IELTS Writing task 2: Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems

Topic:

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?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Answer:

Many people think that there are serious social and practical problems associating with living in a foreign country where they have speak a different language from their mother tongue. I personally think that although there might be challenges to live in a country with different language, the benefits totally outweighs the drawbacks.

It is a common knowledge that language barrier can cause serious problems to people when they live or work abroad. Not being able to communicate properly with local people can cause inconvenience not only at work but also in daily life. For example, many foreigners find it difficult just to buy groceries in the market because they do not know how to explain the things they look for. Besides, language is a part of the culture and tradition, not mastering the language can discourage people from socializing and make them feel isolated from their surroundings.

Although I understand these arguments, I believe the difficulties of living in a foreign country can bring people more benefits. While many people consider the language barrier an impassable obstacle, the difficulties one faces when interacting with local people can be an encouragement for him to try harder to learn the language and gradually integrate himself into the community. The problem can be solved at its roots just by mastering the language because most people feel more confident when they can express their opinions and needs freely. More importantly, living abroad itself is a great chance for people to expand their vision and knowledge by meeting new people and having new experiences in life.

In conclusion, despite the fact that people may face many social and practical problems when they live abroad, I believe that they can benefit much more from being exposed to a foreign environment.

Comment:

I used to think that there must be a “frame” for any IELTS writing task 2, but after I tried to follow the ones posted by many IELTS websites, I found that although they are quite useful sometimes, there are no fixed way to writing an essay. It would be better to write freely to what you think fit and not limit yourself with the “frame”. Anyway, the suggested structures are just for reference. Just remember to answer the question directly, explain your reasons and give examples.

I have read somewhere that the “safe length” of an essay is about 300 words, which can be divided into about 10-13 sentences. I usually use 2 sentences for the opening, 8-10 sentences for the two paragraphs in the body (each 4-5 sentences) and 1-2 sentences for the conclusion. The number can change from time to time.

There is two weeks to my computer delivered IELTS exam, I am trying hard not to be lazy. My aim is to get LRWS 8877, hope that it will work out this time. Last time I got 7.5 in writing but only 6.5 in speaking, and I am really concerned about my speaking skill.

Wish me luck this time!