This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of learning the languages and customs of another country from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Learning Languages and Customs
Some think that students must travel to another country in order to learn its language and customs.
Real Past IELTS Exam
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many believe that in order to become immersed in another language and culture it is important to travel to the country in question. I agree generally, though there are certain exceptions depending on the purpose for learning.
Those with an academic interest in a given culture often do not need to travel there. This is particularly true if they are researching an historic period. For example, a scholar learning about Ancient Greece going there today, will only see ruins and a radically different culture. Ancient Greek is no longer even spoken. It would be much more profitable for a student of the Ancients to learn the language fluently on their own and become steeped in their histories and classic literature. The works of Euripides, Sophocles and Herodotus will provide far greater insight into the history, culture, and language of the Ancient Greeks than the few vestiges from thousands of years ago still standing today.
Nonetheless, cases like the one detailed above are rare and most people will benefit greatly from a more immersive experience. The difference between those studying abroad and learning in their own country is illustrative. Students attempting to learn English, for example, will need to be naturally adept at languages to become fluent without living in an English-speaking country. The majority of learners will improve faster when making daily transactions in English and learning in the real world outside the classroom. The cultural advantages are also self-evident. English movies and TV shows are realistic to varying degrees but pale in comparison to having actual foreign friends and experiencing firsthand their traditions and culture.
In conclusion, apart from esoteric academic study, nothing can replace the experience of living in another country. Anyone fully committed to understanding the culture and language of another country must factor in a period of time in residence there.
Analysis
1. Many believe that in order to become immersed in another language and culture it is important to travel to the country in question. 2. I agree generally, though there are certain exceptions depending on the purpose for learning.
- Paraphrase the overall topic clearly.
- Write your opinion. Read here more about introductions.
1. Those with an academic interest in a given culture often do not need to travel there. 2. This is particularly true if they are researching an historic period. 3. For example, a scholar learning about Ancient Greece going there today, will only see ruins and a radically different culture. 4. Ancient Greek is no longer even spoken. 5. It would be much more profitable for a student of the Ancients to learn the language fluently on their own and become steeped in their histories and classic literature. 6. The works of Euripides, Sophocles and Herodotus will provide far greater insight into the history, culture, and language of the Ancient Greeks than the few vestiges from thousands of years ago still standing today.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea or begin and example.
- Start to develop your example.
- Vary long and short sentences.
- Develop the example as fully as possible with specific ideas and results.
- Continue developing until the end of the paragraph.
1. Nonetheless, cases like the one detailed above are rare and most people will benefit greatly from a more immersive experience. 2. The difference between those studying abroad and learning in their own country is illustrative. 3. Students attempting to learn English, for example, will need to be naturally adept at languages to become fluent without living in an English-speaking country. 4. The majority of learners will improve faster when making daily transactions in English and learning in the real world outside the classroom. 5. The cultural advantages are also self-evident. English movies and TV shows are realistic to varying degrees but pale in comparison to having actual foreign friends and experiencing firsthand their traditions and culture.
- Write another topic sentence with another clear main idea. Read here about main ideas.
- Explain your main idea, if necessary.
- The more specific and clear your development, the better.
- Include as many details as possible.
- Finish defending your main idea – don’t switch to a new one!
1. In conclusion, apart from esoteric academic study, nothing can replace the experience of living in another country. 2. Anyone fully committed to understanding the culture and language of another country must factor in a period of time in residence there.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
- Add a final thought/detail. Read here about writing a conclusion.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many believe that in order to become immersed in another language and culture it is important to travel to the country in question. I agree generally, though there are certain exceptions depending on the purpose for learning.
Those with an academic interest in a given culture often do not need to travel there. This is particularly true if they are researching an historic period. For example, a scholar learning about Ancient Greece going there today, will only see ruins and a radically different culture. Ancient Greek is no longer even spoken. It would be much more profitable for a student of the Ancients to learn the language fluently on their own and become steeped in their histories and classic literature. The works of Euripides, Sophocles and Herodotus will provide far greater insight into the history, culture, and language of the Ancient Greeks than the few vestiges from thousands of years ago still standing today.
Nonetheless, cases like the one detailed above are rare and most people will benefit greatly from a more immersive experience. The difference between those studying abroad and learning in their own country is illustrative. Students attempting to learn English, for example, will need to be naturally adept at languages to become fluent without living in an English-speaking country. The majority of learners will improve faster when making daily transactions in English and learning in the real world outside the classroom. The cultural advantages are also self-evident. English movies and TV shows are realistic to varying degrees but pale in comparison to having actual foreign friends and experiencing firsthand their traditions and culture.
In conclusion, apart from esoteric academic study, nothing can replace the experience of living in another country. Anyone fully committed to understanding the culture and language of another country must factor in a period of time in residence there.
