5 Global English ANU ORT Part 1: Vocabulary 1 The expressions a-h below are all related to language. Use each expression once to complete the sentences 1-8. bilingual a mother tongue b foreign language c d non-native official language standard form lingua franca minority languages 1 The majority of people living in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand speak English as their . 2 English is aln] __________ ina further fifty-three countries, including India and the Philippines. 3. English is the most widely taught_______in the world 4 Because English is used by so many people around the world for so many purposes, it is widely regarded as a 5 The ratioof___________ speakers to native speakers of English is roughly three to one. 6 People who can speak two languages fluently are commonly referred to as 7 There are many different varieties of English spoken throughout the world; in fact, there is no single Many people fear that the spread of English as a global language will contribute to the death of 2 Match the types of words and expressions 1-7 below with the examples 2-9, 1 a loanword a lol 2 acolloquialism b thou 3 adialect of English © café 4 atechnical term d There's more than one way to skin a cat. 5 an obsolete term e Geordie 6 a saying f wanna [= ‘want to’) 7 text speak @ refraction 40 Writing for IELTSunits * In IELTS Writing Task 2, you are often required to express more than one point of view. You can use reporting verbs to do this. In English, there is a wide variety of reporting verbs, which can be used: to express beliefs: believe, maintain, suspect, think in discussion: argue, assert, claim, insist, say to show agreement: accept, acknowledge, admit, advocate, agree, concede, support to show disagreement: challenge, deny, disagree, dismiss, doubt, object, question, refute to give suggestions: imply, suggest, urge Reporting verbs can be tentative (e.g. suspect, suggestl, neutral le.g. say, agree), or emphatic (e.g. assert, dismiss). Look at the sentences 1-7 below and underline the stronger of the two reporting verbs. Many people insist/argue that there is one ‘best’ variety of English. However, | question/refute the idea that one variety of the language is better than another. Some people doubt/deny the value of a bilingual education. Others accept/advocate the idea of a bilingual education, even for very young children. | would urge/suggest that educational authorities do all they can to promote minority languages. Some people suspect/maintain that within a century, there will only be two or three languages spoken in the world 7 Other people dismiss/doubt the idea that all but two or three languages will die out. anena Different reporting verbs are followed by different structures: «that + clause: Some people argue that governments should subsidise «whether + clause: Others question whether governments should subsidise .. * reporting verb + + preposition + noun/noun phrase: | object to the policy of government subsidies .. + noun/noun phrase: Most people support the idea of subsidising .. + gerund: Educators recommend subsidising + object + infinitive verb: / would urge the government to subsidise ... ‘Some reporting verbs can be followed by more than one type of structure. For example: * question + + whether + clause: Others question whether schools should promote ... + noun phrase: Others question the feasibility of promoting Re-write the sentences 1-4 below using the phrases a-d. Make any changes necessary for a more academic style. a Some people insist © concede. b Teachers recommend. d_ | refute the idea 11 Maybe making English a mandatory subject in primary schools isn’t such a good idea. 2. The world definitely needs one common language for trade. 3. Itis highly unlikely that everyone in the world will speak the same language at any point in the future. & You should practise a foreign language outside the classtoum if you want to become really fluent in it, Language and communication 41Part 2: Practice exercises: Task 1 1 Sometimes IELTS Writing Task 1 requires you to describe a diagram, Read the response below, which describes a diagram showing the relationship between a number of different languages. Sketch the diagram to see how well you understood the description. ‘The diagram shows the languages of Europe, Iran, and the Indian subcontinent and how they are related through a common Indo-European root language. There are seven main branches: three represent the languages spoken throughout Western Europe, and four represent the languages spoken further to the east. The Western European branches include the Celtic, Germanic, and Italic languages. Some of these languages, such as Scots or Welsh, are spoken by relatively few people, but others, including German and English (from the Germenic branch] and French aiid Spanish {Italic branch] are among the most widely spoken languages in the world. The eastern Indo-European branches include the languages spoken in Iran, the Indian Subcontinent, Greece, and the Slavic countries. The Indian branch comprises several languages including Hindi, Urdu and Bengali. The Slavic branch covers languages spoken in Eastern Europe, such as Russian and Polish, as well as Czech. Qverall, the diagram shows that languages that are commonly regarded es very different are, in fact, related. 2 Look at the diagram below and the text on page 43 which describes it. Put the paragraphs a-din the correct order. Then answer the questions 1-4, ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH BRANCH BRITISH ENGLISH BRANCH | CANADA paris FAREAST SUES | | pakistan wy Angephone Fecepboe Maly MEE] | | camse carta” Yih fein Nate Tm we | Welt Scots] | Hyon | cae odin Philipines. « West English: Ines — American Souter S areca AUSTRALASIA | puerto Jamaica Batudos -——] — —_ West fast Australia. New Ni at Zaid agepior 42 Writing for IELTSunio + a The American branch is largely restricted to the American continent. It comprises the varieties of English spoken in the different regions of the United States itself, as well as in Canada. Beyond the continent, the extent of its influence is limited to the Philippines in the Far East and American Samoa in the Pacific. b_ In brief, the diagram shows that, like the economic and political influence of the Anglo- Saxon countries, the reach of English has extended to virtually every region of the world, ¢ The diagram shows the varieties of English spoken throughout the world and how they are related. d_ There are two main branches of English: British English and American English. The British English Branch is geographically wide-spread. It extends across several continents from the West Indies, through the British Isles themselves, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East and Australasia. In addition to the four varieties af Frglish spoken in the British Isles [i. in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England), it includes a large number of other varieties, for instance Jamaican English, South African English, and Australian English 11 Which paragraphs refer to the whole diagram and which paragraphs refer to parts of the diagram? 