TEXT E. FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE LIFE OF A MODERN MANYou can't imagine an educated person who doesn't know any foreign language. It is especially important nowadays. Some people learn languages because they need them in their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying languages is a hobby. Every year thousands of people go from one country to another either on business or for pleasure. And the knowledge of languages opens the door to any foreign country and gives them a possibility to communicate, to understand people and to be understood. A real professional cannot do without knowing languages, especially English as it is the international language. You don't need to know Japanese when you go to Japan or Hindi when you visit India. English is spoken all over the world. You can hear it everywhere: in a street, in shops, at restaurants. Over 350 million people speak it as a mother tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, in the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. English is one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, Canada and South African Republic. As a second language it is used in the former British and US colonies. It is the major international language for communication in such areas as science, technology, business and mass media. English is used as one of the official languages of the United Nations Organisation and other political organisations. It is the language of computer software, literature, education, modern music and international tourism. A modern engineer or even a worker deals with instruments and machines from other countries. He must be able to read the instruction which is usually written in English. Half of the world’s scientific literature is in English. It’s the language of computers technology. Scientists and scholars must understand English well because they use foreign literature to write their articles and books. They must speak English fluently to make speeches at international conferences. Diplomats need foreign languages in their work too. They make contracts, conclude treaties, and hold negotiations. If you want to be a stewardess, a pilot or a businessman you must learn English, the language of international communication. Even a shop girl or a cashier in a big department store must know at least some phrases in English to understand a foreign customer. Foreign languages develop our mind. They help us to get acquainted with new customs and traditions, make it possible to read many books in the original. The great German poet Goethe once said, “He, who knows no foreign language, doesn’t know his own one”. Besides, languages are very helpful in establishing friendly relations between peoples and nations. Children and young people will underhand each other better if they speak one language. That's why all the pupils and students should master English or other foreign languages to become top specialists in any branch. Vocabulary cannot do without – не может обойтись to deal [diːl] with – иметь дело с… to make contract – заключить контракт to conclude [kən'kluːd] treaties ['triːtɪ] – заключать договоры to hold negotiations [nɪˌgəuʃɪ'eɪʃ(ə)n] – вести переговоры at least – по меньшей мере to get acquainted [ə'kweɪntɪd] with – знакомиться to master English – овладеть английским in any branch [brɑːnʧ]– в любой области
Exercise 24. Reading comprehension: answer the questions. 1) Why do people learn foreign languages nowadays? 2) English is the international language, isn’t it? 3) Must a modern engineer know English? 4) Why is it especially important for scientists to learn English? 5) Do the diplomats need foreign languages? 6) What can we profit from knowing foreign languages? 7) How many people in the world speak English? 8) What English-speaking countries do you know? 9) In what areas is English mostly used? 10) What are the main difficulties for you in learning foreign languages? 11) What do you need English for?
Exercise 25. Speak about the role of foreign languages in the life of a modern man.
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