Topic 48: Describe the first time you used a foreign language to communicate.
PART 2
You should say:
who you communicated with
What the situation was
What you said (or wrote)
And explain why you would like to go to this country.
ANSWER
I have been learning English for a long time—about 20 years. I had learned about the English alphabets when I was in high school, and I could even write simple sentences in English by that time. However, I had never spoken a sentence aloud.
Because I lived in a rural area, I didn’t have many chances to practice speaking English with native speakers. So, I was really nervous. My teeth were clattering when speaking in English.
If my memory serves me right, the first time I used it was when I was in my first year of university in HCM City.
At that time, I was hanging out with my friends at a coffee shop. Suddenly, a foreigner approached me and asked for directions to a supermarket. Honestly, he spoke too quickly for me to catch everything. But after he repeated his words, I finally understood and showed him the way to the nearest supermarket. I used body language and gestures a lot to explain the directions to him since I didn’t speak English well then. After that, he said “thank you” to me and headed for the supermarket.
I realize that English plays an important role in our lives, despite the fact that we don’t live in English-speaking countries. It is spoken globally, and it’s becoming the dominant language. Therefore, I have been trying to practice speaking English on a daily basis so that I can have a good command of this language and be able to talk confidently with foreigners, whatever the topic of conversation.
PART 3
- At what age should children start learning a foreign language?
With regards to learning a foreign language, I think the earlier the better. So, I think primary school is the best stage to start learning a foreign language. Young children don’t hesitate to talk. I personally think that 6 or 7 is the ideal age for children to learn a second language.
What are the benefits of learning a second language at an early age?
I reckon that learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility.
What are the disadvantages of a child learning two languages?
One drawback of being bilingual is that bilingual speakers have a smaller vocabulary in the languages they speak than monolingual speakers. In addition to this, the time taken for bilingual speakers to retrieve words when thinking is slower than for a monolingual speaker.
How do language barriers affect children?
In my humble opinion, this can lead to emotional stress and affect their ability to learn. Parents may also not speak the language used in school. This hinders progress even further when they can’t understand their children’s homework in order to help them complete it.
What types of barriers can affect children’s learning?
There are various other obstacles to learning that should also be noted; these include:
Emotional and health barriers, financial issues, cultural and social issues, language and education, barriers within the academic system, and lack of potential development.
Why is learning a language difficult for some students?
From my perspective, it’s tough because it challenges both your mind (your brain has to construct new cognitive frameworks) and time (it requires sustained, consistent practice).
What are the difficulties in learning another language?
I think that what makes a foreign language so challenging is the effort we have to make to transfer between linguistically complex structures. It’s also tough to learn how to think in another language. Above all, it takes time, hard work, and dedication.
How can a teacher help a child with language barriers?
As far as I am concerned, instructors should be flexible; be prepared to teach something in a number of different ways to achieve comprehension. Use technology as an aid to transfer concepts creatively. Encourage dialogue and conversation in pair and group activities. Use role-playing, songs, and rhymes to consolidate new vocabulary.
How does a child learn a language?
Based on my observation, youngsters acquire language through interaction—not only with their parents and other adults but also with other peers. All normal children who grow up in normal households, surrounded by conversation, will acquire the language that is being used around them.
What is the first skill that a child must develop to learn a language?
In my opinion, the first ability that a youngster must acquire in order to learn a language is listening. Listening is essential because it provides the foundation for understanding and acquiring the sounds, words, and patterns of a language. Through listening, children are exposed to the natural rhythms, intonations, and structures of the language spoken around them.
Why is it important to support a child’s language development?
I believe that speech, language, and communication skills are crucial to young children’s overall development. Being able to speak clearly and process speech sounds, to understand others, to express ideas, and to interact with others are fundamental foundations for a child’s development.
What are some of the challenges children face when learning languages?
When it comes to learning languages, children may confront a variety of issues, such as mispronunciation, lack of vocabulary and grammar, lack of interest in learning foreign languages, lack of time, and shyness.
Why is it more difficult to learn a language as we grow older?
