Xem thêm: 4 tiêu chí chấm điểm trong IELTS General Writing Question: Many young people today know more about international pop or movie stars than about famous people in the history of their own country. Why is this? What can be done to increase young people’s interest in famous people in the history of their country? Sample Answer Younger generations today are often more interested in international celebrities rather than figures from their country’s past. In my opinion, this is a natural tendency related to mass media and can be mitigated by improving history lessons in schools. Younger people today organically gravitate towards individuals they resonate with and see in entertainment. This applies equally to those in the film and music industries. For example, one of the most popular singers for the last decade has been Taylor Swift, an artist who prolifically releases albums, updates her Instagram, and is generally present online and in the entertainment world. Young people listen to her songs and identify with her and then follow her personal life closely in order to enjoy a vicarious, uplifting feeling. This stands in marked contrast to historical figures who no longer contribute or offer any present value. This tendency to value current stars can be countered with more engaging history classes. History lessons in most contexts focus on dry facts and propaganda. However, there are historians who can enliven historical events such as in Robert Caro’s non-fiction or Hilary Mantel’s historical fiction. If students were introduced to passages from those sources, there is a stronger likelihood that it would instill in them a lifelong passion for the study of history and the figures that have shaped our current world. If such lessons were combined with more relevant current events lessons, then students might be more compelled to understand, respect, and continue researching great historical actors. In conclusion, though there is a natural inclination to pay more attention to contemporary pop culture figures, an emphasis on quality texts could encourage young people to care more about individuals from the past. This will not cause a seismic shift but could have a marginal impact. Vocabulary younger generations: people who are not old – under the age of 25 or so interested in: care about international celebrities: stars rather than: instead of figures: important people natural tendency: organic desire related to: concerning mass media: entertainment, news, etc. mitigated: lessened improving: made better organically gravitate towards: naturally go in the direction of resonate with: connect with entertainment: movies, music, etc. equally: the same as last decade: last 10 years artist: singer, musician, etc. prolifically releases albums: make a lot of music updates: new posts generally present online: all over the internet entertainment world: people in music, film, etc. identify: connect with follow her personal life closely: pay attention to her life in order to so that vicarious living through others uplifting : enjoyable
