Learning English At School Is Often Seen As More Important Than Learning Local Languages | Band 7 IELTS Essay Sample
Learning English at school is often seen as more important than learning local languages. If these are not taught, many are at risk of dying out. In your opinion, is it important for everyone to learn English? Should we try to ensure the survival of local languages and, if so, how?
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Band 7 IELTS essay sample
In some countries teaching English at schools is becoming more important than teaching the local language. This may lead to the demise of some languages.
Putting English at a higher level of importance at schools than the mother language is a very bad idea. Firstly in this essay I will discuss when English should be taught at schools and then the need for using English on a daily basis in countries where English is not the mother language.
English should be studied when someone realizes that it’ll be necessary for his or her career. Many people know no English until they are grown up, but they can study it and achieve a great level of proficiency after sometime. For example, in 2005 only 30% of the population between 30-40 years old in Brazil knew how to speak English well, but 10 years later, 65% of the population between 40-50 years old were very good English users.
Not everyone needs to know English to go through the day. many don’t use it during their routine. By this it’s clear that a local language is far more important, because that’s the one used in that specific place. Keeping it like this can save this particular language. A study done by USP about country cities in 2016 showed that only 10% of these city’s citizens need English regularly.
To conclude, thinking that English is more important than a local language is a risk that’s not worth taking. Learning English when you are older and out of school is a great way of keeping other languages alive. Letting people who don’t use English every day speak only their own natural language is more important than teaching English to them.