Should Schools Force Students to Learn Languages? — 20.03.2026
Essay type: Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)Band 6.5-8.0Stance: Strongly disagreeTarget ≈ 300 wordsModel essay: Band 8.0
Student's Edition
Ngô Đức Thảo
MTESOL · Academic Director
Task 2 Topic
Some people believe that not all students have a natural ability for learning other languages, so schools should not force them to learn new languages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
1Task analysis
Item
Detail
Essay type
Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic
Whether foreign languages should be optional at school because some students lack natural talent
Keywords
natural ability · learning other languages · schools · should not force · new languages
Task focus
Decide whether language learning should be compulsory at school even for students without natural ability
Required position
Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning
Some students are not good at languages. Should schools stop making them study foreign languages?
Hidden trap
The statement contains a reason (not all students have a natural ability) and a conclusion (schools should not force them). You can accept the reason but reject the conclusion
Chosen stance
Strongly disagree. Language competence is a universal entitlement in a globalised economy, and aptitude is shaped by teaching, so schools should differentiate rather than exempt
Main-idea plan
BP1 → language learning brings cognitive, cultural and economic benefits for all · BP2 → aptitude is malleable; differentiated teaching, not exemption, is the answer
2Idea generation
Body 1 — Language learning as a universal entitlement
Economic and cultural benefits for every student ✓ strongest
Cognitive benefits of bilingualism
Early exemption closes doors permanently dự phòng
Body 2 — Aptitude is malleable; pedagogy should adapt
Aptitude is shaped by teaching, motivation and exposure ✓ strongest
Differentiated goals, e.g. communicative competence
Exemption would reinforce inequality dự phòng
✓ strongest = ý dùng trong bài mẫu · dự phòng = ý thay thế, không có trong bài mẫu.
3Skeleton
Introduction
General statement: Debate over compulsion
Paraphrased task: Rewrite: less gifted learners should not be obliged
Thesis: Strongly disagree with the conclusion
Body 1: Economic, cultural, cognitive benefits → entitlement for all
Body 2: Aptitude malleable → differentiate goals and methods, not exempt
Conclusion: Restate the opinion → summarise both reasons → final thought
4Plan & write your paragraphs
How to use: Read the main idea, tap the cue words to add them to the box, then write
your own sentence. Your essay is built automatically at the bottom and saved in this browser.
Introduction(50–70 words)
0 words
Goal: Topic → rewrite the statement → give your opinion.
General statement
Main idea: Debate over compulsion
Starter: Despite widespread agreement that … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Paraphrased task
Main idea: Rewrite: less gifted learners should not be obliged
Starter: Some maintain that, because … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Thesis
Main idea: Strongly disagree with the conclusion
Starter: While I accept that … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 1 — Language learning as a universal entitlement(100–125 words)
0 words
Goal: Reason 1: explain it and give an example.
Topic sentence
Main idea: Benefits extend to all
Starter: The most compelling reason … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 1
Main idea: Opens doors
Starter: In a globalised economy … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Example
Main idea: Mechanic follows tutorials
Starter: A mechanic who can … ·
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Explanation 2
Main idea: Intercultural awareness
Starter: Language learning also cultivates … ·
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Further development
Main idea: Closing doors early
Starter: To deny less able … ·
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Link
Main idea: Entitlement, not privilege
Starter: Language study is therefore … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 2 — Aptitude is malleable; pedagogy should adapt(100–125 words)
0 words
Goal: Reason 2: explain it and give an example.
Topic sentence
Main idea: Premise misleading
Starter: Furthermore, the premise that … ·
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Explanation 1
Main idea: Motivation, exposure, instruction
Starter: Research on second language … ·
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Example
Main idea: Victims of poor methods
Starter: Many students labelled as … ·
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Explanation 2
Main idea: Differentiated goals
Starter: Rather than exempting such … ·
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Further development
Main idea: Genuine success
Starter: It is through such … ·
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Link
Main idea: Adapt, don't exempt
Starter: Adaptation, not exemption, is … ·
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Conclusion(40–55 words)
0 words
Goal: Repeat your opinion, sum up both reasons, final thought. No new ideas!
