2.4 Language learning

0. Ben speaks six languages. (s)

1. Raymond speaks two languages.

2. Beth's French is perfect.

3. Sarah's Spanish is adequate for everyday needs.

4. Alan's Greek is really good.

5. I can't understand what he's saying.

6. When Jordi speaks English, he always uses the wrong tenses and puts the words in the wrong order.

7. When you are preparing for your First Certificate exam, you should use an English-English dictionary.

8. Do you know much Japanese?

9. Why did you buy this book?

10. How long have you been studying English?

11. Do you go to English classes?

12. How do you practise your listening skills?

13. What's the best way to remember new words?

14. Did you learn Italian at school?

15. How's your English?

16. How's Mary's Portuguese?

17. You speak English very well.

18. Where does she come from?

19. In my French lessons at school, we just listened to the teacher and repeated everything she said.

1. She speaks it fluently.

2. We have a very good language laboratory at my school.

3. His pronunciation is terrible.

4. In fact he speaks it like a native.

5. I've been learning it for five years.

6. No, I'm teaching myself from a book.

7. Learning a language parrot-fashion isn't very satisfactory.

8. I'm not sure, but from her accent I presume she's Japanese.

9. No, I picked it up when I was working in Milan.

10. You should keep a record of them, and try to recycle them as much as possible.

11. He has terrible problems with his grammar.

12. I want to improve my vocabulary.

13. No, my knowledge is very limited.

14. Thanks. Actually, it's my mother tongue.

15. He is bi-lingual.

16. I'm making slow progress.

17. Longman produce good monolingual versions.

18. When she goes on holiday, she manages to get by.

19. He is multi-lingual.

20. She thinks it's coming along nicely.

In class

It's difficult to concentrate.

You can't follow the lesson.

You don't like the subject

Other students are much better than you.

Other problems (What?)

Outside class

You have nowhere quiet to study.

You lack self-discipline.

It's difficult to begin studying.

You don't have enough time.

Other problems (What?)

1. to get down to doing something

2. to keep up with someone/something

3. to take something down

4. to fall behind (with something)

5. to hand something in

6. to put something off

7. to get through (something)

8. to scrape through (something)

9. to catch up (with someone/something)

10. to go through something

1. to be behind with something, not at the level expected

2. to start work on something

3. to postpone, to decide to do something at a later date

4. to pass an exam or test

5. to check that something is correct, to examine something

6. to reach the same standard or position as someone else

7. to give something to someone in a position of authority

8. to remain at the same standard or position as someone else

9. to record in writing what someone is saying

10. to pass an exam but with a very low grade

Rolecard A

You have the following problems with your studies:

- difficulty in starting to study

- problems with doing homework

- the level of the other students in your class

- lack of progress

- worries about the exams in June

- any other problems

Talk to your partner and ask for advice.

You can decide to accept the advice that he or she gives: Yes, that's a good idea.

Or you can reject it: That's easier said than done.

Rolecard B

Your partner is going to tell you about his or her problems with studying.

Give as much helpful advice as you can.

When giving advice, you can say: Have you tried ... + ing?

Why don't you try... + ing?