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English as a Second Language -
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Sweden tops English-speaking list (28th October, 2012)

Swedes (people from Sweden) are best in the world at using English as a second language. This is according to a new report* into the use of English around the world. The education company Education First published the study. Its researchers tested nearly two million people in 54 countries. They found that Swedes topped the list of countries with a "Very High Proficiency" in English. The Danes finished second on this list, followed by the Dutch, Finns and Norwegians.

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The head of Education First in Sweden, Mats Ulenius, told the Swedish website** "The Local" that: We are extremely proud that Swedes are the best in the world at English. One of the factors of our success is that we begin with English education in lower school. Another is that we are exposed to a lot of English as we travel a lot." He added: "Our TV programmes aren't dubbed, and we use the Internet a lot." Mr Ulenius said a good knowledge of English helped the country's economy, exports and creativity.

* http://www.ef.com/__/~/media/efcom/epi/2012/full_reports/EF%20EPI%202012%20Report_MASTER_LR.pdf

** http://www.thelocal.se/44062/20121026

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	Swedes	a.	headed
2	report	b.	Danish people
3.	topped	c.	Finnish people
4.	proficiency	d.	Swedish people
5.	Danes	e.	skill
6.	Finns	f.	study

Paragraph 2

1.	extremely	a.	aided
2	begin	b.	understanding
3.	exposed to	c.	very
4.	knowledge	d.	inventiveness
5.	helped	e.	introduced to
6.	creativity	f.	start

LISTENING GAP FILL

Swedes (people from Sweden) are best (1) _______________ using English as a second language. This (2) _______________ new report into the use of English around the world. The education company Education First (3) _______________. Its researchers (4) _______________ million people in 54 countries. They found that Swedes (5) _______________ countries with a "Very High Proficiency" in English. The Danes finished second on this (6) _______________ the Dutch, Finns and Norwegians.

The head of Education First in Sweden, Mats Ulenius, told the Swedish website "The Local" that: We (7) _________________ that Swedes are the best in the world at English. One of the factors (8) _______________ that we begin with English education in lower school. Another is that (9) _______________ to a lot of English (10) _______________ lot." He added: "Our TV programmes (11) _______________ we use the Internet a lot." Mr Ulenius said a good knowledge of English helped the country's economy, (12) _________________.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

(1) ____ (people from Sweden) are best in the world at using English as a second language. This is according to a new report into the (2) ____ of English around the world. The education company Education First (3) ____ the study. Its researchers tested (4) ____ two million people in 54 countries. They found that Swedes (5) ____ the list of countries with a "Very High Proficiency" in English. The Danes finished second on this list, followed (6) ____ the Dutch, Finns and Norwegians.

The (7) ____ of Education First in Sweden, Mats Ulenius, told the Swedish website "The Local" that: We are extremely (8) ____ that Swedes are the best in the world at English. One of the (9) ____ of our success is that we begin with English education in lower school. Another is that we are exposed to a lot of English (10) ____ we travel a lot." He added: "Our TV programmes aren't (11) ____, and we use the Internet a lot." Mr Ulenius said a good knowledge of English helped the country's economy, exports and (12) ____.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	Slavs	(b)	Swedes	(c)	Swazis
2.	(a)	used	(b)	user	(c)	use
3.	(a)	published	(b)	publication	(c)	publishers
4.	(a)	more	(b)	nearly	(c)	quite
5.	(a)	tipped	(b)	tapped	(c)	topped
6.	(a)	on	(b)	by	(c)	up
7.	(a)	foot	(b)	head	(c)	back
8.	(a)	proud	(b)	conquer	(c)	grave
9.	(a)	envelopes	(b)	cases	(c)	factors
10.	(a)	as	(b)	was	(c)	has
11.	(a)	scanned	(b)	uploaded	(c)	dubbed
12	(a)	creativity	(b)	creates	(c)	creatively

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	iraocgdcn to a new report
2.	Education First hslpbeudi the study
3.	nearly two nliioml people
4.	Swedes eodtpp the list of countries
5.	The Danes hnsdiief second on this list
6.	lwooedfl by the Dutch, Finns and Norwegians
Paragraph 2
7.	iehdSsw website
8.	We are txyeremel proud
9.	the factors of our uecsscs
10.	we are deesoxp to a lot of English
11.	Our TV programmes aren't ddbebu
12.	exports and avctriieyt

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	The head of Education First in Sweden, Mats Ulenius, told the Swedish website "The Local" that: We are extremely
( )	the list of countries with a "Very High Proficiency" in English. The Danes
( )	nearly two million people in 54 countries. They found that Swedes topped
( )	proud that Swedes are the best in the world at English. One of the factors
( )	of English helped the country's economy, exports and creativity.
( )	dubbed, and we use the Internet a lot." Mr Ulenius said a good knowledge
( )	of our success is that we begin with English education in lower school. Another is that we
( )	finished second on this list, followed by the Dutch, Finns and Norwegians.
( 1 )	Swedes (people from Sweden) are best in the world at using English as
( )	a second language. This is according to a new report into the use of English around the
( )	are exposed to a lot of English as we travel a lot." He added: "Our TV programmes aren't
( )	world. The education company Education First published the study. Its researchers tested

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	language second a as English using at world the in Best.
2.	a to according is This report new.
3.	world the around English of use The.
4.	Its people million two nearly tested researchers.
5.	The list this on second finished Danes.
6.	success our of factors the of One.
7.	English education We in begin lower with school.
8.	of exposed English to a We lot are.
9.	dubbed aren't programmes TV Our.
10.	of Knowledge economy country's the helped English.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about English for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Check each other's work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

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. ENGLISH: Search the Internet and find more information about English as a Second Language around the world. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about English. Include an imaginary (or real) interview with an English teacher. Ask him/her questions about English as a global language. 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 an English expert. Ask him/her three questions about English as a global language. Give him/her three of your opinions on English as a global language. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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News English Lessons English as a Second Language - (11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)