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Файл:Learning to Speak English. Учебное пособие по разговорному английскому языку
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chosen as the main foreign language used in hotels and at tourist attractions. Advances in technology and telecommunications have also
helped to establish English as a global language. Many inventions
important to modern life, e.g. electricity, radio, the car and the telephone, were developed in Britain or the US. English became the language for international communications in air traffic control and
shipping. Now, major computer systems and software developers are
based in the US, and English is the lingua franca (common language)
of the Internet. English is also spread through leisure activities. The
US is the home of the cinema, and English language films are shown
throughout the world.
Britain and the US have invested a lot of money in English
Language Teaching (ELT). The British Council has offices worldwide which promote British culture and support the teaching of English. The United States Information Agency also has libraries and
cultural programmes in many countries. English language broadcasts
of BBC World Service, Voice of America and other services are
widely popular, and many people listen to their news broadcasts in
order to get an independent account of events in their own region.
They also broadcast study programmes for learners of English. ELT
has become a growth industry. Language schools have been established throughout the world and publishers bring out many new
books for students.
As an international language, English continues to develop.
People who speak English as a first or second language have their
own variety of the language, each of which is changing independently of other varieties. There are many differences, for instance, between British English and American English, and between Australian, South African, Indian, African and Jamaican English, though all
can be understood, more or less, by speakers of other varieties. Foreign learners of English learn one of the major varieties, usually British or American English, or some sort of international English. As a
global language, English can no longer be thought of as belonging
only to British or American people, or to anyone else. This loss of
ownership is often uncomfortable, especially in Britain. As the number of people using English as a second or foreign language is increasing faster than the number who speak it as a first language, further drifts away from a British or American standard are likely.
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The status of English as a global language has unfortunately
tended to mean that British and American people assume everyone
speaks English, so they do not bother to learn foreign languages.
However, better language teaching, and an awareness of the advantages of speaking another language are slowly changing this situation.
9. Find in Text 6A the paragraphs describing the factors
which helped to establish English as a global language and translate them into Russian.
10. Explain the following references.
1. … it is spoken as a second language by another 300 million
people. What does pronoun it refer to?
2. This avoided their having to choose between competing local languages. What do pronouns this and their refer to?
3. … using English gives them an advantage in international
affairs. What does pronoun them refer to?
4. … many people listen to their news broadcasts… . What
does pronoun their refer to?
5. They also broadcast study programmes for learners of English. Who are they?
11. Comment on the picture given in the text.
12. Underline or mark the main ideas of Text 6A and retell
it in English.
13. Skim Text 6B “The Power of Language” and try to un-
derstand what it is about and what information is new to you.
TEXT 6B
THE POWER OF LANGUAGE
There is a debate going on in some colleges and universities
today about the importance of a foreign language requirement. At
some of these institutions, students may choose between a second
language and mathematics – or some other discipline.
When you live in the U.S., knowledge of a foreign language is
helpful but not necessary for survival. From some students’ point of
view, saying bonjour instead of hello when they might spend a couple of weeks’ vacation in France over the course of a lifetime hardly
merits a big investment in time and effort. Neither does learning a
Spanish dialogue to take a trip South of the Border.
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It is important, therefore, to define the benefits of learning a
foreign language. In the first place, students should be made aware
that in the U.S. alone, over 30% of the population is Spanishspeaking or of Hispanic origin. Learning French enables one to
communicate in parts of Europe, Canada, and Africa. Chinese and
Arabic cover over half the people in the world! Second, learning a
foreign language leads to a better understanding of cultures and men-
talities different from one’s own; and though it may be interesting to
bow rather than to shake hands, the important thing is the thinking
and questioning process that should lead to a better understanding of
one’s own culture as well as those of others. Third, learning a language opens the door to great literatures and philosophies, which can
have a tremendous impact on one’s life. Reading literature in the
language written is truly “living” the author’s creation, in a way not
possible though translation – no matter how great the translator. Finally, we do business in a global economy; the better we communicate with associates around the world, the greater success we will
achieve.
English is everywhere. It is on signs, clothing, soft drinks and
other goods around the world. In spite of the popularity of the English words and phrases, they are not always welcome. Some people
think that the use of English words is dangerous for the purity of
their native language. Some countries tried to eliminate English as
their official language in order to save their native tongue.
Some people believe that English should be the international
language. They believe that business would run more smoothly if
everyone spoke the same language. Some language experts think that
many languages are disappearing. In some parts of the world, only a
few people are left who can speak their native language. In Ireland,
for example, there are only a few areas where people speak Gaelic,
the native Irish language.
Languages have changed and disappeared throughout the history. This change is inevitable. Because people have very strong feelings about the importance of their native language, we probably will
not have English as a universal language in the near future. It is certain, however, that English words will continue to pop up everywhere, whether some people like it or not. It is also certain that English will be the language of business, diplomacy and international
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relations. Most educated people speak English fluently. Attempts to
introduce an artificial international language like Esperanto have
failed.
