GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 204
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some children have a natural ability to grasp foreign languages and for that reason, it should not be a mandatory subject in the academic curriculum.
How far do you agree or disagree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Some educationists and linguists claim that learning foreign languages should not be compulsory in the academic curriculum as many children can acquire a second language easily through their natural receptive ability. However, I vehemently disagree with this notion.
There are several cogent reasons as to why foreign languages should be included in the curriculum. First, children have cognitive advantages to learn a language. For a child, in other words, acquisition of a language is part of his or her brain chemistry. A recent study reveals that children can effectively utilize a part of their brains called the deep motor area to learn new languages. It is therefore important for us to offer a conducive environment for learning a foreign language by introducing a second language into the school curriculum as an essential part.
Second, learning foreign languages enhances multicultural competence that is of profound importance in a growing globalized world. In fact, multiculturalism promotes unity and a compassionate attitude towards others. So, it seems enormously important to spark children’s interest in other cultures and people at a phase when they are more open and receptive. That is why children ought to be exposed to a second language in the classroom.
Last but not least, learning a foreign language improves overall academic performance. To put it another way, it helps boost a child’s cognitive development, which paves the way for facilitating overall academic progress. A study has evidenced that bilingual children are good at critical-thinking, problem-solving, reading and writing compared to their counterparts. So, foreign languages should be statutory in elementary school.
To reiterate, children have an intrinsic ability to learn a new language, and thus reaping the benefits of early learning. Therefore, foreign language acquisition should be introduced in the elementary school curriculum.