Describe a Thing You Did to Learn Another Language
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
What language you learned
What you did to learn it
How long you spent learning it
And explain how you felt about learning this language
Sample
I would like to talk about my experience of learning basic Vietnamese when I started working in the travel industry connected with Vietnam.
Since I was dealing with local people, hotel staff, drivers, and travel partners in Vietnam, I realized that learning at least some basic Vietnamese phrases would make communication easier and help me build better relationships.
To learn the language, I started watching YouTube videos and using mobile language-learning applications. I also practiced simple daily conversations with local Vietnamese friends whenever I visited Hanoi. I learned common greetings, numbers, food-related vocabulary, and basic travel expressions.
Apart from that, I used to write new words in a notebook and revise them regularly. Listening to local conversations and repeating words helped improve my pronunciation. Sometimes I also watched Vietnamese travel videos with subtitles to understand sentence structures better.
I spent around six to eight months learning the basics of the language. Although I did not become fluent, I became comfortable understanding simple conversations and communicating in common situations.
Learning Vietnamese was both challenging and exciting for me because the pronunciation and tones are quite different from English and Hindi. Initially, I found it difficult to pronounce words correctly, but gradually I improved through regular practice.
I felt very satisfied and confident whenever local people appreciated my efforts to speak their language. It also made my travel and business experiences more enjoyable and meaningful.
Overall, learning another language helped me understand a new culture better and increased my confidence while communicating with international people.
Follow-ups
1. Why do people learn foreign languages?
People learn foreign languages for education, career opportunities, travel, business, and communication with people from different cultures.
2. What difficulties do people face while learning a new language?
People often struggle with pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and lack of regular practice. Fear of making mistakes can also reduce confidence.
3. Do you think children learn languages faster than adults?
Yes, children generally learn languages faster because their minds are more adaptable and they are less afraid of making mistakes while speaking.
4. How has technology changed language learning?
Technology has made language learning much easier through online classes, mobile apps, translation tools, podcasts, and interactive videos.
5. Is English important in today’s world?
Yes, English is extremely important because it is widely used in business, education, technology, tourism, and international communication.
6. What is the best way to practice a foreign language?
In my opinion, the best way is to speak regularly with native speakers, listen to real conversations, watch videos, and use the language in daily life situations.