People in Europe started to learn languages in the 11th century. It is known that Yaroslav the Wise knew a lot of foreign languages. But at those times learning foreign languages was a privilege of rich people.

Today millions of people all over the world learn foreign languages. They are very important in our life. People, who know foreign languages, are necessary for the development of the technologies, economy and arts in the modern society. For example, a good engineer or a qualified worker should be able to read some technical papers for the imported equipment.

Learning foreign languages is especially important in our country. People want to learn foreign languages to write to their penfriends, or to communicate with them personally. People also want to read works of famous writers in the original, newspapers and magazines. During the classes of foreign languages one can train his memory and thinking. In addition, a foreign language helps to know the native language better. A person who learns a foreign language, at the same time gets acquainted with the culture of the country, its literature, history and geography.

Изучение иностранных языков

Люди в Европе начали изучать языки в 11 веке. Известно, что Ярослав Мудрый знал много иностранных языков. Но в те времена обучение иностранным языкам было привилегией богатых людей.

Сегодня миллионы людей во всем мире изучают иностранные языки. Они играют большую роль в нашей жизни. Люди, которые знают иностранные языки, необходимы для развития техники, экономики и искусства в современном обществе. Например, хороший механик или квалифицированный рабочий должен уметь прочитать некоторые технические документы для импортного оборудования.

Изучение иностранных языков особенно важно в нашей стране. Люди хотят изучать иностранные языки чтобы переписываться со своими друзьями, либо общаться с ними лично. Люди также хотят читать произведения известных писателей в подлиннике, газеты и журналы. На уроках иностранных языков тренируется память и мышление. Иностранный язык даже помогает знать родной язык лучше. Человек, который изучает иностранный язык, в то же время знакомится с культурой страны, ее литературой, историей и географией.

Speaking (p. 7) Task 1 (Suggested Answer)

Many people nowadays are learning foreign languages. It’s important for anyone who wants to work or study abroad. For example, if you’re interested in working in another country, or in having a job that involves working with foreigners, it’s necessary to know at least one foreign language.

In my country, nearly every university student knows another language. English is the most popular, but it’s not the only one people are learning. I have friends who have learned two or more new languages. Most of them study languages at school, but there are other ways to learn. For example, there are free courses on the Internet.You can also learn with CDs and DVDs. And, of course, you can always buy a book and study without a teacher. But learning only from books can be a bit boring, so it’s nice sometimes to do some extra things to make learning more enjoyable. For instance, it’s fun to watch films from other countries, or to listen to international music and try to learn the song lyrics. And there are many people who improve their English by making friends on the Internet and staying in touch with them.

I speak English and French, and I like them both because you can use them in so many countries. But I’d also like to learn an Asian language. I’m considering Japanese, because I’m interested in travelling in Japan.

Extra Questions (Suggested Answers)

Yes, it’s better to begin learning a foreign language from a young age, because it takes many years to master a language.You are also more likely to speak with a better accent if you begin speaking the language as a child.
I’d love to take a summer course in a foreign country. It would be an excellent way to improve in a foreign language, and it would also be a wonderful travel experience.
I can speak English well, but I’d still like to improve. In particular, I’d like to have a larger vocabulary. I also make mistakes in grammar.
In my opinion, the hardest thing about a new language is the grammar. Even if you know a language well, it’s still easy to make mistakes when you are speaking, and it takes many years of practice to avoid those mistakes.

Task 2 (Suggested Answer)

These days, it seems that wherever you turn, you see or hear something in what has become the world’s lingua franca, English. Because of this, it has been suggested that all children should learn English from a young age. There are, however, both pros and cons to this complicated issue. There are many reasons why learning English at a young age is a good idea. To begin with, children learn quicker and better than adults. There minds are still developing and are receptive to new concepts. In addition, having another language when they leave school will be an incredible advantage in the job market.

On the other hand, there are those that say that learning another language as a child is useless. Firstly, many children will not need another language in their daily lives. Also, that children should be concentrating on their native reading and writing skills, not those of a foreign country.

To conclude, there are two very different sides to this controversial issue. It is very much a matter for the individual parents involved. But we should not forget the Czech proverb, ‘Learn a new language and get a new soul.’

Тема: Изучение иностранных языков

Learning foreign languages is becoming more and more popular in our country. It"s not surprising because Russia is now part of Europe and the whole world. Very little clear and detailed communication can occur among people who don"t have a common language. Besides learning foreign languages helps us to gain a better appreciation of our own language.

