Unit 4. Learning a foreign language

UNIT 4 : LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
1.GETTING STARTED
2.LISTEN AND READ
3.SPEAK
4.LISTEN
5.READ
6.WRITE
LANGUAGE FOCUS
1.GETTING STARTED
How do you learn English? Check ( ) things you do from the list. Add more things you do or you want to do. Then work with a partner and compare your list.

Do the homework.
Do more grammar exercises in grammar books.
Read short stories or newspapers in English.
Write English as much as possible.
Learn by heart all the new words and texts.
Speak English with friends.

Use a dictionary for reading.
Practice listening to English tapes or English programs on the radio.
Watch English TV programs.
Learn to sing English song
2.LISTEN AND READ
Paola: Hey, Lan! Have you finished your exam?
Lan: Yes …, I have.
Paola: Were the questions difficult ?
Lan: Well, They were quite hard.
Paola: Did you pass ?
Lan: I’m not sure. The examiner didn’t tell me.
Paola: What questions did she ask you ?
Lan: Frist she asked me what my name was, and where I came from.
Paola: They were easy for you, weren’t they ?
Lan: …Then she asked me why I was learning English, … and if I spoke any other languages.


Paola: Go on.
Lan: … Then she asked me how I learned English in my country.
… And she asked how I would use English in the future.
Paola: What else did she ask you ?
Lan: Oh, Paola! Let me try to remember! … Ah, she asked me what aspect of learning English I found most difficult.
Paola: Is that all, Lan ?
Lan: Oh, There were a lot of other questions. She also asked me to read a passage.
Paola: What did she say in the end ?
Lan: I’m trying to remember… Oh yes! Exactly she said “ If you want to attend the course, you must pass the written examination. Good luck”
Paola: It ‘s terrible, Lan. I don’t think I will be able to pass the exams.
Lan: Don’t worry, Paola. Everything will be all right.







Practice the dialogue with a partner.
Answer. What exactly did the examiner ask Lan? Look at the list of questions and check ( ) the boxes.

ROYAL ENGLISH COLLEGE
Examination in English as a foreign language
Stage One: Oral Examination
(This list must not be shown to the candidates.)

What is your name ?
Where do you come from ?
Where do you live ?
Do you live with your parents ?
When did you begin studying English ?
Why are you learning English ?
Do you speak any other languages ?
How did you learn English in your country ?
How will you use English in the future ?
What aspect of learning English do you find most difficult ?
What are you going to learn ?
What are your hobbies ?
Look at this picture. Describe it.
Read this passage.
3.SPEAK
Work in groups. You are Thu. Tam and Kim, and you are awarded a scholarship of US$2,000 to attend an English language summer course abroad. Try to persuade your partner to attend the school you would like to go to. The expressions. This expressions in the box may help you.

Answer
NEW WORD
4.LISTEN
Nga is talking to Kate about her studying English. Listen to their conversation. Check ( ) the boxes and correct the false sentences.

Nga ‘s studying English for her work.
She learned English at school and university.
She works for a national bank in Ha Noi.
She needs to improve her writing.
Her listening is excellent.
She hopes she can talk to people from all over the
World, and understand her favorite English songs.
T
F
5.READ
Note down information about the English classes from the advertisements.
Morning/afternoon
/evening
Advanced
1st week of
November
Morning/evening
Beginner
Intermediate
3rd of
November
Afternoon/Evening
/Weekend
Beginner
Today



Read the notes Mr Lam made. Then look at the advertisements and choose a suitable language school for him. Give reasons for your choice.
6.WRITE
A letter of inquiry is a request for information or action. In all formal letters, you must include the addresses of the writer and the recipient.

25 Le Duan St., District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
April 17th , 2003

Dear Sir,
I saw your school’s advertisement in today’s edition of the Viet Nam News.

I am interested in learning Vietnamese and I would like some information about your school.
I speak a little Vietnamese, but I want to learn to read and write it. Could you please send details of courses and feels ? I can complete a spoken Vietnamese test if necessary.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully.



John Robinson.
Read the advertisements in 5.READ again. Choose one of the schools you want to attend to improve your English. Write a letter of inquiry to the institution requesting for more information about the courses and fees. Follow the outline below.
LANGUAGE FOCUS


Modal verbs with if
Direct and reported speech:
Here and now words in reported speech
Reported questions
Complete the sentences. Use the modal verbs in barckets and the information in the box.




Lan: My grades are terrible.
Mrs Quyen: If you want to get good grades, you must study hard. (must)
Hoa: I’d like to be a doctor.
Aunt Thanh: You have to go to university if you want to study medicine. (have to)


Ba: Oh, no! I weigh 60 kilos!
Nga: If you want to lose weight,… (should)
Tuan: Where is Ba? He’s vary late.
Mrs Thoa: If he doesn’t come soon,… (might)
Mr Ha: I feel sick.
Mrs Nga: If you want to get well,… (ought to)
Na: I’d like to go to the movies, Mom.
Mrs Kim: …if you want to go out. (must)
Complete the table.
Lan’s father held a party to celebrate his mother’s birthday. Unfortunately Mrs Thu her grandmother, has a hearing problem and she couldn’t hear what people were saying. After the party. Lan reported everything to her grandmother.
Example: “I ‘m happy to see you.” (Aunt Xuan)
Aunt Xuan said she was happy to see you.

“ This birthday cake is delicious.” (Uncle Hung)

“ I love these roses.” (Miss Nga)

“ I ‘m having a wonderful time here.” (Cousin Mai)

“ I will go to Hue tomorrow. “ (Mr Chi)

“ I may have a new job. “ (Mrs Hoa)

“ I must leave now. “ (Mr Quang)
This morning Nga had an interview for a summer job. When she arrived home, she told her mother about the interview.
Example:
“ Do you like pop music ? “
She asked me if I like pop music.
Or She asked me whether I liked pop music.
“ Where do you live ? “
She asked me where I lived.

“ How old are you? “

“ Is your school near here ? “

“ What is the name of your school ? “

“ Do you go to school by bicycle ? “

“ Which grade are you in ? “

“ Can you use a computer ? “

“ Why do you want this job ? “

“ When does your school vacation start ? “

THE END

Thu: So wonderful ! Which school are you going to attend, Tam?
Tam: I’m going to attend the seattle school of English in USA.
It ‘s a very good school in USA. Besides, I can stay with Vietnamese friends.
Kim: Yes, what you say is right but the is approximately US$ 1,700 when the Brisbane institute of English, which I ‘m going to attend, is cheaper only US$ 1,200. Why don’t we attend this university?
Thu: I think both of you should go to the Brighton language Center. We can live in the dormitory, right on Campus. We won’t have to worry about going to class late or the transport.

Kim: Each school has advantages and disadvantages. I choose Brisbane Institute of English. It ‘s Australia, so if we all attend this school, we can spend our summer break at home because it ‘s quite close to Vietnam. You agree with me, don’t we ?
Thu and Kim : May be, let ‘s have a second thought.
Nguyen Van Lan
01 Le Lai Stress
December 18th 2007
Dear Sir
I saw your advertisement for a new English course at your institution in Ha Noi Moi newspaper. I ‘m interest in taking this course and would be grateful if you give me some information about the course.
I started to learn English four years ago. My speaking is pretty good. However I can’t write well. English grammar is difficult for me. So I want to improve my grammar and writing skills as well.

Could you please provide me with more information about the length of the course and fees for beginners. If it ‘s necessary I can supply my record of English study.
I ‘m looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully
Tram

NEW WORD
.