1.

Reasons for learning foreign languages

2. Learning foreign languages

3. English – lingua franca

Comment on the following quotations.

Without knowledge of languages

you feel as if you don’t have a
passport.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

A different language is a different

vision of life.
Federico Fellini
Brainstorm the vocabulary connected with the following
subtopics:
Why do you learn foreign languages? Choose from the
following hints and explain your reasons.

MUST

PERSONAL NEEDS COMMUNITY

WORK/BUSINESS

SOCIAL NEEDS ACADEMIC NEEDS

PRESTIGE

TRAVELLING ENTERTAINMENT
NECESSITY
 Talk about the reasons the people in the pictures have to
learn English as a foreign language.

1. 2. 3.

4.

What difficulties do they face when learning a foreign

language at different ages?
What causes you problems when you are trying to learn a
foreign language?

Remembering Pronunciation
Long texts
new words

Various
Grammar Writing accents

Native
Spelling Translation
speakers
Look at the diagram of language families. Describe it.
Where does English belong to? Where do you think your
mother tongue belongs?
Look at the words in British and American English. Match them
with the pictures below. (click on the flags to check your answers)

a) SUBWAY 1. 2.

b) FRENCH FRIES
c) LIFT
d) TORCH
e) MOBILE (PHONE)
3.
f) TUBE
g) PANTS
4.
h) CELL PHONE 5.

6.
i) FLASHLIGHT
j) ELEVATOR

k) TROUSERS
l) CHIPS
Do people in the pictures learn or acquire a language?
Explain the difference. Which process is easier – learning or
acquisition?
What is your learning style? How do you easily learn new
things? By seing them, hearing them, touching them or
when you move?

Auditory Tactile
learner learner

YOU
?
Visual Kinesthetic
learner learner
 What kind of learner are the hints below typical for?
(click the icon to check your ideas)
Can you identify with any of them?

1) I take in new information best when I can see information in a diagram or a picture.
(Visual learner)
2) I may become bored more quickly than other students while listening to a class lecture.
(Tactile learner)
3) When I am not sure how to spell a word, I write down different versions of the spelling.
(Kinesthetic learner)
4) I prefer to find out about something new by listening to someone explaining it.
(Auditory learner)
5) When I study, I prefer using a highlighter to emphasise information. (Visual learner)
6) I like to learn using movements. (Kinesthetic learner)
7) I seem to remember objects better if I create jingles and rhymes. (Auditory learner)
8) I prefer teachers who use discussions. (Auditory learner)
9) I prefer lesson where we can move around. (Kinesthetic learner)
10) I have trouble remembering things if I can’t take notes. (Visual learner)
11) When I am in class, I often have to have something in my hand while reading or
listening. (Tactile learner)
12) I learn better when I touch an object. (Tactile learner)
Do you want to know what kind of learner you are?
Do the quiz on the website below and find out.

 http://www.youthink.com/quiz.cfm