Restated thesis
Main idea: Strongly disagree
Starter: In conclusion, I strongly … ·
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Summary
Main idea: Benefits for all + aptitude shaped
Starter: Language learning offers economic … ·
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Final thought
Main idea: Differentiate, not lower expectations
Starter: Schools should differentiate their … ·
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📝 My essay
✓ saved
5Language bank (Band 6.5-8.0)
Mỗi đoạn có bảng collocation riêng. ✓ = có trong bài mẫu · + = cụm mở rộng để học viên tự dùng. 7.0 = nền tảng · 8.0 = nâng band.
Introduction
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
widespread agreement
adj + noun
sự đồng thuận rộng rãi
7.0
✓
ongoing debate
adj + noun
cuộc tranh luận đang diễn ra
7.0
✓
compulsory for every pupil
adv + adj
bắt buộc với mọi học sinh
8.0
✓
aptitude for languages
noun phrase
năng khiếu ngôn ngữ
8.0
✓
less gifted learners
noun phrase
người học kém năng khiếu hơn
8.0
✓
the conclusion drawn from it
noun phrase
kết luận rút ra từ đó
8.0
✓
Body Paragraph 1 — Language learning as a universal entitlement
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
the most compelling reason
noun phrase
lý do thuyết phục nhất
7.0
✓
the linguistically gifted
noun phrase
những người có năng khiếu ngôn ngữ
8.0
✓
a globalised economy
adj + noun
nền kinh tế toàn cầu hoá
7.0
✓
a modest command of English
noun phrase
vốn tiếng Anh khiêm tốn
8.0
✓
open doors to employment
verb phrase
mở ra cơ hội việc làm
8.0
✓
remain inaccessible
verb phrase
vẫn không thể tiếp cận
8.0
✓
online tutorials
adj + noun
hướng dẫn trực tuyến
7.0
✓
cultivates intercultural awareness
verb + noun
nuôi dưỡng nhận thức liên văn hoá
8.0
✓
perspectives other than their own
noun phrase
những góc nhìn khác với chính mình
7.0
✓
an entitlement, not a privilege
noun phrase
quyền lợi chứ không phải đặc ân
8.0
✓
Body Paragraph 2 — Aptitude is malleable; pedagogy should adapt
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
the premise
noun phrase
tiền đề
7.0
✓
second language acquisition
noun phrase
tiếp thu ngôn ngữ thứ hai
8.0
✓
quality of instruction
noun phrase
chất lượng giảng dạy
7.0
✓
innate aptitude
adj + noun
năng khiếu bẩm sinh
8.0
✓
labelled as weak
passive phrase
bị dán nhãn yếu
7.0
✓
grammar-heavy methods
adj + noun
phương pháp nặng ngữ pháp
8.0
✓
fail to engage them
verb phrase
không thu hút được họ
7.0
✓
differentiated goals
adj + noun
mục tiêu phân hoá
8.0
✓
practical communication
adj + noun
giao tiếp thực tế
7.0
✓
genuine success
adj + noun
thành công thực sự
7.0
✓
Conclusion
Collocation
Form
Vietnamese
Band
Bài mẫu
In conclusion
linker
tóm lại
7.0
✓
a natural talent for languages
noun phrase
năng khiếu ngôn ngữ bẩm sinh
7.0
✓
economic and cultural benefits
noun phrase
lợi ích kinh tế và văn hoá
7.0
✓
shaped far more by teaching
passive phrase
được định hình nhiều hơn bởi việc dạy
8.0
✓
differentiate their teaching
verb phrase
phân hoá cách dạy
8.0
✓
lower their expectations
verb phrase
hạ thấp kỳ vọng
8.0
✓
Useful structures
Not only + auxiliary + subject + verb, but … also … (inversion for emphasis)
Participle clause, + main clause (Having / Being / Faced with …)
It is + adj + that + clause (cleft / evaluative structure)
Were / Should + subject + verb, + would … (formal conditional)