____________________s for schools, I_______________________________________________n.

Those against early foreign language courses c__________d it is not always p_________l. In many s_____________s, the cost of such c_________s can be p____________e. M_____________y, i_________________________s, teachers will often not have the ability to teach another language and it may be difficult to r____________________________________s. If the schools teach a foreign language anyway, then they will have to r_____________________________s and the classes are not likely to be as p___________e. This r________y can c_______________________________e w___________________________________________________________________________________n.

However, e_________n the c__________s are n__________l, there is t__________________n learning a language early r_____________o l____________________e. S__________________t languages can be a____________________y early in one’s education. A____________________r, the m______s in the mouth become more f_____d making it more difficult to p_______________________m another language s________________________r. Their brains are also l_____________e and t______________________n the c___________________________r adults when learning a new language. A___________g to a_________e another language younger therefore has g___________________e for a_________________________l.

In conclusion, the e___________________s of e___________________________s its i___________n in c___________a at all schools. This e____________________m should be a p___________y.

Pronunciation

ˈmɛni hæv ˈɑːɡjuːd ðæt 
ði ˈɜːlɪə … ðə ˈbɛtə
ɔːlˈðəʊ 
pəʊz ˈʧælɪnʤɪz 
aɪ æm ɪn kəmˈpliːt əˈɡriːmənt wɪð ðɪs əˈpɪnjən 
kənˈtɛnd 
ˈpræktɪkəl 
skuːl ˈsɪstəmz 
ˈkɔːsɪz 
prəˈhɪbɪtɪv 
mɔː spəˈsɪfɪkᵊli 
ɪn mɔː rɪˈməʊt ˈeərɪəz 
rɪˈkruːt ˈfɒrɪn ˈneɪtɪv ˈlæŋɡwɪʤ ˈspiːkəz 
rɪˈlaɪ ˈlɑːʤli ɒn ˈtɛkstbʊks 
prəˈdʌktɪv 
riˈæləti 
kriˈeɪt ə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃᵊn 
weə ˈwɛlθɪə skuːl ˈdɪstrɪkts 
rɪˈsiːv ə ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃnɪtli suːˈpɪəriər ˌɛdjʊˈkeɪʃᵊn 
ˈiːvən wɛn 
kənˈdɪʃᵊnz 
nɒt aɪˈdɪəl 
trɪˈmɛndəs ˈvæljuː ɪn 
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː ˈlɜːnɪŋ ɪt ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf 
ˈstʌdiz hæv ʃəʊn ðæt 
əˈkwaɪəd fɑː mɔːr ˈiːzɪli 
æz ə ˈpɜːsᵊn ɡɛts ˈəʊldə 
ˈmʌslz 
fɪkst 
prəˈnaʊns saʊndz frɒm 
ˈsɪmɪlə tuː ə ˈneɪtɪv ˈspiːkə 
lɛs ˈflɛksəbᵊl 
ðɪs ɪz ˈklɪəli ˈɛvɪdənst ɪn 
kənˈsɪdərəbᵊli ˈsləʊə ˈprəʊɡrəs fɔː 
əˈtɛmptɪŋ 
əˈkwaɪə 
ˈɡreɪtər ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈvæljuː 
ˈɛni ˈɡɪvn ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəl 
ɪˈfɛktɪvnəs 
ˈɜːli ˈlæŋɡwɪʤ ˌækwɪˈzɪʃᵊn ˈʤʌstɪfaɪz 
ɪnˈkluːʒən 
kəˈrɪkjʊlə 
ˌɛdjʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˌriːˈfɔːm 
praɪˈɒrəti 

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://resources.unbabel.com/blog/japanese-finnish-or-chinese-the-10-hardest-languages-for-english-speakers-to-learn

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Talk about a goal that you want to achieve in the future. Include:

What the goal is

When you thought of it

How you will accomplish it

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

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?

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