IELTS 2016

Topic 1: It is important for schoolchildren to learn about local history than world
history. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Teaching history for schoolchildren has been a heated topic constantly. There is a
common belief that local history is more important to children than world history.
However, I disagree with this belief.
I believe that the notion that local history is more valuable than world history should be
rejected. Some people may claim that the insights into the local historical values are
completely enough for one to live. Their argument could be true for a few decades ago
when most interpersonal communications were between people of the same race and
origin. However, this view is now outdated, as the world has become globalized and
international business and migrant workers have made any community a global village.
In this context, an understanding of a foreign country history would enable local workers
to reinforce the relationship between them and the expatriates from that country.
In addition, I am strongly convinced that children would benefit the most only when the
learning of local history is placed parallel to that of world history. To understand a local
historical event, children should put the regional and sometimes even world context in
that historical era into consideration. For example, children should acknowledge that the
event that Vietnam regained its independence after defeating the Japanese troops in
Indochina in 1945 only happened after a series of relevant events in the World War II, one
of which is the surrender of Japan to the Allies. In this way of learning, children would
understand history more deeply and thoroughly.
All the existing data has provided a concrete foundation that the study of local history
should always be parallel to that of world history. This practice would guarantee that
children learn history more comprehensively and be able to tighten the bond with migrant
workers in their country.
Topic 2: Many museum and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not local
people. Why is this the case and what can be done to attract more local people to visit
these places?
There are a number of factors that explain why many museums and historical sites fail to
attract the attention of the locals. However, this issue can be resolved by adopting a
number of solution, as will now be discussed.
Perhaps the primary reason is that local inhabitants often do not have interest in visiting
these places as they tend not to be attracted by places and objects that are familiar to their
cultural backgrounds. For example, many museum in Ho Chi Minh City welcome
thousands of travelers from Hanoi annually, in contrast to the number of local residents
who visit the museums and historical sites here in my home city of Hanoi.
Another reason stems from historical attractions themselves. They