School Children Should Be Mainly Taught About The Literature

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write at least 250 words.

Some people say that school children should be mainly taught about the literature (eg fiction and poetry) of their own country because it is more important than that of other countries

To what extent do you agree?


Sample Answer:

In recent years, there has been an ongoing debate about how much emphasis should be placed on teaching school children about the literature of their own country in comparison to that of other nations. Although some people believe this to be the most important area of study, I am of the opinion that too much focus on one particular nation’s literature could be detrimental to their education.

It is understandable why some might suggest that school children should concentrate mainly on the literature of their own country. After all, this is likely to be a topic that children are more familiar with and therefore can be used to help them to engage in the learning process. For example, a school in the UK could use the works of Charles Dickens to help students to understand the plight of people in Victorian Britain, something that may be of more interest to the students than a novel from another country.

Despite the potential benefits of studying the literature of one’s own country in the classroom, I believe that this should not be the only or main focus of study. Being exposed to different cultures, countries and ways of life can help to broaden a person’s horizons and understanding of the world. Furthermore, by studying literature from other nations, children can gain an appreciation of the diverse range of writing styles and techniques. This can help them to develop a critical understanding of texts and become more confident in their own writing.

In conclusion, while there are arguments to be made for concentrating solely on the literature of one’s own country, I believe that a more balanced approach should be taken. In this way, school children can not only learn about their own culture and history, but also have the opportunity to gain an appreciation of other nations and their literary outputs.