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UNIT I.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN OUR LIFE

WHAT DO WE NEED FOREIGN LANGUAGES FOR?

Lean the vocabulary:

ancient – древний nobility – знать

to include – включать

to communicate – общаться

throughout – везде, повсюду, в течение mankind – человечество

to spread – распространять(ся) settlement – поселение

to increase – увеличивать(ся) to arise – возникать

rapid – стремительный growth – рост

relations – отношения, связи necessary – необходимый

to be able – быть способным at least – по крайней мере either…or – или…или

effort – усилие patient – терпеливый

Ex. 1. Lean the pronunciation of the following words:

b)proper names:

2.5 trousand

400 million – four hundred

700 million –

200 million

Ex. 2. Guess the meanings of the following words.

Unknown, speaker, mother tongue, widespread, scientific journal, modern literature, to come out, without translation, educated people, to master, word's population, Shakespeare's time, cultural relations, computers technology, specialist, no wonder, one person in seven, politics, policy, settler, to settle, nobleman, nowadays;

Ex. 3. Write down names of the countries, which these languages are spoken in

(ancient) Egyptian – Egypt

Greek –

French –

German –

Russian –

English –

Chinese –

Japanese –

Italian –

Swedish –

Turkish –

Swiss –

Dutch –

Brazilian –

Portuguese –

Spanish –

Norwegian –

Danish –

Ex. 4. Read and translate the text.

What do we need foreign languages for?

It is known that people have been learning foreign languages for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians learnt the Greek language 2.5 thousand years ago. In the 12th century the French language was learnt in many countries of Europe. In the 16th century Europe began to study the German language. In the 19th century the nobility of different countries, including Russia, communicated in French again. Throughout the history of mankind people needed some second language to understand each other.

In Shakespeare's time only a few million people spoke English. It was unknown to the rest of the world. The English language began to spread throughout the world only in the 17th century, when the first English settlements arose in North America. The rapid growth of population in the number of English-speakers increased greatly. English became a mother tongue or one of the official languages in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the South Africa Republic and some others.

Nowadays, the English language is the most widespread in the world. There are 400 million speakers of English against 700 million Chinese speakers, 200 million people speak Russian and 100 million people speak German as a native language.

The English language has become a world language in politics, science, business, sport and cultural relations. It is the language of computers technology. Half of the world's scientific journals are in English. It is necessary for a good specialist in any country to be able at least to read English. If you know English,

you can talk to people of many nationalities and can get necessary information anywhere in the world. A lot of modern literature and many new films in English come out every year. If you know English, you can understand them without translation. No wonder that most educated people speak English. Today, one person in seven of the world's population either knows English or learns it.

Learning any foreign language is not an easy thing. If you want to master a foreign language, you must be ready to make efforts and be patient.

Ex. 5. Insert prepositions.

1.People have been learning foreign languages ... thousands … years.

2.The nobility of different countries communicated … French again.

3.English was unknown … the rest of the world.

4.The English language began to spread … the world.

5.It is necessary … a good specialist … least to read English.

6.If you know English, you can talk … people of many nationalities.

7.Many new films in English come … every year.

8.If you know English, you can understand the films … translation.

9.One person … seven of the world's population … knows English … learns it.

10.There are 400 million speakers … English … 700 million Chinese speakers.

Ex. 6. Insert the words from the text.

1.… Egyptians learnt the Greek language 2.5 thousand years … .

2.In the 19th century … of different countries, … Russia, communicated in

French again.

3.Throughout the history of … people needed some second language to understand each other.

4.The English language began … throughout in USA increased the world only

in

the 17th century.

5.English became a … tongue in Canada, Australia, New Zeland and some other

countries.

6.100 million people speak German as a … language.

7.The English language has become a … language in politics, science, business, sport and cultural … .

8.If you know English, you can get … information anywhere in the world.

9.No wonder that most … people speak English.

10.… any foreign language is not an … thing.

Ex. 7. Agree or disagree.

1.The ancient Egyptians learnt the Latin language.

2.In the 16th century Europe began to study the French language.

3.Russian noblemen also learnt the French language.

4.English was widespread in Shakespeare's time the USA increased.

5.The rapid growth of population in the number of English-speakers greatly.

6.There are 400 million speakers of English against 700 million Russian speakers.

7.If you know English, you can talk to people in English – speaking countries.

8.If you want to master a foreign language, you must be ready to make efforts and be patient.

Ex. 8. Answer the question.

1.Why did the ancient Egyptians learn the Greek language?

2.What language was very popular in the 19th century?

3.When did the English language begin to spread? Why?

4.What countries is English the official language in?

5.How many people speak Russian?

6.Why is it necessary for a grod specialist to learn English?

7.How many people either know or learn English?

8.Learning any foreign language is not an easy thing, is it? Why?

9.What should you do to master a foreign language?

10.What foreign languages do you want to learn? Why?

Ex. 9. Ask any possible questions to the following sentences.

1.The ancient Egyptians learnt the Greek language 2.5 thousand years ago.

2.There are 400 million speakers of English against 700 million Chinesespeakers.

3.Half of the world's scientific journals are in English.

4.If you know English, you can talk to people of many nationalities and can get necessary information anywhere in the world.

5.A lot of modern literature and many new films in English come out every year.

6.Today, one person in seven of the world's population either knows English or learns it.

7.It is necessary for a good specialist in any country to learn English.

ENGLISH AROUND THE WORLD

Vocabulary:

frequently - часто