Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
While some people believe that the sole reason we should learn a foreign language is to visit or work in a foreign country, many others opine that the benefits of learning a different language are not limited to job and travel. This essay delves into both points of view. My opinion is that learning a foreign language goes beyond travel, migration or job prospects.
On the one hand, proponents of learning a second language for travelling and working in a different country think that people need the skills of a foreign language only to be able to communicate with people who speak this language. Thus a large number of people learn foreign languages like English, French, German, Spanish, and Arabic to travel, migrate or find jobs in countries where people use these languages. From this regard, it seems quite logical that visiting a country or working there is the main, and sometimes the sole reason, people learn a second language. In my country, for example, most people learn English and Spanish while almost none learn Russian. Migration and job prospects are the reasons that have established this trend, I believe.
On the contrary, those who believe in the multifaced benefits of learning a foreign language express that cognitive development occurs faster among children who learn a second language than those who do not. It is scientifically proven that children who learn more than one language in school become more skilled individuals in their adult life. Learning a second language is mandatory in many academic syllabi, and this helps learners develop their motor skills as well.
Moreover, people who have skills in more than one language are capable of reading more books, making new friends and understanding the lifestyles and cultural aspects of different nationalities. Since learning a foreign language helps us make new friends, everyone should learn at least one or two foreign languages to expand their social and professional network. Thus it is evident that learning a foreign language has many other benefits as well.
In conclusion, many people learn a foreign language to travel to or work in a developed country. But it is quite evident that there are far many advantages of learning a foreign language than just working or migrating to a different country.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural reporting verb Original: opine Suggested revision: argue Why it matters: Argue is a more natural verb for presenting a position in an academic discussion.
- 2. Keep task terminology Original: different Suggested revision: foreign Why it matters: Foreign language is the precise concept used throughout the question.
- 3. Use neutral overview verb Original: delves into both points of view Suggested revision: discusses both points of view Why it matters: Discusses describes the essay's function directly without an inflated expression.
- 4. Avoid repeated language Original: people who speak this language Suggested revision: its speakers Why it matters: The pronoun and noun avoid repeating language while preserving the reference.
- 5. Streamline the transition Original: Thus a large number of people Suggested revision: Therefore, many people Why it matters: The revised transition is concise and correctly punctuated.
- 6. Use formal example phrase Original: foreign languages like English Suggested revision: foreign languages such as English Why it matters: Such as introduces examples more precisely in formal writing.
- 7. Fix viewpoint phrase Original: regard Suggested revision: perspective Why it matters: From this regard is not an idiomatic expression for introducing an interpretation.
- 8. Remove disruptive commas Original: the main, and sometimes the sole reason, Suggested revision: the main and sometimes sole reason Why it matters: The commas incorrectly separate coordinated modifiers from the noun they describe.
- 9. Fix person reference Original: almost none learn Russian Suggested revision: almost no one learns Russian Why it matters: No one requires a singular verb and refers clearly to people.
- 10. Use accurate collocation Original: reasons that have established this trend Suggested revision: factors that have created this trend Why it matters: Factors create a trend, whereas reasons do not naturally establish one.
- 11. Use contrast transition Original: On the contrary Suggested revision: By contrast Why it matters: The paragraph presents an alternative view rather than contradicting the preceding statement as false.
- 12. Correct word form Original: multifaced Suggested revision: multifaceted Why it matters: Multifaceted is the correct adjective for benefits with several aspects.
Suggested Rewrites
- opine argue
- different foreign
- delves into both points of view discusses both points of view
- people who speak this language its speakers
- Thus a large number of people Therefore, many people
- foreign languages like English foreign languages such as English
Why this response received Band 7.0
The essay’s clearest strength is its full engagement with both views and its consistent position that foreign-language learning offers cognitive, cultural, social, and professional benefits beyond travel and work. The main limitation is that several supporting claims are broad or asserted rather than carefully justified, and some ambitious wording is unnatural; prioritise deeper explanation of fewer benefits, supported by precise examples and more idiomatic academic language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are discussed and a clear opinion is maintained, with relevant examples and several developed alternative benefits, although some claims are overgeneralised.
Develop one or two non-travel benefits in greater depth and qualify claims about cognitive or motor development with a clear causal explanation.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay is logically organised into the two views, further benefits, and a conclusion, with clear progression despite some formulaic or inaccurate linking.
Replace “On the contrary” with “On the other hand” and reduce repetitive conclusion signals within body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
A broad vocabulary supports the discussion, but errors such as “from this regard,” “multifaced,” “express that,” and “far many advantages” reduce precision and naturalness.
Use established academic collocations such as “in this respect,” “multifaceted benefits,” “argue that,” and “many more advantages.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentences is generally well controlled, with occasional comparative, article, and noun-phrase errors that do not impede meaning.
Check comparison structures and write forms such as “develop faster than it does in children who do not” and “advantages beyond working abroad.”
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.