Task 2.1

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

 Write about the following topic:

            As mass communication and transport continue to grow, societies are becoming more and more alike leading to a phenomenon known as globalization. Some people fear that globalization will inevitably lead to the total loss of cultural identity.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

            Some people are of the opinion that cultural identity will be lost by globalization, especially when technology and transport develop rapidly. Personally, I disagree that because of the following reasons which I write below.

            The culture is not easy to lose suddenly. The culture of the nation was born from thousands years of history, handing down from generation to generation. Thus, it is difficult to disappear when the global relationships of culture, people and economic activity increases. For example, in Vietnam, we celebrate many worlds’ festivals such as Valentine’s Day, women’s day…, but we do not forget traditional holidays, and it cannot be denied that these days are the greatest holidays.

            Opponents of the idea say that we use the same product, listen to the same music, eat the same food … the citizens will be affected much. There may be some truth in their argument; however, it is obvious that an opportunity to promote cultural identity is opening. A clear example is the strong diffusion of Korea’s culture through movies, clothes in recent years. The globalization brings us close together, giving us a change to absorb the quintessence culture of other countries, but instead of forgetting the cultural identical, we develop it further base on the cultural background which have been existed.

            In conclusion, culture is the root of each country. Thus, the total loss of cultural identity will not be occurred whether mass communication and transport grow.     

Words: 238

Model answer:

            Globalization means that in some ways people around the world are becoming more and more similar. We often eat the same food, watch the same TV programmes, listen to the same music and we wear the same clothes. Some of this at least can be blamed on the spread of multinational brands available all over the world.

            On the surface, it may appear as if the global diversity of cultural identities is being lost. If, the argument goes, people in Tokyo and London look and dress the same, then that must mean that cultural differences are disappearing. However, I would argue that this is a very narrow definition of culture and that in fact cultural differences are as present as ever.

            Cultural Identity is built on far more than just the films we watch or the jeans we wear. The foundation of cultural identity is shared values. When you look in detail at different cultures, you realize that the things that are important to one culture can be very different from the things valued by another culture.

            Take my own culture, India, as an example and compare it to a very different culture, Japan. Although I have never visited Japan personally, I believe that it is a culture which places a lot of value on hard work and that people often work very long hours. The Indian people, in contrast, greatly value their leisure time and strive to spend as much lime with their family as they possibly can. Even if we consume the same products, I would argue that there are still some very deep-rooted differences.