Lesson 3: Practice Reading
Ex 1: The text has four paragraphs A- D from the list of headings
below.
Write the correct number, I-V on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
I. The belief that business lost due to lack of linguistic
ability disproved.
II. The consequence of English not being a major
language.
III. Reasons why young people don’t learn languages.
IV. A criticism of British attitudes of learning languages.
V. The impact of education outside formal settings.
I
A: ––4––––––
B: ––3–––––
C: ––5–––––
D: ––1––––––
An answer to the belief that British people cannot
learn languages
A. Every so often, the educational supplements of our broadsheets
devote an entire issue to the danger the British face of falling
behind in Europe because so few of our schoolkids take up the
study of foreign languages. Most recently, the German
ambassador lambasted us for only ever speaking English, a
rebuke echoed by his French and Spanish counterparts.
B. The truth is that foreign languages are phenomenally
unpopular in secondary schools. Poor teaching and the late
introduction of the subject are often cited as the main reasons
youngsters are so loath to study them. Another factor for our
notorious laziness vis-a-vis other tongues has to be that we are
brought up to believe that the whole world speaks English, so
why bother? Why indeed? Struggling to communicate in
another language is, for all but the committed and enthusiastic
linguist, a frustrating experience, which, if not necessary, is
best avoided. And yes, when millions of Brits take their annual
holidays abroad, local tourism, travel, catering, and retail staff
are all trained in at least rudimentary English. So, again, there
is little motivation to learn more than a couple of word for a
few days' stay.
All this is true, and yet illuminates only part of the picture.
British teenagers are generally bored by French or German
verbs, but the underlying reasons are more complex than a
vague assumption that they only need to speak English
because everyone else does. Their leisure activities revolve
around pop music, sport, computers, television, and films.
These things are already in English; translations and subtitles
are the exception. Furthermore, the most powerful country in
the world happens to speak our language, and we absorb its
cultural exports easily and readily. So, for us, language is not a
major issue.
C. Of course, should the world situation change, and the United
States become a Hispanic country, as some boffins have
predicted, the British would see the benefit of learning Spanish
and do so. Not so long ago, knowledge of French was more
widespread here, and eagerly acquired, when that language
was of paramount international importance.
D. The belief that we will lag behind our European business partners
also needs to be dissected. The canard here is that we lose out
because our businessmen and women can't keep up with the
local lingo. But surely, it's competitiveness and the attraction of
lucrative offers that count. After all, American executives don't
wring their hands at their lack of linguistic skills.
Ex 2: For each of the statements 1-7 in 6, decide if they agree
with (Yes) or contradict (No) the writer's opinion. Write Not Given
if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks in the passage
below.
1. Some journalists take the view that more British schoolchildren
should study languages. Y
2. The number of English speakers worldwide makes it unnecessary for
British tourists to learn languages. Y
3. Only British teenagers find languages boring. NG
4. British teenagers' reluctance to learn languages is linked to the
availability of films and music in English. Y
5. In the past, studying French made it easier for British people to
learn further languages. N
6. The lack of linguistic skills within British companies has resulted in
business being lost. N
7. American business people are less interested in learning languages
than British business people. NG
