TOEFL Academic Discussion: Culture & Arts Topics (2026)

Sample response (126 words)

My view is closer to Arjun's, though Keisha describes something real. It is true that young people in many countries now share global entertainment, but that does not mean local traditions are disappearing; in many cases they are gaining new audiences. Online platforms allow a small community's music, food or crafts to reach viewers who would never have encountered them otherwise. For example, traditional pottery from a single region can now be sold worldwide, and that income gives young artisans a reason to learn the craft instead of leaving for the city. What globalization changes is the form a tradition takes, not necessarily whether it survives. I would therefore argue that, managed well, global exposure is more likely to keep traditions alive than to erase them.

Sample response (126 words)

I agree with David that art can change society, and the main reason is empathy. Facts about a problem often leave people unmoved, while a story or an image lets them feel what the problem is like for a particular person. A film that follows one family struggling to afford medical care, for instance, can make viewers who have never faced that situation understand it emotionally, and that understanding is often the first step toward supporting a change in policy. Elena is right that art also records its time; however, recording and influencing are not opposites. A work that captures an injustice accurately is precisely what allows later audiences to recognize it and act on it. So, in my opinion, art's role goes well beyond reflection.

Sample response (122 words)

I think the requirement is still valuable, but Liam's point about motivation deserves a response. Classic novels offer something short online content cannot: the time to follow a complex situation and a character's reasoning over hundreds of pages. That kind of sustained attention builds the ability to understand perspectives very different from one's own. A novel set during a period of injustice, for instance, lets a sixteen-year-old experience the pressures people faced rather than merely memorising dates. At the same time, Liam is right that forced reading can backfire. The solution is not to drop classics but to combine them with modern works on similar themes, so students see why the older books still matter. Balanced this way, the requirement remains worthwhile.

Sample response (127 words)

In my opinion, the arrival of international chains is mixed but more positive than Omar suggests. Grace is right that residents gain access to lower prices and a wider range of goods, which matters most to families with tight budgets. Omar's concern about family businesses is valid, yet competition does not always destroy them; it often pushes them to specialise. A local bakery that cannot beat a chain on price can offer regional recipes or custom cakes that a standardised chain will never provide, and many such shops end up with more loyal customers than before. The real risk is the loss of a town's character, and local governments can address that through zoning or support for independent shops. Overall, I believe the benefits outweigh the costs.

Sample response (131 words)

I agree with Mei that this spending is justified, although Kofi is right that it must be modest and well targeted. My main reason is that traditions are much cheaper to keep alive than to revive. When the last speakers of a language or the last masters of a craft are gone, that knowledge usually cannot be recovered, however much money is spent later. Relatively small grants — for example, paying experienced craftspeople to train apprentices — can prevent that loss. Such support can also pay for itself when festivals and crafts attract tourism. Kofi's comparison with hospitals is understandable, but preservation budgets are typically a tiny share of public spending, so the choice is rarely one or the other. For these reasons, I think preservation funding is a sensible investment.

Sample response (130 words)

I believe the benefits outweigh the costs, and I would add something to Sofia's point. Studying abroad does more than expose students to another culture; it forces them to operate inside it — to rent an apartment, make friends and solve problems in an unfamiliar system. That daily practice builds adaptability and communication skills that employers value and that no online course can fully replicate. Ethan is correct that the cost is high, and this is a genuine barrier for many families. However, the answer to that problem is more scholarships and exchange agreements that waive tuition, not the conclusion that the experience is unnecessary. Learning about a culture on a screen and learning to live within one are very different, so I think study abroad remains worth the investment.