Leaning any foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long
and slow process that takes a lot of time and patience. But to know
English is absolutely necessary nowadays for every educated person,
for every good specialist. It is well known that communicating with
English speaking people will help a lot. One must work hard to learn
any foreign language.
A billion people speak English, 2/3 of the world’s scientists
write in English, and 80 percent of the world’s electronic information
is stored in English. One result is that the British are terribly lazy
about learning other languages. The most important facts in language
learning are motivation, and the British just do not have it. Even so,
the British are not really smug and self satisfied about the world status of their language. Most British people are quite well aware that
today it is out of their hands: the reasons for the popularity of English are either lost in history, or something to do with the superpower
on the other side of the Atlantic.
14. Answer the following questions.
1. What do American students think about learning a foreign
language? Is it helpful?
2. What are the benefits of learning a foreign language?
3. Are English words and phrases popular?
4. Do any countries try to eliminate English as their official
language?
5. Should English be the international language?
6. Why won’t we have English as a universal language in the
near future?
7. Were there any attempts to introduce artificial international
languages?
8. Why is learning a foreign language a difficult thing?
9. Why are the British lazy about learning other languages?
10. What are the reasons for the popularity of English
15. Say whether you agree or disagree with the views ex-
pressed in Text 6B. Prove your points of view.
16. Mark the main ideas of Text 6B and retell it in English.
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17. Read Text 6C “The Spread of American English” and
find the answers to these questions. Discuss your answers with
your classmates.
1. What did the spread of American English in the 19th century
result in?
2. When and why did American English begin to develop a
character of its own?
3. What is Noah Webster famous for?
4. What is the melting pot of American society?
5. What is required to gain citizenship in the USA?
6. How has America spread English across the world unlike
the British?
7. Why is Spanish a serious alternative to English as the language of the community in the USA?
TEXT 6C
THE SPREAD OF AMERICAN ENGLISH
British colonization over a period of three centuries scattered
the English language to all the continents of the world. But the
spread of American English in the nineteenth century has contributed
most to the increasing number of English-speakers in the world today.
In the 1770s, the English spoken by the colonists in America
hardly differed from the English spoken in Britain. These people still
referred to Britain as the mother country and their language was a
last, lingering link with the homeland they had left. But once the political breakaway had occurred, contact between the two countries
diminished and American English began to develop a character of its
own.
When Noah Webster compiled his first dictionary of American
English in 1806, he was clearly thinking of it as a language in its
own right. Successive editions of the dictionary gave proof that the
gap between British and American English was widening. Languages
are constantly changing and English is no exception. But in the case
of American English, mass immigration speeded up the pace of
change.
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The immigrants, Irish, Germans, Chinese, Italians, Poles, Russians, Scandinavians, Mexicans, Hungarians and Jews, flooded into
what has become known as the melting pot of American society. But
they did not melt into it without adding something of their own. The
traditions, customs, food and culture of their nations of origin can all
be found to a greater or a lesser degree in their America of today. It
is not surprising, therefore, that American English shows many traces of the languages which the immigrants originally spoke. Immigrants to the United States have to pass a test of competence in English before they can gain full citizenship. The result is that American
population today is the largest body of English-speakers in the world.
If the British over the centuries spread English across the
world by colonization, America has spread it even more effectively
and quickly by different means. Who in the world has not heard of
Coca Cola, McDonald’s, IBM, General Motors, Microsoft and Boe-
ing? It is clear that American industries have made their own forms
of conquest. The state of the American dollar influences all the money markets of the world. The United States foreign policy affects
many other countries, both near and far.
Along with all this economic and political power, there is also
unequalled power in all the fields of communication, information and
entertainment. No other country has played a greater part in the development of the computer. America leads the world in the design
and manufacture of hardware and in the development and production
of software. UNESCO figures show that 94% of Internet communications are in English.
Early in the twenties century, America established itself as the
world leader in the new medium of the cinema. In 1906, the first fulllength movie was made there and in the following year film-making
began in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. In many countries of
the world today, most people’s familiarity with English comes from
films, TV and other types of American entertainment.
America is responsible for an overwhelming proportion of the
English which is spoken all over the world today: words like hamburger, movie and jeep are known to everyone. Ironically, if there is
any challenge at all to the dominance of English, it may come from
inside America itself.
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The last 50 years have seen an enormous number of Spanishspeaking immigrants. Amigo, taco, ranch and lasso are all words of
Spanish origin which have crept into the language. In parts of Florida, Texas and California Spanish represents a serious alternative to
English as the language of the community. But the United States remains an English-speaking nation with an unparalleled influence
over the rest of the world.
