Learning Languages

1. Snímka 1

1. Reasons for learning foreign languages
2. Learning foreign languages
3. English – lingua franca

2. Snímka 2

Comment on the following quotations.
Without knowledge of languages
you feel as if you don’t have a
passport.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
A different language is a different
vision of life.
Federico Fellini

3. Snímka 3

Brainstorm the vocabulary connected with the following
subtopics:
Language
Reasons for
learning
languages
The status of
the English
language
LEARNING
LANGUAGES
Varieties of
English
Influential
factors when
learning a
foreign
language
English as a
foreign
language
Learning
and
acquiring
languages

4. Snímka 4

Why do you learn foreign languages? Choose from the
following hints and explain your reasons.
MUST
PERSONAL NEEDS
COMMUNITY
WORK/BUSINESS
SOCIAL NEEDS
PRESTIGE
TRAVELLING
NECESSITY
ACADEMIC NEEDS
ENTERTAINMENT

5. Snímka 5

Talk about the reasons the people in the pictures have to
learn English as a foreign language.
1.
2.
3.
4.
What difficulties do they face when learning
language at different ages?
a foreign

6. Snímka 6

What causes you problems when you are trying to learn a
foreign language?
Remembering
new words
Long texts
Pronunciation
Grammar
Writing
Various
accents
Spelling
Native
speakers
Translation

7. Snímka 7

Look at the diagram of language families. Describe it.
Where does English belong to? Where do you think your
mother tongue belongs?

8. Snímka 8

Look at the words in British and American English. Match them
with the pictures below. (click on the flags to check your answers)
a) SUBWAY
1.
2.
b) FRENCH FRIES
c) LIFT
d) TORCH
e) MOBILE (PHONE)
3.
f) TUBE
g) PANTS
h) CELL PHONE
i) FLASHLIGHT
j) ELEVATOR
k) TROUSERS
l) CHIPS
5.
4.
6.

9. Snímka 9

Do people in the pictures learn or acquire a language?
Explain the difference. Which process is easier – learning or
acquisition?

10. Snímka 10

What is your learning style? How do you easily learn new
things? By seing them, hearing them, touching them or
when you move?
Tactile
learner
Auditory
learner
YOU
?
Visual
learner
Kinesthetic
learner

11. Snímka 11

What kind of learner are the hints below typical for?
(click the icon to check your ideas)
Can you identify with any of them?
1) I take in new information best when I can see information in a diagram or a picture.
(Visual learner)
2) I may become bored more quickly than other students while listening to a class lecture.
(Tactile learner)
3) When I am not sure how to spell a word, I write down different versions of the spelling.
(Kinesthetic learner)
4) I prefer to find out about something new by listening to someone explaining it.
(Auditory learner)
(Visual learner)
5) When I study, I prefer using a highlighter to emphasise information.
(Kinesthetic learner)
6) I like to learn using movements.
(Auditory learner)
7) I seem to remember objects better if I create jingles and rhymes.
(Auditory learner)
8) I prefer teachers who use discussions.
(Kinesthetic learner)
9) I prefer lesson where we can move around.
(Visual learner)
10) I have trouble remembering things if I can’t take notes.
11) When I am in class, I often have to have something in my hand while reading or
(Tactile learner)
listening.
12) I learn better when I touch an object.
(Tactile learner)

12. Snímka 12

Do you want to know what kind of learner you are?
Do the quiz on the website below and find out.
http://www.youthink.com/quiz.cfm