2. Howis the introduction different from the conclusion? 3 Do the body paragraphs give general i vice versa? 4 Which expressions from the text would you learn because they will be useful when writing about categories and classifications? formation first and then specific information, or Look at the Task 1 instructions below. Then read the sentences a-d and answer the questions 1- The diagram illustrates the percentage of the world population that speaks minority, mid-sized, and dominant languages. Summarise ion by selecting and reporting the main features. a The diagram shows the percentage of the world population that speaks minority, mid-sized, and dominant languages. b The diagram shows the number of languages classified as minority, mid-sized, or dominant, and the proportion of people in the world that speak them. ¢ The diagram shows that although many languages are spoken throughout the world, the size of their respective speech communities varies enormously. d The diagram shows that a very small number of languages [approximately 100) hold a dominant position, whereas more than half of the world’s languages are spoken by a very small percentage of the world population (0.2%| Which of the sentences a-d would work well as an introduction? Which would work well as a conclusion? What is the problem with sentence a? none Why might you not want to use sentence d as an introduction or conclusion? Language and communication 43Exam tip: Do not copy the exact words of the task instructions. Re-phrasing the instructions in your own words shows that you have range and flexibility. You can give | your response a clear beginning by stating the kind of information the figure shows, and | 2 clear ending by summarising the overall ‘message’ conveyed by the figure. Complete the introductory and the concluding sentences for the figure below. Percentage of European Percentage Secondary School Pupils Learning Languages 100 Bo» 2010 2o1o Y vay English French 1 Ineduction: The bar chart shows 2 Conclusion In summary, 44 Writing for IELTSunits Part 2: Practice exercises: Task 2 5 In introductions to academic essays, writers often: a state the topic of the essay: This essay is about b write something about the general context: In recent years . ¢ explain why the topic is interesting, relevant or important: X is interesting/relevant/ important because present a viewpoint that they go on to challenge: Some people believe that present their own viewpoint: /n my view, .. state the purpose of the essay: The aim of this essay is to outline the structure of the essay: This essay will firstly ..., secondly... thirdly .. area Read the Task 2 question below and the introduction that follows. For each section of the introduction, indicate which of the functions a-g above is being addressed. Then answer the questions 1-2. As the English language becomes more widespread, some speakers of other languages fear that English loanwords are gradually replacing perfectly adequate - native words. ; To what extent do you believe that people should seek to protect the ‘purity’ of > their language from the influence of English? argue however, that these efforts are likely to. __ prove futile. 1 How would you describe the overall organisation of the introductory paragraph? Does it begin with the writer's opinion and then explain the context, or vice versa? 2. Why has the writer presented his/her own view last? 6 Read the Task 2 question below and the sentences 1-5 on page 46. For each sentence, indicate its function a-g, listed in Exercise 5 above. Then arrange the sentences in the most effective order. With regard to foreign language learning, the effectiveness of out-of-class learning is well-established. What are the best ways of learning a foreign outside of a classroom situation? Language and communication 4546 1. I believe the success of out-of class learning suggests thet not all languaye teat ling needs to be classroom-based. _ 2 However, in many cases, additional languayes a leat ied rol in the classroom, but through exposure to a language in day-to-day activities. _ 9 Around the world, people who speak only their mother tongue are probably ‘outnumbered by those who speak one or more additional languages. —__ 4 In this essay, | will outline what | believe to be the three most effective ways of independent language learning. —__ 5 Many people assume that the classroom is the best place to learn a foreign language, —_ Exam tip: Academic writing values modesty and tolerance of others’ views. Therefore, | when expressing your opinion, it is often more effective to use the more tentative or neutral reporting verbs. Rather than writing: | insist that governments do more to protect minority languages, write: | believe that governments should do more .... Use the more ‘emphatic verbs for expressing viewpoints that you wish to challenge: Some people | insist that there can only be one officially recognised variety of a language. | would argue, however, that jely should be favoured. Complete the introduction below with the expressions a-f. Many education systems throughout the world recognise the value of learning a foreign language and are seeking to improve the way foreign languages are taught. What in your view is the best way of teaching a foreign language in schools and universities? aright approach d_ the world becomes b_ the most effective methods e increasingly important «therefore f Iwill outline As (1] __ more integrated, the ability to speak a foreign language is becoming [2)__, ot just for individuals, but also for nations. The teaching of foreign languages is labour- intensive and [3] __ costly, so it is important that the (4) is taken. In this essay, (5) what I consider to be (6) __ of language teaching in a classroom context. Write introductions for the Task 2 questions below. 1. As English becomes more widespread as a lingua franca, there is concern that the values and culture of the English-speaking world will displace native values and cultures. To what extent is this fear justified? 2. Sometimes misunderstandings occur among people from different cultures, even those who can communicate in a common language. What factors can contribute to the breakdown of cross-cultural communication? Writing for IELTSPart3: Exam practice WRITING TASK 1 ‘You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The diagram shows the main systems of writing used throughout the world. ‘Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features. Write at least 150 words. wane rane é Logographie ‘Abjad Abjuda Alphabetic bok i = ieee, te a Lee J character= Par comet | | iSite | | Lemont || rie ‘Example: Chinese fteletiobe 1 vowel ‘Example: English = ee Saas waa Example: Indian Kana ; one ieete wl Sees scream rd cal | meet = ae nee — Japanese = WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topi As languages such as English, Spanish and Mandarin became more widely spoken, there is a fear that many minority languages may die out. Some countries have taken steps to protect minority languages. What is your view of this practice? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. Language and communication