Learning languages

 https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/audio-zone/learning-languages

Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definition

1. …… to be a struggle

2. …… to rehearse

3. …… to get over

4. …… a degree

5. …… a catchphrase

6. …… to pick up on

7. …… by far the best

8. …… to make a right mess of

a. clearly the best

b. a certain level

c. to be difficult to do

d. to notice

e. to do something quite badly

f. to feel better about something upsetting

g. to practise something you plan to say or perform

h. a short, popular phrase that makes you think of the person who says it

Listen to Simon talking about how he learned several languages in a variety of different ways.

Circle the best answer.

1. Which continent has the speaker NOT lived in?

a. Asia

b. Europe

c. South America

2. Which two things does the speaker do to learn a new language?

a. Go to classes and speak to people

b. Speak to people and use a dictionary

c. Watch TV and listen to the radio

3. Why does the speaker think watching game shows is useful?

a. Because of the pictures

b. Because contestants are always winning

c. Because the language is repetitive

4. What does the speaker say about using newspapers?

a. It was easy to learn a lot of new words quickly.

b. A lot of things were happening in the country.

c. Other people sometimes explained new words to him.

5. What does the speaker say about talking to people in the street?

a. Preparation was necessary.

b. The embarrassment made it a failure.

c. People reacted negatively.

6. Why were colloquial expressions a problem for the speaker?

a. They took ten years to learn.

b. They were never written down.

c. They were often unnoticed.

Complete the sentences with the following words .

over degree find way

typical again mess far

1. I’ve learned several languages to one ……………………………… or another.

2. I just ……………………………… them fascinating.

3. The ……………………………… kinds of programmes we see every day

4. You can really quickly hear the same words repeated ……………………………… and again.

5. There was no ……………………………… I was going to understand everything.

6. By ……………………………… the best practice I had was just talking to people.

7. Usually, I’d make a right ……………………………… of it first of all.

8. But after you get ……………………………… the embarrassment, it’s quite funny really.