1. LEARNING LANGUAGES 1. Reasons for learning foreign languages
3. English – lingua franca

2. 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

3. Brainstorm the vocabulary connected with the following subtopics:
LEARNING
LANGUAGES
Language
Reasons for
learning languages
Learning and acquiring languages
English as a foreign language
Influential factors when learning a foreign language
Varieties of English
The status of the English language

4. Why do you learn foreign languages
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

5. Talk about the reasons the people in the pictures have to learn English as a foreign language.1. 3. 2. 4.
What difficulties do they face when learning a foreign language at different ages?

6. What causes you problems when you are trying to learn a foreign language?
Pronunciation
Remembering new words
Long texts
Various accents
Grammar
Writing
Spelling
Native speakers
Translation

7. Look at the diagram of language families. Describe it
Look at the diagram of language families. Describe it. Where does English belong to? Where do you think your mother tongue belongs?

8. Look at the words in British and American English
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 2. 1.
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

9. Do people in the pictures learn or acquire a language
Do people in the pictures learn or acquire a language? Explain the difference. Which process is easier – learning or acquisition?

10. What is your learning style. How do you easily learn new things
What is your learning style? How do you easily learn new things? By seing them, hearing them, touching them or when you move?
Tactile learner
Auditory learner
YOU ?
Kinesthetic learner
Visual learner

11. What kind of learner are the hints below typical for?
(click the icon to check your ideas)
Can you identify with any of them?
I take in new information best when I can see information in a diagram or a picture.
I may become bored more quickly than other students while listening to a class lecture.
When I am not sure how to spell a word, I write down different versions of the spelling.
I prefer to find out about something new by listening to someone explaining it.
When I study, I prefer using a highlighter to emphasise information.
I like to learn using movements.
I seem to remember objects better if I create jingles and rhymes.
I prefer teachers who use discussions.
I prefer lesson where we can move around.
I have trouble remembering things if I can’t take notes.
When I am in class, I often have to have something in my hand while reading or
listening.
I learn better when I touch an object.
(Visual learner)
(Tactile learner)
(Kinesthetic learner)
(Auditory learner)
(Visual learner)
(Kinesthetic learner)
(Auditory learner)
(Auditory learner)
(Kinesthetic learner)
(Visual learner)
(Tactile learner)
(Tactile learner)

12. Do you want to know what kind of learner you are?
Do the quiz on the website below and find out.