Answers
immersed completely part of
in question relevant here
generally overall
certain exceptions some cases outside the rule
purpose reason
academic interest scholarly interest
a given culture the nation in question
particularly true especially the case
historic period part of history
scholar researcher, student
Ancient Greece the Greeks from thousands of years ago
ruins old buildings, monuments
radically different culture completely different culture
Ancient Greek the language of the Ancient Greeks
profitable benefit more from
Ancients Ancient peoples
on their own by themselves
steeped in immersed in
classic literature old books
works classic literature
provide far greater insight a lot more helpful
vestiges remnants
still standing today not yet gone
nonetheless regardless
cases like the one detailed above examples such as the one just mentioned
rare only sometimes
benefit greatly get a lot out of
more immersive experience more deeply a part of
illustrative shows
naturally adept have a knack for
fluent able to speak well
majority most of
daily transactions paying for things in daily life
real world outside the classroom real life
self-evident obvious
realistic to varying degrees true to some extent
pale in comparison to not as strong as
firsthand your own experience
traditions passed down beliefs and behaviours
apart from besides
esoteric academic study odd area to learn about
nothing can replace irreplaceable
fully committed 100% engaged in
factor in consider
in residence live there
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ɪˈmɜːst
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
ˈʤɛnərəli
ˈsɜːtn ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
ˈpɜːpəs
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈɪntrɪst
ə ˈgɪvn ˈkʌlʧə
pəˈtɪkjʊləli truː
hɪsˈtɒrɪk ˈpɪərɪəd
ˈskɒlə
ˈeɪnʃ(ə)nt griːs
rʊɪnz
ˈrædɪkəli ˈdɪfrənt ˈkʌlʧə
ˈeɪnʃ(ə)nt griːk
ˈprɒfɪtəbl
ˈeɪnʃ(ə)nts
ɒn ðeər əʊn
stiːpt ɪn
ˈklæsɪk ˈlɪtərɪʧə
wɜːks
prəˈvaɪd fɑː ˈgreɪtər ˈɪnsaɪt
ˈvɛstɪʤɪz
stɪl ˈstændɪŋ təˈdeɪ
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈkeɪsɪz laɪk ðə wʌn ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv
reə
ˈbɛnɪfɪt ˈgreɪtli
mɔːr ɪˈmɜːsɪv ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈɪləstreɪtɪv
ˈnæʧrəli ˈædɛpt
ˈflu(ː)ənt
məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈdeɪli trænˈzækʃənz
rɪəl wɜːld ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə ˈklɑːsrʊm
sɛlf-ˈɛvɪdənt
rɪəˈlɪstɪk tuː ˈveəriɪŋ dɪˈgriːz
peɪl ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn tuː
ˈfɜːstˈhænd
trəˈdɪʃənz
əˈpɑːt frɒm
ˌɛsəʊˈtɛrɪk ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈstʌdi
ˈnʌθɪŋ kæn rɪˈpleɪs
ˈfʊli kəˈmɪtɪd
ˈfæktər ɪn
ɪn ˈrɛzɪdəns
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many believe that in order to become i______________d in another language and culture it is important to travel to the country i_______________n. I agree g______________y, though there are c______________________s depending on the p________________e for learning.
Those with an a______________________t in a_____________________e often do not need to travel there. This is p______________________e if they are researching an h_____________________d. For example, a s_____________r learning about A____________________e going there today, will only see r________s and a r_____________________________e. A___________________k is no longer even spoken. It would be much more p_______________e for a student of the A__________________s to learn the language fluently o_______________n and become s__________________n their histories and c____________________e. The w_________s of Euripides, Sophocles and Herodotus will p________________________t into the history, culture, and language of the Ancient Greeks than the few v______________s from thousands of years ago s________________________y.
N_______________s, c____________________________________e are r______e and most people will b___________________y from a m__________________________e. The difference between those studying abroad and learning in their own country is i__________________e. Students attempting to learn English, for example, will need to be n____________________t at languages to become f____________t without living in an English-speaking country. The m____________y of learners will improve faster when making d______________________s in English and learning in the r_________________________________m. The cultural advantages are also s________________________t. English movies and TV shows are r____________________________s but p__________________________o having actual foreign friends and experiencing f______________d their t________________s and culture.
In conclusion, a____________m e___________________________y, n______________________e the experience of living in another country. Anyone f____________________d to understanding the culture and language of another country must f________________n a period of time i_________________e there.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Learn here about a day in the life of a student living abroad studying English:
Reading Practice
Learn more immersion from The New York Times here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/how-immersion-helps-to-learn-a-new-language.html
Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the real speaking exam related to history:
History
Do you like reading books about history?
Which country’s history is most interesting to you?
Which historical event or period do you find most interesting?
Why is it important to read about history?
IELTS Speaking Exam
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic and then check with my sample answer:
Some believe that we should invent a new language for international communication.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Real Past IELTS Exam
I took the ielts test on July, 4. The writing task2 is as follows. Please publish this as well.
“Some scientists believe that in future computers will have more intelligence than human beings. While some see this as a positive development others worry about the negative consequence. Discuss both the view and give your opinion.”
Thanks a lot – I will write about it soon!
Many people believe that in order to acquire information about other languages and cultures, students should visit their nations. I completely disagree with this statement because traveling has just a slight relevance to students learning. The ability to learn of students depends on their effort and determination.
Other students are indeed more motivated to study the nation’s language and cultural practices if they are exposed to it. In terms of language, they can adapt it more easily in their daily encounter. Talking with the native speakers helped the learner to get used to a foreign language. Also, students can simply understand the tradition and history of a certain country if pieces of evidence are readily apparent. It is the nature of a student to investigate and observe in a new place out of curiosity.
However, expenses and time allotment are issues in traveling to study in another country, might as well students can learn it without doing this. For many people, being sophisticated in a particular task only needs hard work and drive. An example of this is the way other people mastered the English language through consistent practice and will. Moreover, students can acquire knowledge about the history of the nation through research. With this, students could save time and money and spend it on other important matters.
In conclusion, although traveling to another country is beneficial to acquire information regarding their language and custom, it is impractical for some students. In my opinion, consistency and perseverance are the best weapons for them to become knowledgeable.
Good Jessica – you’ll end up writing about all my essay topics someday!
visit these nations, has just a passing relevance, Some students are indeed, encounters, are all around them, when it comes to cquiring, best methds (weapons is informal)
🙂