As computers can translate quickly and accurately with the development of technology, learning foreign languages is a waste of time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Many opine that foreign language acquisition is a waste of time with the advent of advanced technology that enables computers to translate promptly and accurately. I completely disagree with this view because language learning remains valuable, enhancing cultural understanding and communication.
Learning a foreign language deepens one’s understanding of foreign culture. There is an inextricable connection between language and culture. By learning a foreign language, people obtain insight into the culture and norms of a specific social group. It, in fact, enables them to comprehend different perspectives, allow diversity, and understand the cultural nuances of the target community. Learning Spanish, for example, one can gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture, tradition and social norms. Language acquisition thus is not only learning the alphabet, word order, and grammar rules, but it is also learning about the particular society’s behaviour and cultural customs.
Likewise, foreign language learning also facilitates effective communication beyond mere translation. It enables individuals to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds. Foreign language acquisition, in simple words, enriches understanding, allows meaningful interactions, and establishes cross-cultural connections. By way of illustration, being fluent in English one can develop an effective collaboration with international partners, colleagues, and customers in a global business setting. In addition, learning a foreign language enables individuals to embrace different paradigms of thought, broadening horizons, expanding worldviews and promoting empathy. This means that they can see the world through different cultural and linguistic lenses. For instance, learning Mandarin can offer a different perspective on norms, etiquette and respect.
To conclude, I believe that foreign language acquisition is not a futile effort, rather it is a valuable investment that can enhance cultural understanding, promote effective communication, and facilitate personal growth and perspective.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural wording Original: Many opine Suggested revision: Many people argue Why it matters: “Many people argue” is more natural and direct in formal English.
- 2. Use a plural noun Original: culture Suggested revision: cultures Why it matters: The general claim concerns the cultures associated with different foreign languages.
- 3. Use natural collocation Original: obtain Suggested revision: gain Why it matters: “Gain insight into” is the conventional collocation.
- 4. Correct the collocation Original: allow Suggested revision: appreciate Why it matters: People can appreciate or accept diversity, whereas “allow diversity” is unnatural in this context.
- 5. Use parallel plurals Original: tradition Suggested revision: traditions Why it matters: “Traditions” should be plural to match the general reference and the parallel noun “norms.”
- 6. Remove redundant linking Original: Likewise, foreign language learning also Suggested revision: Likewise, foreign language learning Why it matters: “Likewise” already signals addition, so “also” is redundant.
- 7. Use the fixed phrase Original: words Suggested revision: terms Why it matters: “In simple terms” is the conventional expression for a plain explanation.
- 8. Choose precise wording Original: allows Suggested revision: facilitates Why it matters: “Facilitates” describes how language ability makes interaction possible more precisely.
- 9. Fix the sentence boundary Original: not a futile effort, rather it is Suggested revision: not a futile effort; rather, it is Why it matters: A semicolon and following comma correctly join the two contrasting independent clauses.
- 10. Complete the collocation Original: personal growth and perspective Suggested revision: personal growth and broader perspectives Why it matters: “Broader perspectives” is the natural complement to personal growth in this list.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: Learning Spanish, for example, one can gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture, tradition and social norms. Suggested revision: By learning Spanish, for example, one can gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture, traditions and social norms. Why it matters: Adding “by” fixes the dangling introductory modifier and clarifies how the understanding is gained.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: By way of illustration, being fluent in English one can develop an effective collaboration with international partners, colleagues, and customers in a global business setting. Suggested revision: By way of illustration, fluency in English can enable effective collaboration with international partners, colleagues, and customers in a global business setting. Why it matters: The rewrite removes the dangling participial phrase and uses “collaboration” naturally as an uncountable noun.
Suggested Rewrites
- Many opine Many people argue
- culture cultures
- obtain gain
- allow appreciate
- tradition traditions
- Likewise, foreign language learning also Likewise, foreign language learning
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay’s strongest feature is its clear, sustained disagreement, supported by mature discussion of cultural understanding, meaningful communication and alternative perspectives. Its main limitation is that some supporting points overlap and a few otherwise sophisticated phrases are grammatically or collocationally awkward. Prioritise distinguishing what human language knowledge adds beyond literal translation, then revise participial examples and imprecise expressions so the reasoning remains consistently sharp.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is direct and consistent, and the response develops multiple relevant benefits of language learning with clear examples.
Strengthen the comparison with technology by explaining one limitation of computer translation, such as handling cultural nuance or building interpersonal trust.
Coherence and Cohesion
Focused paragraphs, logical sequencing, and varied cohesive links create a clear and well-managed progression throughout.
Separate cross-cultural communication from cognitive perspective-taking more explicitly so each idea has a distinct argumentative role.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad and generally precise, with effective use of abstract and topic-specific language, though several collocations are unnatural.
Replace “allow diversity,” “develop an effective collaboration,” and “personal growth and perspective” with more natural, precise formulations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used with strong control, while occasional dangling modifiers and punctuation lapses remain.
Revise constructions such as “Learning Spanish, one can” and “being fluent in English one can” by giving the opening phrase an explicit grammatical subject.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
As computers can translate quickly and accurately with the development of technology, learning foreign languages is a waste of time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.