Unit 4. Learning a foreign language

UNIT 4
LEARNING
A
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE
English 9
UNIT 4
LEARNING
A
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE
English 9
1. GETTING STARTED
2. SPEAK
3. LISTEN
4. READ
5. WRITE
1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Do more exercises in grammar books.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Learn by heart all the new words.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Practice listening to English tapes.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Read short stories or newspapers in English.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Use a dictionary for checking new words.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Watch English TV programs.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Speak English with friends.
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
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1. GETTING STARTED
Look at the pictures and talk about the activities which
help you to learn English. What are the activities you
usually take part in?
Sing English songs to learn more about English.
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2. SPEAK
You and your friend, Mai, are awarded a scholarship of $1,500 for an
English course abroad this summer. There are two courses. You
don’t know which course to choose. You talk with Mai about this.
Now, look at the information about the courses in the boxes given.
The London Language Center – UK
stay with an English family
the school has good reputation
4 weeks
approximately $ 1,500
The Singapore English Center – Singapore
stay with Vietnamese friends
quite close to Vietnam
beautiful scenery
6 weeks
approximately $ 1,000
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2. SPEAK
Here is the conversation between you and Mai about which course to
choose.
You (Y): Which school are you going to attend?
Mai (M): I think the London Language Center is better because it has good
reputation.
Y: But it is too expensive. It costs $1,500.
M: Yeah, it’s expensive, but you can stay with an English family. You can
practice your English with them.
Y: I agree, but the course doesn’t last long, just only 4 weeks. Why don’t we
take a course in the Singapore English Center?
M: Let me see. Well, the course in the Singapore English Center lasts longer, 6
weeks and it costs only $1,000.
Y: Yeah, and we can stay with Vietnamese friends. We can share experience in
learning English and we won’t feel homesick.
M: I agree, and I hear that the scenery in Singapore is very beautiful, too. Ok, let’s
attend it.
Y: Yeah.
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2. SPEAK
Now, look at the useful language which may help you to
state the opinion or to persuade someone.
I think…
What do you think…?
I agree/ disagree because…
Why don’t we…?
If we go to…, we can…
We should…
Let’s…

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2. SPEAK
You and your friend, Ngoc, are awarded a scholarship of $ 2,000 for
an English course abroad this summer. There are two courses. You
don’t know which course to choose. You talk with Ngoc about this.
Please, look at the information about the courses in the box given.
The California English Center – UK
experience Western culture
live in a dormitory on campus
5 weeks
approximately $ 1,800
The Melbourne English Center – Australia
stay with Vietnamese family
picnics on the weekends to some parts of Melbourne City
7 weeks
approximately $ 1,500
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2. SPEAK
Now, use the language and the information given in the
boxes and make a similar conversation.
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3. listen
Jan and Won Gyu are talking about their problems in
learning French. Listen to their talking.
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3. listen
Listen again and fill in the blanks with NO MORE THAN TWO
WORDS.
JAN’S PROBLEMS
WON GYU ’S SUGGESTIONS
Pronunciation
to tapes
new words
them on pieces of paper
sticking them on his bedroom
them before going to bed
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3. listen
Listen again and fill in the blanks with NO MORE THAN TWO
WORDS.
JAN’S PROBLEMS
WON GYU ’S SUGGESTIONS
Pronunciation
to tapes
new words
them on pieces of paper
sticking them on his bedroom
them before going to bed
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3. listen
Transcript
Won Gyu (W): So how’s your French class going?
Jan (J): Not bad, but I’m finding the pronunciation difficult.
W: Well, it takes a while to get it right. You could improve your
accent by listening to tapes.
J: That’s a good idea. But how do you learn new vocabulary? I
always seem to forget new words.
W: I learn new words by writing them on pieces of paper and
sticking them on my bedroom wall. I look at them every night before
I go to sleep.
J: Maybe I should try something like that.
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4. read
Read the passage below about Esperanto.
Zamenhof invented a new language called Esperanto to improve understanding between people of different countries. He showed Esperanto to his friends to find out what they thought about it. Later in the same year he went to study at a university in Moscow. He wanted to improve Esperanto. Zamenhof’s friends then worked hard to spread the new language. They tried to persuade schools throughout the world to teach it. However, only a few people today speak Esperanto because more and more people use English as a foreign language.
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

1. Why did Zamenhof invent a new language?
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

1. Why did Zamenhof invent a new language?
Because he wanted to improve understanding
between people of different countries.
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

2. What did he show Esperanto to his friends for?
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

2. What did he show Esperanto to his friends for?
He showed Esperanto to his friends to find out
what they thought about it.
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

3. Where did he go to study?
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

3. Where did he go to study?
He went to study at a university in Moscow.
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

4. Who helped him to spread the new language?
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

4. Who helped him to spread the new language?
His friends did.
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

5. Do many people today speak Esperanto?
Why (not)?
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4. read
Now, answer the questions according to the passage.

5. Do many people today speak Esperanto?
Why (not)?
No, only a few people today speak Esperanto
because more and more people use English
as a foreign language.
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5. Write
Here is the layout of a letter of inquiry. Look at the
layout, please.

Your street address Your City, State Zip code Your country
Date
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Introduction
Request
Further information
Conclusion
Yours faithfully,
Signature & Name
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5. Write
Now, look at the outline of an inquiry letter for further
information about the course.

Your street address Your City, State Zip code Your country
Date
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Information
Yours faithfully,
Signature & Name
Say how you come to know about the Institution
(ad in the newspaper/ on TV) & express your interest (to know more information)
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5. Write
Now, look at the outline of an inquiry letter for further
information about the course.

Your street address Your City, State Zip code Your country
Date
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Request
Yours faithfully,
Signature & Name
State how good your English is; exactly what kind of information you want.
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5. Write
Now, look at the outline of an inquiry letter for further
information about the course.

Your street address Your City, State Zip code Your country
Date
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Further information
Yours faithfully,
Signature & Name
Say you are ready to supply more information about English/ study (record of study) if necessary.
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5. Write
Now, look at the outline of an inquiry letter for further
information about the course.

Your street address Your City, State Zip code Your country
Date
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Conclusion
Yours faithfully,
Signature & Name
End with a polite closing like “I look forward to hearing from you soon.’
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5. Write
Here is a sample letter of inquiry for further information
about one course.
45 Le Duan St., Hai Ba Trung District
Hanoi, Vietnam
May 18th, 2008
Dear Sir,
I saw your school’s advertisement on TV last night. I am interested in learning English and I would like some information about your school.
I have been studying English for four years, but I would like to improve my speaking and listening skills.
I would be very grateful if you could send me details of courses and fees.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
LAN
Lan Hoang Nguyen
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5. Write
Here is the advertisement about an English course.
First, read the advertisement.
Foreign Language Center

G/F, 34 Tran Hung Dao Street
Study English, Japanese, Thai in the
morning and afternoon
Places available in Elementary/
Intermediate classes

Courses start on 8th August, 2008
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5. Write
Read the advertisement again. Now, write your own
letter.
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