Learning English at the University

Today it is quite evident that everyone should know at least one foreign language. Knowing one or more foreign languages makes it possible to get acquainted with different ways of thinking, to understand a new civilisation. Learning a foreign language stimulates mental abilities and gives you a chance to appreciate a new literature, a different culture and to broaden your outlook. The knowledge of other languages is very useful, especially if you have to work abroad or read foreign literature in the original. If you know the language of a foreign country, you can talk to its people and understand what they are speaking about without anybody's help.

At the beginning of the 21st century, it is beyond question that the English language has become the lingua franca, the language used for communication between people living in different countries in the world.

English has an official or special status in more than 70 countries with a total population of over two billion. In numbers of speakers it is second only to Chinese. Today, English is considered to be the universal language for business, international communications, entertainment, tourism, trade and technology. It has become the language of the planet, the first truly global language. Three quarters of the world’s mail and its telexes and telegrams are in English. The majority of all resources on the Internet are also in this language. It is one of the official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations. English is the language of sports: the official language of the Olympics. It is also the language of the great literature. It is the language of William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens. English is the main language of popular music, advertising, satellite broadcasting and video games.

So, there are many reasons to study English. As for me, I started learning English at school. Now I am a student of Sumy National Agrarian University and I have a good opportunity to master my English here. We have three practical classes a week. There we study to speak English. We have grammar and vocabulary drills, read texts, make up dialogues, and write compositions. We read books by English and American writers in the original. At the end of the winter term we have a credit in English. At the end of the spring term we have to pass examination. Of course, my command of the language is still rather far from being perfect. But I’m trying to do my best in order to improve my English. I spend much time brushing up my grammar and vocabulary. I listen to BBC news, communicate with native speakers, watch video films. I dream to go to Britain or the USA. At our University international cooperation is a new direction. Every year many students have practical training in Great Britain and the USA. I hope to be one of them as it is a good chance to use English in practice.

Answer the questions.

1) Why is it necessary for people to know foreign languages?

2) What is the most widespread language in the world?

3) How many people in the world use English?

4) Why is it called the first truly global language?

5) When did you start learning English?

6) How often do you have English classes at the University?

7) What do you do at these lessons?

8) Do you learn English after classes? In what way?

9) Would you like to practise English in other countries?

7. Think of more reasons (things) to add to the given list.

A. One of the reasons why a lot of people all over the world learn English is that English has taken the position of the world language. It means that:

· About 350 million people speak it as the mother tongue, whereas it is thought that around 1.5 billion speak it as a second or foreign language.

· It has become the language of the planet.

· It is believed that around 80% of the data in the world’s computers is stored in English.

· . . . . . . . . . . .

B.Everyone can easily think of more reasons to give if he asked why he or she wants to know English. Some of them are:

· It’s fun. · I want to use English in my future work. · I like reading English. · I want to use computer programmes in English.

· I like English songs. · I want to go to Britain or the USA. · I want to travel and meet a lot of people, and then I’ll talk to them in English. · . . . . . . . . . .