It goes without saying that English is the most popular foreign language now. There are many reasons for its popularity. It has become the standard language for all kinds of international communication. The English language has become the world"s top tongue and I think it is going to become a global language, dominating the world"s trade, computers and media.

On the other hand, we should not forget the cultural value of our native language. It"s a pity that many young people in order to make a fortune choose a foreign language for communication and leave their identity behind. That results in language extinction and this process takes place nearly everywhere in the world.

According to various linguists, half of the world"s languages will die out during the next century. On the one hand, it"s not bad as people"s communication will become easier, but on the other hand, language extinction is a disaster because it reduces the diversity of our planet which is the key to our survival. I think that larger cultures should have a respect for minority languages, but first of all the younger generation must want to preserve their native language.

Nowadays English is the most popular foreign language in Russia. If you know English, you can get a better job, more money and people will respect you more. As for me, I learn English because it expands my horizons and prepares me for a successful career. Besides, English attracts me because it"s the language of business and computers. English is also very useful when you travel abroad. More than that, it"s a good exercise for the intellect, though, of course, it"s a tricky language to learn because there seems to be more exceptions than rules.

Some students think that being able to communicate is the most important in learning a language and they do not care that they make many mistakes in speaking. In my opinion, the efficient language learner should be concerned with both communicating and accuracy. In addition, the good language learner is independent, organized and active.

In my opinion, learning foreign languages is extremely beneficial. I would also like to learn Spanish. It will help me to get a job in the tourist industry, as so many people go on holiday to Spain. I would also like to expand my knowledge of Spanish customs and traditions.

To sum up, I believe that knowledge of foreign languages helps to make a person educated and well-rounded. It is not only the language that counts but also the fact that it is a way of getting to know different cultures. You can"t broaden your mind if you see the world only from the perspective of your own culture.

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Key Words and Useful Expressions:
to prepare for lessons, to read books in the original, to improve, an official language, to contribute to, overflow of information, a mother tongue, a native speaker, relations, abroad, international communication, variety, to have a good command of a language, to speak fluently, patience, widespread.

The given texts are sample texts and we recommend you to use it while getting ready with your own stories on the topic.

Learning Foreign Languages.

The problem of learning languages is very important today. Foreign languages are socially demanded especially at the present time when the progress in science and technology has led to an explosion of knowledge and has contributed to an overflow of information. The total knowledge of mankind is known to double every seven years. Foreign languages are needed as the main and the most efficient means of information exchange of the people of our planet.
Today English is the language of the world. Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. English is one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, Canada and the South African Republic. As a second language it is used in the former British and US colonies.
English is not only the national or official language of some thirty states, which represent different cultures, but it is also the major international language of communication in such areas as science, technology, business and mass entertainment. English is one of the official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations. It is the language of literature, education, modern music, and international tourism.
Russia is integrating into the world community and the problem of learning English for the purpose of communication is especially urgent today.
So far there is no universal or ideal method of learning languages. Everybody has his own way. Sometimes it is boring to study grammar or to learn new words. But it is well known that reading books in the original, listening to the BBC news, communicating with the English-speaking people will help a lot. When learning a foreign language you learn the culture and history of the native speakers. One must work hard to learn any foreign language.

Why Do We Learn the English Language?

It is necessary to learn foreign languages. That"s why pupils have got such subject as a foreign language at school. Everybody knows his own language, but it is useful to know foreign languages.
I learn English, because I understand that I can use it. For example, if I go to England I"ll be able to speak English there. If I go to the USA, I"ll speak English too. English is used not only in England, but also in other parts of the world.
I learn English because I want to read foreign literature in the original. I know and like such English and American writers as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll and others. I understand that I must learn English. If I know English well, I"ll be able to go to the library and take books by English and American writers in the original.
I like to travel. But it is difficult to visit countries, when you don"t know the language of these countries. If I know the language of the country, where I am going to it will be easy to travel there. If I want to ask something, I can do it in English.
I like to read books. And I like to read newspapers, too. If I know, for example, English I"ll be able to read English newspapers and magazines. Knowledge of foreign languages helps young people of different countries to understand each other, to develop friendship among them. For example, we have a foreign exhibition in Moscow. If I know a foreign language, it is easy for me to visit this exhibition.
You can see a lot of advertisements, signboards, names in the streets. They are in foreign languages. Very often they are in English. If you know English, you can read and understand them.
Now we buy many clothes from other countries. If you know English well, you can read something about the size of this or that thing. It is clear for you what it is made of.
There are a lot of films in foreign languages. If you know them, you can understand films without any help.
There are international friendship camps in the world. If you can speak foreign languages, it will be easy for you to visit such camps and speak with the boys, girls, men, women who do not know Russian. In short, I understand that I have to learn English in a proper way and I try to do it.

