IELTS Speaking Cue Card

I am a multilingual person who can speak four Indian languages including my mother tongue. I frequently watch TV shows and movies of foreign languages and prefer learning the language to some extent to make my watching experience more intriguing. One such language that I picked up a few words from is Japanese. I am a fan of anime which are the Japanese animated shows and movies. Internationally, there are many fares and events conducted for anime fans to gather by dressing up as their favourite anime character and celebrate the brilliance of the shows and their makers. I have attended an event in Japan last year where I tried to communicate in Japanese or safe to say, my version of the language. 

I travelled to Tokyo with my friend Alice who also loves anime and Japanese culture. We had made plans three months prior and made an itinerary of all things we wanted to do. It was an exhilarating journey where I had a chance to meet some amazing people and taste delectable food. 

When we first landed there, we had lost our way trying to find our hotel. I asked a bystander direction to the hotel; although he found my accent difficult to understand, he was eventually able to make out what I was trying to say and helped us. Later, in the event I made quick friends with fellow fans and talked about our favourite shows for hours. 

I was a bit nervous to communicate in Japanese because I never talked to a native speaker. However, the Japanese were welcoming and kind, who helped make us feel at home. It was a staggering experience of exploring the place and meeting new people while being able to converse with them comfortably.

 

Vocabulary:

1. Intriguing – interesting
2. Brilliance – exceptional talent
3. Exhilarating – thrilling
4. Delectable – delicious
5. Staggering – astonishing

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Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers

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1. At what age should children start learning a foreign language?

I don’t think there is an age limit to learn a new language but in case of children, it is good to give them some time before teaching them a foreign language. In my view, starting to teach an unfamiliar language after graduating primary school would allow them to learn it better as they will have some exposure to their native language intricacies.

2. Which skill is more important speaking or writing?

I consider speaking and writing skills to be equally vital to an individual. Speaking a language comes in handy when verbally communicating with a native speaker but writing helps make a message more effective. In today’s era, writing has also become a key ability to have in order to pursue higher education, jobs etc.

3. Does a person still need to learn another language if he is good in English?

It is beneficial to be a multilingual person in many walks of life. English definitely serves as a medium of communication across the world but it is a fact that not all regions officially speak English. Being multilingual enables an individual to develop an interest in exploration of lesser-known things and add to their skillset.

4. Do you think minority languages will disappear?

Regrettably, we do see many minority languages being abandoned in recent times. One of the main reasons is the lack of encouragement for regional languages and dialects with occasional bullying of people who choose to speak them. In addition, the prominence of English has increased drastically demanding people to communicate strictly in English in educational and office settings.