Sunday, April 29, 2012

Bilingualism Activities

Instructions

Read the following article and do the activities below.

Half of Europe's citizens are bilingual

Residents of the European Union (EU) are becoming better and
better at languages. Almost 50 percent of the EU population say they can speak at least one foreign language very well. That figure rises to nearly 80 percent for students. To celebrate its linguistic diversity, September 26 has become the official European Day of Languages. The day’s website shows a Slovak proverb that says: “The number of languages you speak is the number of times you are human”. This is to encourage all Europeans to brush up on their language skills.

The results of the “Eurobarometer” survey put Luxembourgers at the top of the language ability list. An amazing 99 percent of Luxembourg’s population is at least bilingual. Those with the poorest language skills are the Hungarians (29 percent) and British (30 percent). English is the most widely spoken foreign language, used by more than a third of the population. German (12 percent) is in second place followed by French (11 percent). European enlargement means Russian has risen to fourth place – tied with Spanish. The EU spends $36 million a year on language programs.


A MY ENGLISH
Make a timeline of the history of your English language learning since you started studying. Can you remember your first lesson and teacher? What have been the low points and high points? Are you happy with your current level? Leave a comment in the comments section.



B WEAK POINTS
Think about your weak points in English. How do these weak points make you feel? What have you done to make these points less weak? How long have you tired to make your weak points stronger? Do they affect your ability to communicate, listen or read? Leave a comment in the comments section.


C LANGUAGE OPINIONS
Do you agree with these opinions on language? Leave a comment in the comments section.
a. The number of languages you speak is the number of times you are human.
b. If the whole world learned English, there’d be fewer communication problems.
c. To be successful in the world, it’s now better to learn Chinese.
d. English should become the official world language.
e. The English language is changing many other languages and cultures.
f. It’s the duty of all countries to make citizens bilingual.
g. There should be just one world language in the future.
h. My mother tongue is too beautiful to die.


D LISTENING
Go to the post names "Bilingualism Podcast" or click on the following link: Bilingualism Podcast Listen and fill in the gaps by writing them down on a sheet of paper.


Residents of the European Union (EU) are ________ better and better at
languages. Almost 50 percent of the EU population say they can speak __ _____ one foreign language very well. That figure _____ to nearly 80 percent for students. To celebrate its linguistic diversity, September 26 has become the _______ European Day of Languages. The day’s website shows a Slovak ________ that says: “The number of languages you speak is the number of times you are ________”. This is to encourage all Europeans to ________ up on their language skills.
The ________ of the “Eurobarometer” survey put Luxembourgers at the top of the language ability list. An ________ 99 percent of Luxembourg’s population is __ ______ bilingual. Those with the poorest language skills are the Hungarians (29 percent) and British (30 percent). English is the most ________ spoken foreign language, used by more than a _______ of the population. German (12 percent) is in ________ place followed by French (11 percent). European enlargement means Russian has risen to ________ place – tied with Spanish. The EU spends $36 million a year on language programs.


Activity adapted from breakingnewsenglish.com

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