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READING PRACTICE (How to answer a question)

The document discusses the value of learning foreign languages through the perspectives of several individuals from different countries. They highlight benefits such as cultural understanding, career advantages, and personal enrichment that come from language skills. The consensus is that learning languages opens up opportunities and enhances communication in various aspects of life.

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4 views

READING PRACTICE (How to answer a question)

The document discusses the value of learning foreign languages through the perspectives of several individuals from different countries. They highlight benefits such as cultural understanding, career advantages, and personal enrichment that come from language skills. The consensus is that learning languages opens up opportunities and enhances communication in various aspects of life.

Uploaded by

ameliacaridadplasenciaacosta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE VALUE OF LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

SAM (ENGLAND): People often ask me why I chose to LUCY(ENGLAND): Being able to speak a foreign
study Spanish at University. And I always answer with language is one of the most rewarding and enriching
“why not?” Because I believe that the importance of skills I have ever been fortunate enough to learn. It
learning languages is obvious. But since I started has allowed me to travel, meet new people and learn
learning languages many years ago, I have come to
so much more about different cultures and
realise that not everybody sees it as clearly, especially
traditions. In this way, it has helped me to open my
those who only speak their own language.
eyes and my mind to everything that is going on in
the world, rather than just in the UK.

MARCUS (GERMANY): I have recently realised just how much you


can do with a language, especially in the world of work. If you ask
someone to name the jobs you can do if you speak another language, PAOLA (ITALY): I started learning French at the age of 11 and
the ones which always appear are: teacher, translator or Spanish at the age of 13. I still study Spanish now, and over this
interpreter. However, nowadays knowing another language is an summer I hope to pick up my French again, as I will be teaching
advantage in just about any job you can think of. Most businesses both next year. I can’t wait to pass on my passion and knowledge of
will have offices abroad, or will want to do business with other languages to other people. In my school, learning French was
countries, and therefore need people who can communicate in those compulsory, which I believe is important as otherwise not many
situations. students would have chosen to study it. Spanish was a choice that I
made over other subjects based on how much I enjoyed learning
French. To this day I am still happy with my decision and hope that
DOMINIQUE (FRANCE): Having a second or even a third, in the future more students will make the same choices as I did.
fourth or fifth language opens up so many doors for you that it
is difficult to see it as anything other than an advantage. For
example, in the restaurant I work at, we catered for 80 people
from Argentina last week, which meant I could practise my
LEA (DENMARK): So it is clear that speaking
Spanish with native speakers, something which is sometimes languages is incredibly useful in all aspects of life,
difficult to do. My language skills even came in handy when I and although it might be difficult to get a grasp of at
had to act as a translator between the customers and other staff first, it is always worth it in the end.
members.
1. Who …………………………… 3. What do you think ?

a) thinks learning foreign languages has helped to a) What’s your experience learning foreign languages?
understand the world better. _______________

b) thinks when someone learns a language, the effort was


worthy. _________________

c) used the foreign language in the job. ___________

d) thinks not all the people understand the importance of b) Do you think people give enough importance to the
learning foreign languages. _________________ fact of learning languages? Why?

e) will have to use two languages in his job. _______

f) thinks learning new languages may help you to work


with comnpanies in a foreign country.
____________________

2. Answer the questions.


c) Would you like to learn new languages in the future?
g) Why does Marcus think learning languages is an Why?
advantage in any job?

h) Lucy mentions 3 advantages of learning languages.


Which ones?

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