Question
As part of education, students should spend a period of time studying and living in a different country to learn language and culture.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample answer
As one of the oldest industries, education is constantly branching out: especially in the context of globalisation, studying overseas for language betterment and culture acquisition is gaining popularity. However, this essay argues that the practice is generally neither applicable nor feasible.
Admittedly, studying in another country fulfills the named purposes. For one thing, learning a foreign language or multiple foreign tongues is beneficial and learning languages where they are spoken is thus naturally believed to be a plus. Additionally, in terms of culture, second-hand experience isnowhere close to "living the culture" in the native environment. With those two points considered, continuing education abroad does merit approval.
However, given that learning abroad does yields benefits, the question of "applicability" seems to have escaped examination. Students, with theirdiverse academic interests and disciplines, might not need to get in touch withexotic cultures or acquire foreign languages to the extent of working on themin an authentic environment, i.e. the native countries. For example, there is little need for a student majoring in traditional Chinese literature to (go to the US to) improve spoken English or know more about the American Revolution.
Further, despite the benefits and necessity of the matter in question, studying abroad can just be impossible for a major proportion of students. Learning in another country, most probably if not definitely, financially impacts on students' and their domestic economy. Moreover, most foreign languages and cultures coveted by students likely originated from major countries where tuition and life expenses are relatively high, which adds to the already-heavy financial burdens.
In sum, learning languages and cultures in foreign countries might seemadvantageous, but does entail prerequisites of learning focus and financial backup, in which case this essay is against the over-statement/over-generalisation made in the topic.
