Language focus

SUCCESS THROUGH A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Pre-listening

Make sure you understand the following words & phrases:

fluent / fluency / to be fluent in a language to have the competitive edge on/over smb to seek advancement subtlety / to pick up subtleties of communication to encapsulate sth to shell out cash to benefit (professionally) to abdicate (control of the situation) to open the doors for errors grudgingly (to develop) at a swift rate commitment to (the client & business)

a crash course flexible / flexibility / to flex sth workout inhibition cadence to steer clear of sth public health system customer service hiring process to have a foreign language major foreign language proficiency a certain foreign language incentive to have sth under one’s belt

Listening

Listen to the lecture & answer the following questions:

We are living in a world that is getting smaller & smaller. That is why we have to be able to communicate in more than one language.

1. Name the main professional benefits that bilingual & multilingual individuals have.
2. What are the main disadvantages of being unable to communicate in a foreign language: 1…, 2…, 3…?
3. Why are interpreters usually ineffective: 1…, 2…?
4. What are the main consequences of the lack of employees speaking foreign languages for huge corporations?
5. Each professional area has its own language needs. Name the spheres in which Asian languages, Spanish, French, Russian & German are in great demand.
6. In addition to career success there are numerous personal benefits of learning a foreign language. What are they: 1…, 2…, 3…, 4…?
7. Name the basic tips on how to master a language.

Language focus

1. Choose the proper equivalent for the following words:

a) diversity – a) amusement; b) variety; c) separation

b) to exorcise – a) drive out; b) employ; c) use up

c) high school – a) college; b) university; c) secondary school

d) inhibition – a) conversation; b) restraint; c) interaction

e) crucial – a) cruel; b) secret; c) decisive

2. Listen out the missing prepositions:

1) ___ our friend from Russia who visited ___ us …

2) This particular reading has to do ___ the importance of understanding & using foreign languages…

3) … that might be appropriate ___ the Russian students.

4) Scandinavian Airlines has a reputation ___ wonderful customer service.

5) … emphasizing the requirements ___ foreign language skills…

6) … he gives preference ___ people who know a foreign language…

7) … they are seeking ___ a new job or advancement ___ their current company…

8) … the need ___ foreign language speakers is so great…

9) … a bit more of commitment ___ the client…

10) … staying current ___ the global changes.

3. Match the idioms with their definitions:

1. to shell out grudgingly 2. to rise to the challenge 3. to have the edge 4. to steer clear of 5. under one’s belt 6. to fall into place

a) to become clear b) as part of one’s experience c) to pay unwillingly d) to have an advantage e) to avoid f) to prove oneself able to deal with a difficult task

4. Translate into English:

1) Люди со знанием двух и более языков всегда имеют преимущество при приёме на работу.

2) Сколько иностранных языков ты знаешь? Ты бегло говоришь на всех?

3) Изучение иностранных языков способствует развитию творческих способностей.

4) Избегай курсов изучения иностранных языков методом интенсива.

5) При изучении иностранных языков память получает хорошую тренировку.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29