The Internet And Travel
People today often use the internet to learn about the culture of other countries. This means that it is not that important to travel to those countries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The use of the Internet for learning about other countries’ cultures has raised a question regarding the importance of tourism. While some people argue that the internet provides a wealth of information, rendering travel to other countries unnecessary, I strongly disagree with this sentiment. In this essay, I will argue that travelling to other countries provides invaluable first-hand experiences that cannot be replicated by online sources.
Those who advocate for learning about cultures through the Internet argue that there is a plethora of culturally-related information available online. Social media influencers, travel bloggers, and sports people share captivating pictures, blog entries, and carefully-edited videos of their travel experiences, which allows users to vicariously experience the local cultures of other countries. Furthermore, affluent internet users can use state-of-the-art technological devices like virtual glasses to enjoy virtual tours of various destinations, which significantly reduces the need for physical travel.
Although these online sources provide valuable information, they are heavily biased and one-sided. Only those who travel to the host countries, engage in face-to-face conversations with locals, and enjoy the local cuisine and traditional handicrafts can fully immerse themselves in the local culture and sub-cultures. This first-hand experience enables individuals to form nuanced feelings towards the local culture and helps to dispel any preconceived notions or biases about particular countries or nations.
Therefore, in my opinion, travelling is the most optimal way to get to know a country’s culture. It fosters cultural understanding and the acceptance of differences. Cultural immersion through travelling is an essential tool to combat prejudices and stereotypes, which are widespread in today’s world. Although the internet provides a wealth of information, it is no substitute for travelling.
In conclusion, I would argue that people need to strive for a degree of balance between learning about cultures through the Internet and travelling. While the internet can provide a glimpse into other cultures, nothing can replace the invaluable first-hand experiences that travelling to other countries provides.
(324 words)
Essay Breakdown
Structure
Introduction
[1] The use of the Internet for learning about other countries’ cultures has raised a question regarding the importance of tourism. [2] While some people argue that the internet provides a wealth of information, rendering travel to other countries unnecessary, I strongly disagree with this sentiment. [3] In this essay, I will argue that travelling to other countries provides invaluable first-hand experiences that cannot be replicated by online sources.
1. A ‘hook’ sentence providing a background for the topic
2. Paraphrase the given topic and give my opinion
3. A clear opinion stating my personal viewpoint that invaluable first-hand experiences cannot be replicated by online sources.
Body
Paragraph 1
[1] Those who advocate for learning about cultures through the Internet argue that there is a plethora of culturally-related information available online. [2] Social media influencers, travel bloggers, and sports people share captivating pictures, blog entries, and carefully-edited videos of their travel experiences, which allows users to vicariously experience the local cultures of other countries. [3] Furthermore, affluent internet users can use state-of-the-art technological devices like virtual glasses to enjoy virtual tours of various destinations, which significantly reduces the need for physical travel.
1. A topic sentence showing the main idea in favour of learning about cultures through the Internet
2. Explain and develop the main point by providing examples
3. Keep developing the main point
Paragraph 2
[1] Although these online sources provide valuable information, they are heavily biased and one-sided. [2] Only those who travel to the host countries, engage in face-to-face conversations with locals, and enjoy the local cuisine and traditional handicrafts can fully immerse themselves in the local culture and sub-cultures. [3] This first-hand experience enables individuals to form nuanced feelings towards the local culture and helps to dispel any preconceived notions or biases about particular countries or nations.
1. A topic sentence showing the main idea – countering Paragraph 1
2. Explain and develop the main point by providing examples to support travelling
3. Keep developing the main point
Paragraph 3
[1] Therefore, in my opinion, travelling is the most optimal way to get to know a country’s culture. [2] It fosters cultural understanding and the acceptance of differences. [3] Cultural immersion through travelling is an essential tool to combat prejudices and stereotypes, which are widespread in today’s world. [4] Although the internet provides a wealth of information, it is no substitute for travelling.
1. A topic sentence showing the main idea – my opinion
2. Explain the main point
3. Keep developing the main point
4. Fully develop the idea
Conclusion
[1] In conclusion, I would argue that people need to strive for a degree of balance between learning about cultures through the Internet and travelling. [2] While the internet can provide a glimpse into other cultures, nothing can replace the invaluable first-hand experiences that travelling to other countries provides.
1. Restate my opinion
2. Extend the viewpoint by stating a final thought
Vocabulary
The use of the Internet for learning about other countries’ cultures has raised a question regarding the importance of tourism. While some people argue that the internet provides a wealth of information, rendering travel to other countries unnecessary, I strongly disagree with this sentiment. In this essay, I will argue that travelling to other countries provides invaluable first-hand experiences that cannot be replicated by online sources.
Those who advocate for learning about cultures through the Internet argue that there is a plethora of culturally-related information available online. Social media influencers, travel bloggers, and sports people share captivating pictures, blog entries, and carefully-edited videos of their travel experiences, which allows users to vicariously experience the local cultures of other countries. Furthermore, affluent internet users can use state-of-the-art technological devices like virtual glasses to enjoy virtual tours of various destinations, which significantly reduces the need for physical travel.
Although these online sources provide valuable information, they are heavily biased and one-sided. Only those who travel to the host countries, engage in face-to-face conversations with locals, and enjoy the local cuisine and traditional handicrafts can fully immerse themselves in the local culture and sub-cultures. This first-hand experience enables individuals to form nuanced feelings towards the local culture and helps to dispel any preconceived notions or biases about particular countries or nations.
Therefore, in my opinion, travelling is the most optimal way to get to know a country’s culture. It fosters cultural understanding and the acceptance of differences. Cultural immersion through travelling is an essential tool to combat prejudices and stereotypes, which are widespread in today’s world. Although the internet provides a wealth of information, it is no substitute for travelling.
In conclusion, I would argue that people need to strive for a degree of balance between learning about cultures through the Internet and travelling. While the internet can provide a glimpse into other cultures, nothing can replace the invaluable first-hand experiences that travelling to other countries provides.
- raised a question regarding: caused a debate or discussion about
- rendering travel to other countries unnecessary: making traveling to other countries not needed
- invaluable first-hand experiences: extremely valuable personal experiences
- plethora of culturally-related information: a large amount of information related to culture
- vicariously experience: experiencing something through someone else’s experience
- state-of-the-art technological devices: modern and advanced technology
- significantly reduces the need: greatly reduces the necessity
- fully immerse themselves: completely involve themselves in
- nuanced feelings: subtle and complex emotions or opinions
- combat prejudices and stereotypes: fight against preconceived notions and biases
- strive for a degree of balance: work towards finding a balance
- provide a glimpse into: give a brief look at
- invaluable first-hand experiences: extremely valuable personal experiences.
Grammar Gems:
COMPLEX NOUN PHRASE
“Those who advocate for learning about cultures through the Internet argue that there is a plethora of culturally-related information available online.”
This sentence features a complex noun phrase structure, where “those who advocate for learning about cultures through the Internet” is the subject of the sentence, followed by the verb “argue”, and then a noun phrase “that there is a plethora of culturally-related information available online”. This type of structure is useful for IELTS learners to learn how to build complex sentences with multiple phrases and clauses.
Reading
Further reading about this topic can be found here:
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-before-the-internet/index.html
Listening
Further listening about this topic can be found here:
