3 Find in the text the answers to the following questions.

1. How many people in the world speak the English language today?

2. Why is it said that English opens doors to academic world?

3. What is a lingua franca?

4. Why is English considered a lingua franca of the scientific community?

5. Why is a good command of English considered a useful skill for journalists?

6. How can you prove that knowledge of English increases an individual’s employability?

4 Make up sentences using the table.

The English language The ability to speak English A good command of English

opens up doors to gives the opportunity increases provides broadens enriches equips

to study abroad. to work for multinational corporations. an individual’s employability. job opportunities. the mind. all of us culturally. students with the communicative and intercultural competences.

5 Which three reasons of learning English mentioned in the text do you think are the most important?

a) Write them down

I think it is necessary / important to learn English because

first(ly), it is __________________________________________________

second(ly), ___________________________________________________

third(ly), _____________________________________________________

b) Write some other reasons important personally for you and explain why.

Personally, for me it is important to know English better because _____________

________________________________________________________________

I believe that a good command of English will increase my employability because

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

c) Have you decided on developing your skills in English? Now decide on the ways to reach your goals in learning English. You may begin as follows:

In order to (для того, чтобы) learn English (better), I’m going to _____________

________________________________________________________________

In order to improve my English, I’m going to _____________________________

________________________________________________________________

For ideas: to attend classes regularly (not to skip classes), to be active in class, to work hard between the sessions, to do my home assignments, to read and translate the texts, to learn words, to do my best.

M ake sure that you remember how to make Complex Sentences. For this purpose, consult Grammar File p.

CHECK YOURSELF

Make sure, that after having worked on this unit you can answer the following questions:

1. How large should an active vocabulary be in order to communicate effectively?

2. How many people speak English?

3. In what spheres is English most commonly used?

4. What opportunities does the knowledge of English give?

5. How can you improve your English?

 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOCUS

1 Join the sentences using the appropriate words because (потому, что), therefore (поэтому), in order to (для того, чтобы). Different variants are possible.

1. The British Empire expanded across almost a quarter of the world’s surface. English has become used in many countries.

2. The ability to speak English increases an individual’s employability. Today multinational corporations employ English-speakers in offices around the world.

3. The knowledge of English increases career opportunities. You can get professional information first hand.

4. English is the lingua franca of the scientific community. Roughly 80% of all journals are published in English.

5. The number of people learning the English language is growing. The knowledge of English is vital in many professions.

6. The students are studying English. They want to become highly qualified specialists.

7. You want to improve your English. You should work hard.

M ake sure that you remember how to make Complex Sentences. For this purpose, consult Grammar File p.

2 Use articles where necessary.

!	Обратите внимание на употребление определенного артикля с названиями языков: the English language, the Chinese language, the German language и др. Если после названия языка отсутствует слово language, то артикль также отсутствует.

1. The knowledge of _____ English language is vital in many professions. You don’t have to speak _____ English to have a successful career, but it certainly helps. _____ English is the language of the technological revolution and the internet.

2. _____ English has become a world language because of its establishment as a mother tongue outside _____ England. _____ English language was taken around the world by the sailors, soldiers, pilgrims, traders and missionaries of _____ British Empire. The exporting of _____ English continued in _____seventeenth century, with the first settlements in _____ North America. The fast growth of population in _____ United States, assisted by massive immigration in _____ nineteenth and twentieth centuries has given _____ English language its present standing in the world.

3. The adoption of _____ English as the universal language of science is due in part to historical political and economic factors which favored _____ English language over other potential candidate languages such as _____ Chinese, French, German, Russian, or Spanish.

4. _____ English language is the primary language of books and newspapers around the world. The ability to read and understand _____ English also opens up the possibility of enjoying the historical achievements of _____ English literature. Shakespeare, Dickens, Milton, Bronte, and Hardy are all far more enjoyable when read in their original language.

5. _____ English is also the first language of organizations such as _____ European Union, _____ United Nations, _____ Commonwealth of Nations, and _____ NATO.

M ake sure that you remember how to use articles with the geographical names, names of organizations and in some other cases. For this purpose, consult Grammar File p.

30