December 6, 2022 - IELTS BAND7

CUE CARD -Describe a thing you did to learn another language

December 6, 2022 Ayushi Rawat

Speaking -Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a thing you did to learn another language
You should say:

What language did you learn ?

What did you do ?

How does it help you learn the language?

And how do you feel about it ?

Sample Answer

In the era of globalization, knowing your native language is not enough. The world is becoming increasingly globalized and knowing a second language can always give you an unfair advantage. Learning a second language opens up the opportunity for being part of a community with a different culture, and learn more about the world around us. As I am planning to move abroad, I thought it would be prudent to learn an additional language as it will be easier for me to communicate with the natives. So, the country I would be moving in is Canada, and French is the second language spoken in Canada. Therefore, I decided to learn this language.

For that, I started looking for the best institute, after searching for more than an hour. I came across the top-rated academy in my town, I immediately booked my appointment. The institute had a great learning atmosphere. The staff was really friendly; they clearly explained the vital details about the class.

I was full of beans to attend class the next day. My class strength was not much so it was easy for both the trainer and students to have a smooth flow of knowledge. Initially, I would feel nervous and stressed but my trainer was quite helpful and had proficient knowledge of the language, and used different new ways to make learning fun. She insisted me to watch French movies with English subtitles.

Another way I powered up my language learning progress was by listening to French songs over and over again to the point that the words are stuck in my head. Arguably it was one of the easiest methods for learning French, especially, if you’re not being exposed to French regularly as I was when I was learning. I took that course for 3 months and learned umpteen new things about the language.

Once the course was completed they took my assessment which I cleared with flying colors. I felt proud of myself and gained the confidence to communicate with the natives, however, I am not so fluent in it but I am pretty sure that I will not face any language barrier whenever I visit abroad. Overall, it was a wonderful experience learning a new language, and would recommend others to widen their horizon of language.

Speaking -Part 3 (Follow up questions)
Here are some examples of follow up questions that examiner may ask during your speaking (part 3) related to cue card ‘Describe a thing you did to learn another language’.

Q1. What difficulties do people face when learning a language ?

I reckon the biggest obstacle while learning a language can be as simple as a loss of motivation. No matter how excited you are at the beginning, you will encounter the inevitable slump. Another reason would be lack of opportunity to practice the language creates a hindrance to learning it. It’s also challenging to learn how to think in another language. Above all, it takes time, hard work, and dedication.

Q2. What is the best way to learn a language ?

According to me practicing it with people who are fluent in it, while having friends or study buddies is always a great idea, I you know someone who is a native speaker of the language you are trying to learn. Moreover, people who want to take advantage of one of the best ways to learn a language from the comfort of their own homes should watch a movie related to the language they will be able to grasp more.

Q3. Which is better, to study alone or to study in a group ?

Everyone have different study strategies. I think students who choose to study alone can focus completely on the material. Whereas, studying in a group students are more likely to get distracted. Group studying hampers creativity and efficiency and when there are exams on the horizon, efficiency should be the priority.

Q4. Do you think language learning is important? Why ?

Learning is not unique to humans and has continued all over the world throughout the history of human life. Several scientific studies have shown that lifelong learning activities can help people maintain better brain function as they age. Learning a second language opens up the opportunity for being part of a community with a different culture and learning more about the world around us. Besides, it increases the chances of landing a good job or advancing in one’s career.