Describe a Foreign Language You Have Learned: IELTS Cue Card with Sample Answer

Apart from English, the language I’ve been learning is Spanish, and I’ve been at it for about two years now.

I started in quite a casual way. Like a lot of people, I downloaded a language app and did ten minutes a day on my phone, mostly on the bus. It was fun, but after a few months I realised I could translate sentences about cats and apples, yet I couldn’t hold a basic conversation. So I signed up for evening classes at a language school, twice a week, and later I joined a language exchange, where I meet a Colombian guy called Andrés every Thursday. We speak Spanish for half an hour and English for the other half.

I’ve had quite a few difficulties along the way. The biggest one was understanding native speakers; they speak incredibly fast and seem to swallow half the words. The first time I watched a Spanish series without subtitles, I understood almost nothing, which was pretty demoralising. Grammar has been a challenge too, especially the subjunctive, which doesn’t really exist in my language. Honestly, at one point, around three months in, I nearly gave up.

There are a few reasons why I’ve kept going. The main one is that I’d love to travel around South America for a few months, and I want to be able to talk to people, not just order food. My friendship with Andrés has also become a big motivation, because I want to understand his jokes! And I think learning a language is great exercise for the brain. It’s made me more patient and, funnily enough, it’s also helped my English, because I’ve become much more aware of how grammar works.

Useful language:I’ve been at it forhold a basic conversationsigned up forswallow half the wordsdemoralisingI nearly gave upkept going

The most common reasons are practical: to study abroad, get a better job or move to another country. But many people also learn for personal reasons, like travel, family connections or interest in a culture’s films and music. Learning a language also opens your mind, because you start to see how other people think.

Useful language:practicalfamily connectionsopens your mind

Children usually find it easier to develop a natural accent and pick up grammar without studying it. However, adults have advantages too: they can understand grammar explanations, use better learning strategies and are often more motivated. So while starting young helps, it’s definitely possible to learn well as an adult.

Useful language:a natural accentpick uplearning strategies

For simple tasks, like reading a menu or asking for directions, translation apps are already good enough. But I don’t think they’ll replace learning completely. Real conversations involve humour, emotion and cultural nuances that machines still struggle with, and building a relationship through an app feels unnatural.

Useful language:good enoughcultural nuancesfeels unnatural

I think it’s a good idea if it’s done well. Learning a second foreign language improves memory and problem-solving skills, and it increases job opportunities later. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of basic subjects, and the teaching needs to be good. Two languages taught badly are worse than one taught well.

Useful language:problem-solving skillsat the expense of