Learning foreign languages is a strong requirement of modern life. Every educated person should be able to speak at least one foreign language – English, German, French, Spanish, Italian or any other one. There are many reasons why we begin the study of a foreign language. One of them is to be able to communicate with other people who use this language. If we know the language of a foreign country, we can talk to its people and understand what they are saying to us. It is interesting to read and understand foreign newspapers, magazines and books in the original. We can also see and understand films in foreign languages without any help.
Knowledge of a foreign language is truly something that opens up the whole new world to the one who possesses it. It is like the ship bearing explorers to new continents. And it is not surprising that a lot of intellectuals all over the world want to know as many foreign languages as possible. But the study of foreign languages is not only the sign of intellectual vitality. Nowadays it becomes an absolute necessity for any good specialist, working in any branch of science, to read much of a special scientific literature in foreign languages to be well informed in his field of knowledge.
Making business nowadays also means knowing foreign languages because of the growing international business contacts.
Learning foreign languages is compulsory in all secondary and higher schools in our country. We study English. It’s a very popular language and one of the major languages in the world. English is spoken and studied all over the world by more than 700 million people.
And today it is impossible to imagine that in Shakespeare’s time only a few million people spoke English and it was unknown to the rest of the world. English has become a world language because of its establishment as a mother tongue outside England, in all the continents of the world. This exporting of English began in the 17th century with the first settlements in North America and continued by massive immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. This growth of population in the United States has given the English language its present standing in the world.
People who speak English fall into one of three groups: those who have learned it as their native language; those who have learned it as a second language in a society that is mainly bilingual; and those who use it for a practical purpose – administrative, professional or educational. One person in seven of the world’s entire population belongs to one of these three groups. Incredibly, but 75% of the world’s mail and 60% of the world’s telephone calls are in English. English has become the language of international communication, international business, business correspondence and literature, diplomatic relations and education, and so on. Nearly 80% of scientific writing is in English and it is the international language of pop culture. Good knowledge of English can help us get a good job in many fields, such as science and technologies, foreign trade and banking, international transportation, government, teaching, etc. With English you don’t lag behind the time and feel quite well in today’s multilingual society.
Exercise I. Match English and Russian equivalents.
| 1. a strong requirement 2. at least one foreign language 3. there are many reasons 4. to be able to communicate 5. it is like the ship 6. it was unknown to the rest of the world 7. the mother tongue 8. for a practical purpose 9. entire population 10. today’s multilingual society | a) существует много причин b) это как (похоже на) корабль c) ярко выраженная потребность d) с практической целью e) по крайней мере один иностранный язык f) современное многоязычное общество g) уметь общаться h) он был неизвестен остальному миру i) родной язык j) все население |
Exercise II. Choose the right word or word combination.
1. Every educated person should be able … at least one foreign language.
a) to tell; b) to say; c) to speak.
2. Learning foreign languages is a strong … of modern life.
a) demand; b) requirement; c) necessity.
3. … of English began in the 17th century with the first settlements in North America.
a) exporting; b) importing; c) expansion.
4. With English you don’t lag behind …
a) the group; b) the friends; c) the time.
Exercise III. Complete the sentences according to the text.
1. If we know the language of a foreign country ….
2. Knowledge of a foreign language is truly ….
3. And it is not surprising that ….
4. Nowadays it becomes an absolute necessity ….
5. English is spoken and ….
6. English has become a world language ….
7. People who speak English ….
8. English has become the language of ….
Exercise IV. Fill in the gaps with the prepositions: of, in, to, into, in, with, over.
1. A lot of intellectuals all … the world want to know as many foreign languages as possible.
2. Nearly 80% of scientific writing is … English.
3. In Shakespeare’s time only a few million people spoke English and it was unknown … the rest of the world.
4. People who speak English fall … three groups.
5. One person … seven of the world’s entire population belongs to one of these three groups.
6. English has become a world language because … its establishment as a mother tongue outside England.
7. … English you don’t lag behind the time.
Exercise V. Answer the questions on the text.
1. What are the reasons of learning foreign languages?
2. Why is it necessary for a scientist to know a foreign language?
3. How many people study and speak English all over the world?
4. What’s the number of people who spoke English in Shakespeare’s time?
5. When did exporting of English begin?
6. What are the three groups of people who speak English?
7. In what spheres is English practically used?
8. Can good knowledge of English help you get a more payable job?
Exercise VI. Think and answer.
1. How well do you know English?
2. Do you read English books or newspapers?
3. Do you speak English after classes?
4. Will good knowledge of English help you get a good job? In what field are you going to work?