It is generally believed that learning a language becomes more challenging as we get older. Here are some reasons why this may be the case:
Firstly, because of fear of making mistakes: Adults may be more self-conscious and concerned about making mistakes or being judged by others. This fear can hinder their willingness to take risks and practice speaking the language, which is crucial for language development.
Secondly, due to time constraints, Adults often lead hectic lifestyles and various responsibilities, such as work, family, and other commitments. Finding dedicated time for language learning can be challenging.
last but not least, because of cognitive factors: As we age, our brains undergo changes that can impact language learning.
Which skill is more important, speaking or writing?
Actually, both are equally important. It kind of depends on each person’s needs: which skill they need to use more frequently would be more prioritized. For instance, for those who want to communicate and socialize only in everyday conversations or at the workplace, speaking skills tend to be more necessary.
However, writing also plays a vital role in certain circumstances, like doing research, writing a thesis, and so on.
Do you think minority languages will disappear?
Unfortunately, yes. I think it will be vanishing.
There are many reasons for it, but the primary reason is that English is the most commonplace language around the worl as it gives a competitive advantage in jobs.
Moreover, linguists around the world are also not doing enough to protect minority languages.
VOCAB
- A rural area
- Nghĩa: Một khu vực nông thôn
- Phiên âm: /ˈrʊərəl ˈɛəriə/
- Ví dụ: I grew up in a rural area surrounded by fields and farms.
- Clattering
- Nghĩa: Tiếng lách cách, tiếng lạch cạch
- Phiên âm: /ˈklætərɪŋ/
- Ví dụ: The clattering of dishes could be heard from the kitchen.
- If my memory serves me right -idiom
- Nghĩa: Nếu tôi nhớ không nhầm
- Phiên âm: /ɪf maɪ ˈmɛməri sɜːrvz mi raɪt/
- Ví dụ: If my memory serves me right, we met at that restaurant last year.
- Approach -v
- Nghĩa: Tiếp cận, tiến tới
- Phiên âm: /əˈproʊtʃ/
- Ví dụ: As I approached the house, I noticed a friendly dog in the yard.
- Gesture –n/ v
- Nghĩa: Cử chỉ
- Phiên âm: /ˈdʒɛstʃər/
- Ví dụ: She made a gesture of apology by raising her hand.
- Play an important role in
- Nghĩa: Đóng vai trò quan trọng trong
- Phiên âm: /pleɪ ən ɪmˈpɔːrtənt roʊl ɪn/
- Ví dụ: Education plays an important role in shaping a person’s future.
- In English-speaking countries
- Nghĩa: Ở các nước nói tiếng Anh
- Phiên âm: /ɪn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃˌspiːkɪŋ ˈkʌntɹiz/
- Ví dụ: English is the primary language in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
- The dominant language
- Nghĩa: Ngôn ngữ chủ đạo, ngôn ngữ thống trị
- Phiên âm: /ðə ˈdɒmɪnənt ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
- Ví dụ: Mandarin is the dominant language in China.
- A good command of
- Nghĩa: Sự thành thạo, sự giỏi giang (về một ngôn ngữ, kỹ năng, v.v.)
- Phiên âm: /ə ɡʊd kəˈmænd ʌv/
- Ví dụ: He has a good command of French and can speak fluently.
- The earlier the better
- Nghĩa: Càng sớm càng tốt
- Phiên âm: /ði ˈɜːrli ðə ˈbɛtər/
- Ví dụ: It’s best to start learning a musical instrument at a young age – the earlier, the better.
- Proficient in -adj
- Nghĩa: Thạo, thành thạo (về một kỹ năng, môn học, v.v.)
- Phiên âm: /prəˈfɪʃənt ɪn/
- Ví dụ: She is proficient in computer programming languages.
- Drawback -n
- Nghĩa: Hạn chế, khuyết điểm
- Phiên âm: /ˈdrɔːbæk/
- Ví dụ: One drawback of living in a big city is the high cost of living.
