| 
				 
				Learning 
				Foreign Languages  
				Learning a foreign language is not an easy matter. It is a long 
				and slow process that takes a lot of time and effort. 
				People learn foreign languages for different reasons. The most 
				important reason is communication. More and more people travel 
				abroad and the knowledge of a foreign language helps them 
				communicate. Another reason is business. Big companies usually 
				prefer hiring employees who know at least one language at 
				advanced level. So learning a foreign language or a few 
				languages will help you find a good job. 
				There are numerous languages in the world. Some of them are not 
				widespread; others have become international languages for 
				communication, like English or German. 
				The English language is the official language of some 
				international organisations like the Olympic Committee, the 
				United Nations and many others. This is also the universal 
				language of computing. Many interesting and useful internet 
				sites and software are in English, though some of them give 
				information in other languages as well. English is also the 
				native language of many countries like Great Britain, the USA, 
				Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others. In some former 
				British colonies it is the second official language. 
				Moreover, many languages borrow English words and phrases and 
				people use them in their everyday speech. Such words as 
				"manager", "producer", "mobile phone" are used by different 
				peoples throughout the world. However, despite the fact that 
				English has become the universal language of communication, 
				Chinese is considered to be the most spoken language because 
				China is the most populous country in the world. The Chinese 
				language, Japanese and Arabic are believed to be the most 
				difficult foreign languages to learn. 
				I study English at school and I understand that this is a very 
				good opportunity for me. I am trying to improve my 
				knowledge of English by watching films and reading books in the 
				original. I also have a pen friend from England and we 
				communicate very often. I am also thinking of choosing English 
				as my future career because I am good at it. I would also like 
				to learn another foreign language if I had a chance. 
				All in all, learning foreign languages is a very important 
				process and I am glad that people realise it and start learning 
				them. 
				 
				 
				ПЛАН-ОТВЕТ. LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES 
				1. Вступление (Learning a foreign language is not an easy 
				matter. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time 
				and effort.). 
				2. Рассказать о причинах, по которым люди изучают иностранные 
				языки (communication, business, etc.). 
				3. Рассказать о роли английского языка в мире (official language 
				of some organisations, universal language, native language, 
				second official language, borrowed English words and phrases, 
				etc.). 
				4. Рассказать о своём опыте изучения иностранных языков (study 
				English/German/French at school, good opportunity for me, 
				improve my knowledge, pen friends, future career, learn another 
				foreign language). 
				5. Заключение (All in all, learning foreign languages is a very 
				important process and I am glad that people realise it and start 
				learning them.). 
				 
				 
				QUESTIONS 
				1. Why is learning a foreign language not an easy matter? 
				2. How many foreign languages can you speak? 
				3. Which of the languages you know is the most difficult? 
				4. What do you think of the grammar? 
				5. Can you learn a language without grammar? 
				6. What's the most difficult part of learning a language? 
				7. Do you think grown-ups can learn a language as easily as 
				children? 
				8. Do you watch films in the original? 
				9. Do you think that going to the country where the language is 
				spoken is important? 
				10. What do you think of spending a summer month in Great 
				Britain? 
				11. What do you think of reading in the original? Does it help 
				to improve your knowledge of a foreign language? 
				12. Can you learn a language by yourself? 
				13. What is the best age for learning languages? 
				14. Is learning a language boring? 
				15. What's the most pleasant part of learning languages? 
				16. Should languages be taught at school? 
				17. Are languages important when looking for a job? 
				18. Which languages are most in demand? 
				19. What are the advantages of speaking languages? 
				20. If you want to travel, what languages may help you? 
				21. What's the most spoken language in the world? 
				22. Would you like to learn Chinese or Japanese? Why (not)? 
				23. Do you think that children have difficulties when learning 
				two languages at the same time? 
				 
				 
				USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES 
				advanced level продвинутый уровень 
				borrow заимствовать 
				business бизнес 
				colony колония 
				communication общение, коммуникация 
				effort усилие 
				employee наёмный работник 
				foreign иностранный 
				former бывший 
				hire нанимать на работу 
				improve улучшать 
				in the original в оригинале 
				matter вопрос 
				native родной 
				opportunity возможность 
				pen friend друг по переписке 
				populous густонаселённый 
				reason причина 
				software программное обеспечение 
				universal универсальный 
				widespread широко распространённый 
  
				
				  
				
				   | 
			
			
				| 
				 
				
				Помощь: 
				1. Прослушать 
				произношение слова и перевод на 
				
				howjsay.com .  
				Направление перевода выберите один раз из списка, в дальнейшем 
				оно сохранится. Для многократного повторения подводите стрелку 
				мышки к выделенному слову в колонке слева. 
				2. Правила 
				чтения слов 
				
				смотрите здесь. 
				3. Подробный 
				перевод в словаре 
				
				Мультитран. (В часы 
				перегрузок Интернета работает медленно, но словарь хороший.)  |