MRSM TUN DR ISMAIL, PONTIAN

MYP Language Acquisition: Year 4 Phase 3

Criterion B: Comprehending Written and Visual Text

CLAS
NAME DATE
S

Unit 1 : Let’s Chat

1. Read the following article: ‘Languages’

2. Answer the questions based on the information in the text.
3. Please explain and be as specific as you can in your responses.
4. Dictionaries are not allowed to be used in this task.
5. You have 50 minutes to complete this task.

Criterion B: Comprehending written and visual text

Phase 4 Students (maximum 8 point)
Levels of Achievement
After reading the article, I can:
1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8
I. construct meaning by identifying
stated and implied information,
Somewha
main ideas and supporting Minimal Mostly Clearly
t
details, and draw conclusions
Marks :
interpret basic conventions
including aspects of format and
style, and author’s purpose for Somewha
Limited Mostly Clearly
t
writing
Marks :
engage with the written and
visual text by identifying ideas,
opinions and attitudes and by
making a personal response to Adequatel Thoroughl
Minimally Mostly
y y
the text based on personal
experiences and opinions Marks :

Overall understanding of the content, context and concepts of the text as a

1
Read the text below and answer the questions that follow.

LANGUAGES

How many languages can you speak? British people are generally not very good language
learners. In a recent survey, 62 per cent of the population only speak English! If you’re reading
this, then you’re probably studying English. Maybe you speak a couple of other languages too.
What are the British like when it comes to learning languages?

STATISTICS

Brits are famous for not speaking foreign languages. According to a survey published by the
European Commission, this bad reputation is totally justified. The results of the survey state that
the British are officially the worst language learners in Europe! Let’s look at some statistics. 62
per cent of people surveyed can’t speak any other language apart from English. Only 38 per cent
of Britons speak at least one foreign language, 18 per cent speak two and only 6 per cent of the
population speak three or more.

The European Union average showed that 56 per cent speak at least one foreign language, 28
per cent speak at least two and 11 per cent speak three or more. The survey confirmed that
English was the most widely-spoken foreign language. 51 per cent of EU citizens can have a
conversation in English.

SCHOOL

Learning a foreign language is not a popular option at school in Britain. In UK schools, it is

common for children to start studying a foreign language at the age of 11 and many students give
up languages completely at 14. So why don’t young people continue with languages at school?
Research suggests that students think that it is more difficult to get good grades in languages
than in other subjects such as science or history. The British government is now looking at
different ways to improve language learning at school. One idea is to start much younger; there
are plans to introduce foreign languages from the age of five.

WHICH LANGUAGES

Another plan is to give school children more choice. The languages traditionally studied in British
schools have been French, Spanish and German. Now the government is encouraging teachers
to expand the range of languages taught to include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Urdu.

Mandarin is predicted to become the second most popular foreign language learned in UK
schools. It is already studied by more children than German or Russian. Only French and
Spanish are more popular. Gareth from Wales says ‘I am learning Chinese, and find it fun’.
Another student, Thomas from London, says ‘Just telling people that I learn Mandarin impresses
people. Even having a very basic level gives you an advantage’. Brighton College has become
the first independent school to make Mandarin a compulsory foreign language. Its headmaster
Richard Cairns said, ‘One of my key tasks is to make sure pupils are equipped for the realities of
the 21st century. One of those realities is that China has the fastest-growing economy in the
world’.

It may be an ambitious task to change attitudes towards learning languages but the government
is determined to try!

Adapted from http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/uk-now/read-uk/languages

2
I. construct meaning by identifying stated and implied information, main ideas and
supporting details, and draw conclusions

1. What does it mean to be a bilingual or multilingual individual?

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2. Why the British are officially known as the worst language learners?
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3. What is the overall message of this text?

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ii. interpret basic conventions including aspects of format and style, and author’s
purpose for writing

1. What is the purpose of this text: to EXPRESS OPINION, or to INFORM?

Explain your answer, using at least ONE specific example from the text.
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2. What is the tone of this text? FORMAL or INFORMAL? Explain your answer,
using at using at least ONE specific example from the text
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3. Who are the target audience of this article? Explain your answer and use at least
one specific example from the text.
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iii. engage with the written and visual text by identifying ideas, opinions and
attitudes and by making a personal response to the text based on personal
experiences and opinions

1. In your opinion, what encourages individuals to pick up a new language more

effectively? Explain your answer.
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2. Among all the languages mentioned by the author in this article, which language is
the most interesting for you? Provide reasons for your answer.
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