Задачи и тесты по теме "Тема 22. "Learning Foreign Languages"."

• Learning foreign languages. English in the world - Vocabulary 5–9 класс

  Уроков: 9 Заданий: 20 Тестов: 2

• School, subjects, classmates - Vocabulary 5–9 класс

  Уроков: 11 Заданий: 21 Тестов: 2

Цель теоретических материалов к Теме 22 "Learning Foreign Languages"- дать Вам необходимые для общения на эту тему слова и выражения.

Ключевые слова и выражения нужно выписать в тетрадь и выучить. А также полезно учить наизусть целые предложения, в которых встречаются новые для Вас грамматические конструкции или идиоматические обороты.

Тексты "Learning Foreign Languages" и "Why Do We Learn the English Language?" помогут Вам подготовиться к беседе по данному вопросу.

Задания к теме 15 включают в себя упражнения как на знание ключевых слов и выражений, так и на развитие разговорных навыков, умение отвечать на вопросы и высказать свое мнение на данную тему.

У Вас, наверняка, есть свой собственный опыт изучения иностранных языков.

Было бы неплохо, если бы Вы поделились им, выполняя задания по данной теме.

Топик (сочинение) по английскому языку на тему «Английский в жизни / English in the life»

Почему это так важно изучать иностранные языки?

I think, nowadays it is very important to know foreign languages. Some people learn languages, because they need them for their work, others travel abroad, for the third it`s just a hobby. People want to know languages, to write to their pen-friends or to communicate with people from different countries, to meet more people and make new friends. Also, they want to read books of famous writers in original, to read newspapers and magazines. It helps them to know more about different events, people`s life, customs and traditions.

Nowadays, English has become an international language. Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue. As for me, I learn English from 7 years age. This language helps me very much, to speak free with people from all over the world, make new friends and participate in international contests.

I like one proverb of Johann Goethe:" He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own." I speak Ukranian, Russian, English, a little Italian and Spanish. And I`m very proud of it, because languages-it`s my second life. Also, I would like to learn Germany, French and Serbian, but this year I dedicate myself to learning Italian. You know, dream from my childhood - to be an an interpreter and I`m sure, I get it.

Personally, I think that to know foreign languages today is absolutely necessary for every educated man, for every good specialist. So let`s to learn foreign languages and discover with them many interesting things in our life!

Перевод:

Я думаю, в наше время, это очень важно знать иностранные языки. Некоторые люди учат языки, потому что они им нужны для роботы, другим путешествовать за границу, и для третьих это просто хобби. Люди хотят знать языки, писать друзьям по переписке или общаться с людьми с разных стран, встретить больше новых людей и завести друзей. К тому же, они хотят читать книги известных писателей в оригинале, читать газеты и журналы. Это помогает им узнавать больше о разных событиях, жизни людей, обычаях и традиций.

Изучение иностранных языков расширяет наш кругозор, люди становятся более образованными. На мой взгляд, языки особенно важны для тех, кто работает в разных сферах науки и технологии, политики. Иностранный язык помогает узнать родной язык лучше. Люди, которые знают много языков - полиглоты. Мы знаем некоторые имена полиглотов: немецкий профессор Шлимман, известный писатель Шекспир, философ Сократ и много других.

В наши дни, английский стал международным языком. Около 300 миллионов людей говорят на нем, как на родном языке. Что касается меня, я учу английский с 7 лет. Этот язык очень мне помогает, говорить свободно с людьми со всего мира, заводить новых друзей и принимать участие в международных конкурсах.

Мне нравиться одна пословица Йогана Гете: "Тот, кто не знает иностранных языков, не знает ничего про свой родной язык". Я разговариваю на украинском, русском, английском, немного на итальянском и испанском. И я очень горжусь этим, потому что языки - это моя вторая жизнь. Также, я бы хотела выучить немецкий, французский и сербский, но в этом году я посвящаю себя изучению итальянского. Вы знаете, мечта моего детства - быть переводчиком и я уверенна я буду.

Лично я думаю, что знать иностранные языки сегодня это абсолютно необходимо для каждого образованного человека, для каждого хорошого специалиста. Поэтому, давайте учить иностранные языки и открывать с ними много интересных вещей в нашей жизни!

Кузнецова Милена