Unit 7: Learning a foreign language
Student's book page 52+53
Exercises 3,4,7 and 8
Comprehension
3 Read the essay again and explain how learning a foreign language improves your:
1 memory
It exercises the brain and so improves your memory.
2 problem-solving skills
It presents the brain with unique challenges such as recognising different language systems and communicating within these systems. These skills improve problem-solving skills.
3 use of your mother tongue
As you learn a foreign language, you become more aware of the way language works, which helps you to understand your own language better.
4 ability to multitask
Multilingual people are able to switch between two or more languages easily. This transfers to other activities, making multilingual people more able to multitask.
5 decision-making skills.
When you speak a foreign language, you have to constantly decide between differences in language. This decision-making skill is transferred to other situations.
Speaking
6 Read these statements. Are they true or false? Discuss in pairs.
1 (False)
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The left-hand side and the right-hand side of the brain have different functions. For each of us, either the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the brain is used more than the other. |
2 (False)
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People only remember 10% of what they read, but they remember 90% of what they see, hear and do. |
3
(True)
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Practice makes perfect. |
7 Listen to an education expert discussing the statements in exercise 6. Does he agree with you? Listen and check.
Audioscript
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Interviewer: We’re talking to an education expert about some of the theories that are commonly believed about the way we learn. Professor, it is said that you are either right-brained or left-brained. Could you tell me whether this is true? Expert: Well, although it is commonly accepted that we have a dominant side of the brain which dictates how we learn, actually, there isn’t any research that supports this theory. According to a study recently, however, researchers did find that certain brain functions were more likely to occur in either the left side or the right side, but they also found lots of variations in these findings at the same time. It appears that both sides of the brain are involved in even the simplest actions. Interviewer: Is there really one exercise that makes you cleverer? Expert: In the same way as exercise and diet, there are always new fashions in the field of learning, too. It is believed that doing crosswords will keep your brain active even when you are very old. However, there isn’t a lot of evidence to support such theories. Instead, it is now thought that our brain development is dependent on the experiences we have. Experience is more important than any exercises we do. Interviewer: Do you agree that we only remember 10% of what we read, and 90% of what we see, hear or do? Expert: No, I disagree with that completely. This theory was introduced many years ago, and although it sounds as if it could be true, there has never been any research to prove it. Interviewer: It is often said that practice makes perfect. I agree with that. Do you mind telling me what you think? Expert: I have exactly the same opinion as you. Our brains coordinate a complex set of actions. As we repeat a task over and over again, the coordination becomes smoother and quicker. In the end, after a lot of repetition, we can perform the task perfectly, or at least, almost perfectly. So in order to improve your skill at something, you need to practise frequently, and get lots of feedback so that you practise correctly too. Interviewer: Yes, you’re right. That’s very important. |
Answers:
1 False 2 False 3 True
Vocabulary: Word-building
8 Copy and complete this table. Then, choose the correct form of the corresponding words in the table to complete the sentences.
|
Verb |
Noun |
Adjective |
|
experience |
experience |
experienced |
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dominate |
dominance |
dominant |
|
depend |
dependence |
dependent |
|
repeat |
repetition |
repeated |
|
correct |
correction |
correct |
1. Have you had any experience of learning another language?
2. Is one side of the brain more dominant than the other?
3. Whether or not you remember something that you have learnt in the past depends on the experience you had while you were learning it.
Activity book, page 36, exercise 8
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Vocabulary |
8 Complete the table with the correct form of the words. The first one is done for you. Then, use some of the words to complete the sentences.
|
Verb |
Noun |
|
circulate |
circulation |
|
dehydrate |
dehydration |
|
advise |
advice |
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revise |
revision |
|
concentrate |
concentration |
1 I’m confused. Could you give me some advice, please?
2 Before an exam, you must revise everything you’ve learnt.
3 In hot weather our bodies are in danger of dehydration.
4 Don’t talk to the driver. He must concentrate.
5 How quickly does blood circulate round the body?
