1. Learning Styles (free) Intro.Mov

https://www.youwintube.com/NoEee9l9nCw.html;

2) Gardner: Five Minds for the Future (free) / Ross Institute Summer Academy 2007 https://www.youwintube.com/ZRUN1F4rWAE.html

2 Give your response to the following questions.

1. What language learning styles are practiced in the target language countries?

2. Which learning style do you belong to?

READING

1 You are going to read an article from the newspaper “Telegraph”. Look at the title and predict the plot of the article.

“Foreign Languages to be Taught at School from Age Seven”.

Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, will say that subjects such as French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin or Greek will be made a compulsory part of the primary school timetable for the first time. Ministers hope the move will make pupils better-equipped to compete in a global economy while reversing the “damaging collapse” in GCSE language take-up. The move to make languages a requirement from age seven will form part of a new primary National Curriculum, taking effect in 2014. It will be popular with middle-class parents who complain that state schools lag behind independent prep schools in providing good-quality language teaching.

Earlier this year, a report found that countries with high-performing education systems begin teaching foreign languages at a much younger age than England. “Under Labour party, language teaching in secondary schools declined,” a Government source said. “A system in which all primary children learn a foreign language from age seven will give pupils a much stronger foundation, which they can build on in secondary school to become fluent. “Learning another language is good for young children and it will give them more options in education and work.” Under the plans, schools would be allowed to decide which language, modern or ancient, their pupils should be taught. By the age of 11, pupils will be expected to speak the language in sentences with appropriate pronunciation, express simple ideas with clarity and write phrases and short sentences from memory. They will also be expected to understand basic grammar and be acquainted with songs and poems in the language studied. Primary teachers will be required to focus on a single language to avoid a piecemeal approach. Currently, foreign language teaching is compulsory in England from the beginning of secondary school, when children are age 11.

In many high-performing education systems, the teaching of foreign languages is introduced early. New Zealand and Singapore teach languages at age six, and Finland at age nine. In Hong Kong, English is compulsory from the start of primary school. Evidence shows that children may be better able to learn a foreign language if they are given the opportunity at a younger age. Research also suggests that being taught a foreign language can help to improve conversation skills and literacy in English, as well as benefit study in other subjects.

The last government launched a £50 million campaign to increase the uptake of languages in primary schools with the aim of making them compulsory. Where languages are taught, the standard is one 40-minute French lesson a week. Pupils will need to be able to speak in sentences, with the appropriate pronunciation, and express simple ideas clearly in another language. They will be expected to develop an understanding of the basic grammar of the language, and be acquainted with songs and poetry. Ministers say that teaching should focus on making "substantial progress" in one language. “Teach modern foreign languages (MFL) in the United Kingdom”. “Telegraph”2013.