18. Mark the main ideas of Text 6C and retell it in English.
SECTION 3
SPEAKING
19. Practise dialogue 1.
Dialogue 1
Learning English
Boris: How are you doing?
Igor: I’m fine, and you?
Boris: OK, thank you. Where are you going to?
Igor: I am going to my English class now.
Boris: Are your classmates good at English?
Igor: Not so good. I can’t understand why they don’t study
English seriously.
Boris: That’s bad. I think they should know that English is an
international language.
Igor: Yes, the necessity of learning this language shouldn’t be
underestimated.
Boris : It’s true, if we know English we can live and move
without any difficulty in foreign countries where people don’t know
our mother tongue.
Igor: Besides, English enables us to enter the storehouse of
knowledge.
Boris: I agree with you.
Igor: So to know English is a must nowadays.
Boris: Certainly. OK, see you later
Igor: Bye.
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20. Make up dialogues of your own using dialogue 1 as a
model.
Situations: You meet your friend and talk about:
a) progress in study of English in your class;
b) your classmate who is best at English;
c) the English exam passed.
21. Practise dialogue 2.
Dialogue 2
The Fist Lesson
John Smith: Good afternoon. I am John Smith. I am going to
be your new teacher of English this year, and you are going to learn a
lot. You’ll be able to express yourselves in many different situations.
I hope you’ll enjoy my classes. I’ll try to do my best. Don’t hesitate
to ask me any questions. Hello, Peter. Hello, Greg. How are you?
Peter: Fine. Thank you.
John Smith: Peter, why are you learning English?
Peter: I want to learn English because I’m working in an office
in a shoe factory and I also want to travel and surf the Internet.
John Smith: And you, Greg?
Greg: I want to understand the lyrics of Phil Collins’ songs and
travel with my wife. English is vital nowadays.
John Smith: Hello, Laura, and you, why do you want to learn
English?
Laura: I have some English friends and I want to send them
emails in English. I love surfing the Internet and the best web pages
are in English, you know.
John Smith: Isabel and you, why do you want to learn English?
Isabel: I play in a handball team and we travel a lot.
John Smith: OK. Let’s begin our English class.
22. Using dialogue 2 as a model, make up a dialogue of
your own about two friends discussing their English classes and
the reasons for learning English.
23. Practise dialogue 3.
Dialogue 3
The Importance of Learning English
John: Hello, Kevin! How are you?
Kevin: Fine. And what about you?
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John: OK. I’d like to discuss the importance of learning Eng-
lish with you.
Kevin: Yes, of course. We all know that English is an international language. Almost every country attaches importance to it. The
whole world has become a global village. So, learning English is a
must.
John: But we are neglecting it. For that we are lagging behind
our neighbouring countries.
Kevin: Many university graduates lack proper knowledge of
English.
John: Oh! It is really disgraceful. This situation must be
changed.
Kevin: Sure. We should put much more emphasis on it.
John: Thank you very much for such a discussion.
Kevin: You are most welcome.
24. Make up and act some dialogues considering the follow-
ing assignments. Use dialogue 3 as a model.
1. You are at the English lesson. Your teacher asks you some
questions about the importance of learning English.
2. You and your friend discus the spheres of life in which the
knowledge of English may be applied.
SECTION 4
LISTENING
25. Listen to the Text “English as a World Language”. An-
swer the questions that follow.
1. Why is English as one of the major languages in the world a
recent thing?
2. Why has English become a world language?
3. What groups do people speaking English fall into?
4. Which of the three groups do you belong to?
5. What do the numbers of 75% and 60% refer to?
6. Which spheres of life is English used in?
26. As you listen to the text, say which of these statements
are true and which are false.
1. In Shakespeare’s time millions of people spoke English.
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2. In his time the English language was considered to be very
Learners of English
Some ideas of learning vocabulary
Learner 1
Learner 2
Learner 3
Learner 4
Learner 5
Learner 6
Learner 7
Learner 8
important by other nations of Europe.
3. The spread of English began with the first settlements in
North America.
4. The growth of people in the world has given the English
language its present standing in the world.
5. Chinese is the most widespread language in the world.
6. The spread of English will continue.
27. Check your answers with your classmates and
tapescript 6A of the text. Look up the words you do not know in
your dictionary.
28. Retell the text about English as a world language.
29. Tell your classmates about your reasons for learning
English.
30. Listen to the Text “How Different Students Organize
Their English Vocabulary Learning”. You will hear eight learners of English. Make notes and fill in the chart indicating what
they do to learn English vocabulary.
tapescript 6B of the text. Look up the words you do not know in
your dictionary.
Then try another one. Tell your classmates which you have chosen.
31. Check your answers with your classmates and
32. Retell the text.
33. Choose one of the ideas you heard. Try it for a week.
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