IELTS essay - Learning culture when learning language

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Topic: In order to learn a language well, we should learn about the culture and lifestyles of the people who speak that language. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

When learning a foreign language, many people also learn about the country where the language comes from. In my opinion, students should understand the culture and lifestyles of those speaking the language, but only from when they reach a certain level of that language.

Unarguably, studying the culture of native speakers can foster learners to communicate that language more effectively and naturally. First, a country's history and lifestyles have an impact on the foundation and evolution of their language. For example, syntax, which is the order of words in a sentence, usually differs from language to language, reflecting the disparity in ways of seeing things between people who speak different languages. In addition, non-verbal language, such as body language, facial expressions, and physical gestures are also used to deliver a message. While silence often means agreement in English-speaking countries, it may convey a meaning of disagreement or even resentment in Asian nations. Learning non-verbal communication is thus of critical importance in mastering a language.

Despite the benefits expressed above, learning about culture when learning a foreign language should not be over-emphasized. At the very beginning, there are a rich variety of language aspects students have to cope with, such as grammar, pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and so forth. Widening their knowledge on this early stage may make students overwhelmed and stressful. Not until they have a solid foundation of a language should they start stretching themselves to broaden their know-how about lifestyles of native speakers.

In conclusion, learning about culture plays an integral role in enhancing students' language proficiency; however, for beginners, learning the language itself should be still the first priority.