Foreign languages in our life

Learning a foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and efforts. Nowadays it is especially important to know foreign languages. Some people learn languages, because they need them for their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying languages is a hobby. Everyone, who knows foreign languages can speak to people from other countries, read foreign authors in origin, which makes your outlook wider. It is not surprising that many intellectuals and well-educated people are polyglots. I study English. Nowadays English has become the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations. Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. English is one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, Canada, the South Africa Republic. English is one of the official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations. Half of the world's scientific literature is in English. It is the language of computers technology. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated man, for every good specialist. The English language is a wonderful language. It is the language of the great literature. It is the language of William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens. The great German poet Goethe once said, "He, who knows no foreign language, does not know his own one». That is why in order to understand oneself and environment one has to study foreign languages.

Vocabulary

To make ones outlook wider- расширить кругозор

To read foreign authors in the original-читать зарубежных авторов в оригинале

To learn a foreign language- изучать иностранный язык

To know a foreign language- знать иностранный язык

To travel abroad- петешествовать за границей

To speak English- говорить на английском языке

A language- язык

A foreign language- иностранный язык

A mother tongue- родной язык

An official language- официальный язык

Exercise 1.Make up dialogues on the following situations

1. Marina and Lily studied German at school. Now they are at the Teachers’ Training University. They made up their mind to begin learning English as they consider English to be a very important language. They know that millions of people in all parts of the planet speak it.

2. Olga and Tanya study English at the University. They are “would be” teachers of the Russian Language. Olga thinks that knowing one foreign language is enough. Tanya does not agree with Olga, she herself is looking forward to learning Chinese for example. The fact is China is a partner for Europe and for the whole world.

Exercise 2. Choose the right word:

Different, various

1. Plutarch described ... historial events in his books.

2. We stand for peaceful co-existence of states with ... political and social systems.

3. ... ancient and modern languages are taught at our faculty.

4. What he says and what he does are ... things.

Exercise 3. Answer the questions.

1. Why do people learn languages?

2. Is it important to know English?

3. In what countries do people speak English?

4. How many people speak it as a mother tongue?

5. Why is it important to know a foreign language?

6. English has become the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations. Why?

7. What English authors do you know?

Exercise 4. True or false.

1. People study English for the sake of entertainment.

2. Learning a foreign language does not make your outlook wider.

3. English is the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations.

4. The native speakers of English live only in Great Britain.

5. All the world's scientific literature is in English.

6. It is the language of the great literature.

7. In order to speak to people from other countries, read foreign authors in the original one has to study foreign languages.

Exercise 5. Speak with your classmate about the role of a foreign language in your life.

Text B

English is a world language. It is the language of progressive science and technology, trade and cultural relations, commerce and business. It is the universal language of international aviation, shipping and sports. It is also the major language of diplomacy.

Hundreds and hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers are printed in English and read all over the world. 75% of the world's mail and 60% of the world's telephone calls are in English. Half of the world's scientific literature is written in English.

English is spoken by more than 350 million people. Geographically, it is the most widespread language on earth, second only to Chinese in the number of people who speak it.

It is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the United States of America, of Australia and New Zealand. English is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the Republic of South Africa and the Irish Republic, It is also spoken as a second language in many parts of India and Africa. The number of second-language speakers may soon exceed the number of native speakers.

Besides, millions of people study and use English as a foreign language. In our country English is very popular: it is studied at schools (sometimes even at nursery schools) colleges and universities.

Learning a foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and patience. But to know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist.

I want to know foreign languages because I have always been interested in foreign countries, their cultures and peoples.

Vocabulary

To print — печатать
Shipping — морской флот, судоходство
A science — наука

Technology — технология

Diplomacy — дипломатия

Trade —торговля

Commerce — коммерция, торговля

A mail — почта
Aviation — авиация

Progressive — прогрессивный

Major — главный, основной
Scientific — научный

Exercise 1. Questions:

1. Why is English the global language nowadays?