Sample Answer
Do you think English will be the mainstream language of the world in the future? Why?
It’s hard to tell, but I think that that’s a real possibility. English is already one of the top languages in the world. Almost everywhere you go, people speak it. So I don’t think it’s such a leap to say that it could be the mainstream language in the future. But then again, Mandarin and Spanish are catching up as really popular languages as well. So I can’t say for sure
What benefits can a foreign language bring to one’s career?
Well, knowing a foreign language can definitely help your career. For one, a foreign language can help you work in different places. If you wanted to travel in your career, knowing another language would definitely come in handy. Besides, knowing a foreign language can also help you speak with clients from different countries, which is helpful if you work in business.
When learning a foreign language, which part is more difficult? Speaking or writing?
I suppose that speaking is probably more difficult. Writing can be hard in its own right, but you usually have more resources to help you learn, like dictionaries. But speaking a language is harder because in addition to knowing grammar rules, you have to learn how to pronounce new sounds. Plus, if you’re having a conversation with a native speaker, you might get easily confused since they usually speak very quickly.
Do you think non-native speakers can master a foreign language perfectly?
Well, I think they can definitely master it really well. A lot of people just have the knack for learning new languages. And with enough time and practice, it’s possible to speak another language fluently. Sometimes, you can’t even tell that they aren’t native speakers. But I don’t know if they can ever be perfect with a foreign language. For example, there are some idioms in English that a non-native speaker might have trouble with learning.
Do children learn a foreign language easier?
Yes, children can definitely learn a foreign language faster and easier. Since they’re still developing, children’s brains can take in new information much quicker than adults can. They can adapt to new ways of speaking much better as well. Lots of people have learned one or even two new languages in their childhood, and it’s stuck with them for the long run. It’s amazing how quickly children can pick up new things.
What are the relations between language and culture? / Do you think learning a foreign language is helpful to understand the local culture?
I think that language helps define a culture. For example, there are some sayings that relate to a culture, and can’t really be translated to another language. More generally speaking, learning a language is equivalent to learning a culture. Besides the language skill, you can also learn the values of the culture. For example, you can learn a lot about how a culture views money by focusing on how the language describes money. So yes, learning a foreign language can help you understand the local culture better.
Vocab Highlights
that’s a real possibility
I don’t think it’s such a leap to say that
But then again
catching up
I can’t say for sure
come in handy
in its own right
take in
it’s stuck with them for the long run
pick up new things
sayings