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Around two-thirds of British people cannot say anything in a foreign language. This means they are among the world’s worst language learners. A report from Hotels.com showed that one-fifth of Britons were unsure of what ‘bonjour’ meant. Over 60 per cent could not guess what the Dutch word ‘goedemorgen’ meant, even though it sounds similar to ‘good morning’. One of the few phrases people in the report understood was 'Una cerveza por favor' – ‘One beer please’.
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Britons have an image of being very bad at trying to speak the local language when they travel. The findings in this report seem to prove this. Only a third said they would try to say a few foreign words when they go abroad. Most of those questioned said they expected people to speak English when they went overseas. All British students have to study a foreign language up to the age of 14. However, only one in ten young people said they could speak one.
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Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1. |
Around two- |
a. |
similar |
2 |
among the world’s worst |
b. |
were unsure |
3. |
A report |
c. |
thirds of British people |
4. |
one-fifth of Britons |
d. |
language learners |
5. |
even though it sounds |
e. |
phrases |
6. |
One of the few |
f. |
from Hotels.com |
Paragraph 2
1. |
an image of being |
a. |
in this report |
2 |
trying to speak the local |
b. |
to speak English |
3. |
The findings |
c. |
ten |
4. |
try to say |
d. |
very bad |
5. |
they expected people |
e. |
a few foreign words |
6. |
one in |
f. |
language |
______________________ British people cannot say anything in a foreign language. This means ______________________ world’s worst language learners. A report from Hotels.com showed that one-fifth of Britons ______________________ ‘bonjour’ meant. Over 60 per cent ______________________ the Dutch word ‘goedemorgen’ meant, ______________________ similar to ‘good morning’. One ______________________ people in the report understood was 'Una cerveza por favor' – ‘One beer please’.
Britons ______________________ being very bad at trying to speak the local language when they travel. The findings in this report ______________________. Only a third said they would try to say a few foreign words ______________________. Most of those questioned ______________________ people to speak English when ______________________. All British students have to study a foreign language up to the age of 14. However, ______________________ people said they could speak one.
Around two-(1) ____ of British people cannot say anything in a foreign language. This (2) ____ they are among the world’s worst language learners. A report from Hotels.com showed that one-(3) ____ of Britons were (4) ____ of what ‘bonjour’ meant. Over 60 per cent could not guess what the Dutch word ‘goedemorgen’ meant, even (5) ____ it sounds similar to ‘good morning’. One of the (6) ____ phrases people in the report understood was 'Una cerveza por favor' – ‘One beer please’.
Britons have an (7) ____ of being very bad at trying to speak the local language when they travel. The findings in this report (8) ____ to prove this. Only a third said they would (9) ____ to say a few foreign words when they go abroad. Most of those questioned said they expected people (10) ____ speak English when they went overseas. All British students have to study a foreign language (11) ____ to the age of 14. However, only one (12) ____ ten young people said they could speak one.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1. |
(a) |
thirds |
(b) |
third |
(c) |
thirdly |
2. |
(a) |
meaning |
(b) |
mean |
(c) |
means |
3. |
(a) |
five |
(b) |
fifty |
(c) |
fifth |
4. |
(a) |
surely |
(b) |
unsure |
(c) |
insure |
5. |
(a) |
though |
(b) |
thought |
(c) |
through |
6. |
(a) |
much |
(b) |
some |
(c) |
few |
7. |
(a) |
picture |
(b) |
image |
(c) |
drawing |
8. |
(a) |
seem |
(b) |
seems |
(c) |
seam |
9. |
(a) |
trying |
(b) |
try |
(c) |
tries |
10. |
(a) |
at |
(b) |
of |
(c) |
to |
11. |
(a) |
down |
(b) |
up |
(c) |
along |
12 |
(a) |
in |
(b) |
up |
(c) |
at |
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1 |
|
1. |
udrnoA two-thirds |
2. |
cannot say natgnihy |
3. |
language esranrle |
4. |
Britons were seunur |
5. |
it sounds amlsrii |
6. |
One of the few hrssepa |
Paragraph 2 |
|
7. |
an aegim of being very bad |
8. |
speak the laloc language |
9. |
ovper this |
10. |
when they go abodra |
11. |
when they went aveesosr |
12. |
one in ten oguyn people |
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) |
though it sounds similar to ‘good morning’. One of the few phrases people |
( ) |
that one-fifth of Britons were unsure of what ‘bonjour’ meant. Over |
( ) |
questioned said they expected people to speak English when they went |
( ) |
try to say a few foreign words when they go abroad. Most of those |
( ) |
they are among the world’s worst language learners. A report from Hotels.com showed |
( ) |
language when they travel. The findings in this report seem to prove this. Only a third said they would |
( ) |
60 per cent could not guess what the Dutch word ‘goedemorgen’ meant, even |
( 1 ) |
Around two-thirds of British people cannot say anything in a foreign language. This means |
( ) |
Britons have an image of being very bad at trying to speak the local |
( ) |
overseas. All British students have to study a foreign language up |
( ) |
to the age of 14. However, only one in ten young people said they could speak one. |
( ) |
in the report understood was 'Una cerveza por favor' – ‘One beer please’. |
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1. |
thirds people anything - British say Two of cannot. |
2. |
Among world’s language the worst learners. |
3. |
- One unsure were Britons of fifth. |
4. |
though similar “good Even sounds it to morning”. |
5. |
people in The the few report phrases understood. |
6. |
of very . an Britons bad being image have |
7. |
this this report seem Findings to in prove. |
8. |
They to few try a words would say foreign. |
9. |
expected They to people . speak English |
10. |
young they ten said speak in people could One. |
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B) |
|
1. |
________________________________________________________ |
2. |
________________________________________________________ |
3. |
________________________________________________________ |
4. |
________________________________________________________ |
5. |
________________________________________________________ |
6. |
________________________________________________________ |
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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A) |
|
1. |
________________________________________________________ |
2. |
________________________________________________________ |
3. |
________________________________________________________ |
4. |
________________________________________________________ |
5. |
________________________________________________________ |
6. |
________________________________________________________ |
Write about foreign words for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
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1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. FOREIGN WORDS: Search the Internet and find more information about foreign words. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about foreign words. Include an imaginary interview with a Briton abroad. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to a language learning expert. Ask him/her three questions about foreign words. Give him/her three of your opinions on English words. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.
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