IELTS Book 11 Test 3 Task 2 Writing Band 9 pdf

IELTS  11 Writing Model Essay (Free sample)

Test 3 Task 2 Question

Test 3 Task 2 Model Essay by an Expert 

There are endless reasons why learning a foreign language enhances one’s life. Certainly, the most practical reason is that it allows you to communicate while abroad, but this essay also argues that being bilingual, or even multilingual, has benefits beyond this.

The view that the only reason for learning a second language is to use it while travelling is rather limited. However, this is certainly the most practical and potentially the most important reason for gaining a second language. Not only does speaking a foreign country’s native language make it more convenient when travelling and working there, but it also gives you a unique insight into the culture of that place. It enables you to connect and communicate with local people, and thus have experiences that would be impossible if you were unable to break down the communication barrier.

However, this is by no means the only reason to learn a second language. For one thing, bilingualism has a broad range of psychological benefits. Studies have shown that bilinguals have better multitasking and memory skills, for example, probably because they are used to swapping between two systems of speech, and have to remember a much broader set of grammar rules and vocabulary. Furthermore, learning a language is fun in and of itself. It’s possible to see language-learning as a code-breaking activity, full of logical puzzles and mystery. Translation is also a fascinating and creative activity, in which the translator attempts to capture the spirit of the words in both languages.

Whilst it is fun and enlightening to travel and use one’s second language in its original country by travelling or working abroad, there is a wide range of benefits to learning another language, even if one doesn’t use it in this more practical way.

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