Topic 1: Does increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to

Topic 90: Some people argue that learning a second language involves learning the 
culture of the country where this language is spoken (including lifestyles). What is 
your opinion?
 
(apply language on various social occasions),
(develop cross-cultural communication skills and sensitivity); (deeper understanding of the target 
language and its speakers) ;
(Language is more than rules, syntax and lexis. ),
(a popular form of greeting), (filial piety) ( obedience ) (a bad omen); (impolite and over-
straightforward), ( complimentary) ( minor differences),
To most people, second language acquisition is a lengthy and exhausting process. A general 
approach taken by most learners is to learn vocabulary and memorize grammar rules. They 
contend that language speaks for itself and the meaning of language lies in the language itself. In 
my opinion, a language goes beyond its literal meaning and delivers different messages as 
situations change. The cultural context and background of a language have a bearing on the 
forming of a language. There is no distinction between acquiring a language and acquiring a 
culture.
The first reason to support the above contention is that culture influences the evolution and 
formation of a language. Learning a culture can help learners understand many aspects of a 
language, wording, syntax, and so forth. For example, word order, the order in which words 
appear in sentences, differs from language to language. In some languages, the object normally 
comes ahead of the subject, as opposed to the word order in the English language. It mirrors the 
disparity in ways of seeing things and ways of thinking between people who speak different 
languages. Learning a culture can draw the attention of learners to these differences and therefore 
lead them to use a foreign language appropriately.
Familiarity with a culture is also known as the prerequisite of communication with native 
speakers. Effective communication relies not only on wording, pronunciation and sentence 
construction but also on physical gesture, body language and facial expressions. In fact, non-
verbal messages sometimes tell people more than verbal messages do. For example, silence in the 
English-speaking country might indicate the agreement of the speaker on something, but in some 
Asian countries, silence might convey a message to the contrary, disagreement or even 
resentment. There is no denying that by learning the cultural dimensions of a language, a 
language learner can make him-or-herself acquainted with the skills and habits involved in cross-
cultural communication.
Although the importance of studying the cultural aspect of language is indisputable, it should 
not be over-emphasized. For most learners, especially for those at an elementary level, the 
cultural elements of a language are remote and incomprehensible. Intrusion of these messages 
will create confusion. Learners will flounder when the progress toward success is little and the 
situation appears to be unmanageable. Language acquisition requires a high commitment of time 
and effort, so new learners are advised to concentrate on the language itself at the first stage.
From what has been discussed, one can make it clear that culture is an element that 
determines the difference between languages. Failing to recognize this would impede language 
learning. However, for new learners, acquiring a culture is less practical, for it requires great 
effort and produces little outcome.
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1. Exhausting=tiring=arduous=strenuous
2. Literal=plain=unvarnished=basic=original
3. Contention=assertion=argument=opinion=claim
4. Syntax= sentence structure=language rules
5. As opposed to=rather than
6. Mirror=reflect
7. Disparity=difference =discrepancy
8. Prerequisite=precondition
9. Gesture=signal
10. Convey =communicate=transmit=pass on
11. Resentment=anger-hatred=antipathy
12. Incomprehensive=perplexing=beyond understanding
13. Intrusion=incursion
14. Flounder-have difficulty=struggle
15. Unmanageable=uncontrollable
16. Impede=obstruct=hinder=hamper-hold back
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