- Bilingual -adj
- Nghĩa: Song ngữ, bilingual
- Phiên âm: /baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/
- Ví dụ: She grew up in a bilingual household and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
- Monolingual -adj
- Nghĩa: Chỉ biết một ngôn ngữ
- Phiên âm: /mɒnəˈlɪŋɡwəl/
- Ví dụ: He is monolingual and only speaks English.
- Obstacle-n
- Nghĩa: Trở ngại, khó khăn
- Phiên âm: /ˈɒbstəkl/
- Ví dụ: Lack of funding can be a major obstacle to starting a business.
- To consolidate
- Nghĩa: Củng cố, hợp nhất
- Phiên âm: /tə kənˈsɒlɪˌdeɪt/
- Ví dụ: The company aims to consolidate its position in the market through strategic partnerships.
- Role-playing
- Nghĩa: Đóng vai, đóng giả
- Phiên âm: /roʊl ˈpleɪɪŋ/
- Ví dụ: The training workshop involved role-playing exercises to improve communication skills.
- Youngsters
- Nghĩa: Những người trẻ, thanh thiếu niên
- Phiên âm: /ˈjʌŋstərz/
- Ví dụ: The park was filled with children and youngsters enjoying outdoor activities.
- Peer -n
- Nghĩa: Bạn đồng trang lứa, người cùng tuổi
- Phiên âm: /pɪr/
- Ví dụ: She sought advice from her peers before making a decision.
- Acquire -v
- Nghĩa: Thu được, đạt được
- Phiên âm: /əˈkwaɪər/
- Ví dụ: It takes time to acquire new skills through practice and dedication.
- Be exposed to
- Nghĩa: Tiếp xúc với, đối mặt với
- Phiên âm: /bi ɪkˈspoʊzd tuː/
- Ví dụ: Growing up in a multicultural city, she was exposed to a diverse range of cultures and traditions.
- Fundamental foundations
- Nghĩa: Nền tảng cơ bản
- Phiên âm: /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/
- Ví dụ: A strong education provides the fundamental foundations for future success.
- Confront a variety of issues
- Nghĩa: Đối mặt với nhiều vấn đề khác nhau
- Phiên âm: /kənˈfrʌnt ə vaɪˈaɪəri ʌv ˈɪʃuːz/
- Ví dụ: As they grow older, teenagers often confront a variety of issues such as identity, peer pressure, and relationships.
- Be more self-conscious
- Nghĩa: Tự ý thức hơn, tự nhận thức về bản thân hơn
- Phiên âm: /bi mɔːr ˈsɛlfˈkɒnʃəs/
- Ví dụ: During adolescence, individuals tend to become more self-conscious about their appearance and social acceptance.
- Take risks
- Nghĩa: Liều lĩnh, mạo hiểm
- Phiên âm: /teɪk rɪsks/
- Ví dụ: Entrepreneurship often requires individuals to take risks in order to pursue their business goals.
- Hinder -v
- Nghĩa: Cản trở, làm trở ngại
- Phiên âm: /ˈhɪndər/
- Ví dụ: Lack of funding can hinder the progress of a project.
- Time constraints
- Nghĩa: Hạn chế về thời gian
- Phiên âm: /taɪm kənˈstreɪnts/
- Ví dụ: Due to time constraints, we had to complete the project within a tight deadline.
- Lead hectic lifestyles
- Nghĩa: Sống cuộc sống bận rộn, nhộn nhịp
- Phiên âm: /liːd ˈhɛktɪk ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz/
- Ví dụ: Many city dwellers lead hectic lifestyles, constantly juggling work and personal commitments.
- Cognitive factors
- Nghĩa: Những yếu tố về nhận thức
- Phiên âm: /ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈfæktərz/
- Ví dụ: Cognitive factors such as memory and attention can influence learning abilities.
- Be more prioritized
- Nghĩa: Được ưu tiên hơn
- Phiên âm: /bi mɔːr praɪˈɔrɪzd/
- Ví dụ: In emergency situations, the safety of individuals should be more prioritized over other considerations.
- Vanish -v
- Nghĩa: Biến mất, biến đi
- Phiên âm: /ˈvænɪʃ/
- Ví dụ: The magician made the rabbit vanish from the hat.
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