Task 2 · · 18 samples

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?

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Explain how difficulty following informal conversations, humour or local customs can make it harder to form friendships and feel included.
  • Show how language barriers can affect access to essential services, including healthcare, housing and employment.
  • Acknowledge that interpreters and language classes can help, while explaining why they may not remove immediate difficulties.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the issue and state a clear degree of agreement.
  2. Develop social consequences in one focused paragraph, using a concrete everyday example.
  3. Explain practical consequences in a separate paragraph and connect each example to its potential impact.
  4. Recognise possible support, then explain its limits.
  5. Conclude by restating the position and summarising the two main categories of problems.
Useful vocabulary & examples
a weaker sense of belonging
a reduced feeling of being accepted as part of a community

Being unable to follow group conversations may give newcomers a weaker sense of belonging.

essential services
important services people need, such as healthcare or housing support

Language barriers can make it harder to access essential services.

misunderstand official instructions
interpret guidance from an organisation or authority incorrectly

A person may misunderstand official instructions when completing a form in a second language.

translation services
professional or organised help converting spoken or written information into another language

Translation services can help patients explain their symptoms to medical staff.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

340 words · Illustrative target band

Living in a country where one must speak a foreign language can potentially lead to significant social and practical challenges. I fundamentally disagree with this assertion. Speaking a foreign language can bring about numerous benefits, such as acquiring new skills and securing employment opportunities with attractive remuneration packages. In contemporary society, the ability to communicate in a second language can…

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AI-completed learning example

343 words · Illustrative target band

In the contemporary era of globalization, residing in nations where individuals are compelled to use a foreign language has become increasingly prevalent. There is a contention that this circumstance can give rise to significant social and pragmatic complications. I firmly agree with this assertion, and in the subsequent discourse, I will elaborate on the rationales for this view. The main issue is whether current pr…

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AI-completed learning example

282 words · Illustrative target band

In today’s globalised world, it is increasingly common for people to live in countries where they have to speak a foreign language. Some argue that this can cause severe social and practical issues. I completely agree with this statement, and in this essay, I will discuss the reasons for this and provide examples to support this view. One major social problem is that limited proficiency can make ordinary interaction…

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