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

349 words · Illustrative target band

Residing in a foreign country where one is required to communicate in a second language can indeed lead to significant challenges, both socially and practically. While some individuals may navigate these situations with relative ease, I strongly contend that the inability to communicate proficiently in the local language can have serious ramifications. Research indicates that language barriers can affect everyday par…

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AI-completed learning example

347 words · Illustrative target band

Every year, immigrants encounter the daunting challenge of overcoming language barriers, which can lead to a myriad of social and practical problems. I strongly endorse the view that such challenges are significant and often insurmountable without adequate proficiency in the local language. This essay will elucidate the extensive range of difficulties that foreigners grapple with when their skills do not yet match th…

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AI-completed learning example

348 words · Illustrative target band

Language serves as a fundamental medium through which individuals are able to express their thoughts, emotions, and reasoning. It is the cornerstone of communication and social interaction, influencing diverse aspects of human existence. The interplay between one’s native language and a foreign language often creates a competitive dynamic, wherein the ability to convey one’s feelings and understand others may be limi…

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