Learning Languages Teacher

Let’s talk about … Learning Languages
Ex 1: Discuss the questions below in pairs/groups, and make a note of your ideas.
1. What are some advantages to learning a new language?

2. What are some different ways people can learn a new language?
Ex 2: Match the vocabulary to the definitions below.
1. abroad adv A. a form of a language specific to a particular region or social group.

2. accent n B. the language which you have spoken since childhood.
3. dialect n C. symbols or codes used to show how a word sounds.
4. means n D. make the sound of a word in a particular way.
5. pronounce v E. be able to speak two languages fluently.
6. idiom n F. a negative aspect/a bad thing/a disadvantage.
7. benefit n G. able to speak or write easily and accurately.
8. drawback n H. in a foreign country/not in your country.
9. mother tongue n I. methods/ways of doing something.
10. fluent adj J. a phrase/expression with a figurative meaning.
11. phonetic alphabet n K. a positive aspect/a good thing/an advantage.
12. bilingual adj L. a way of pronouncing words common to a particular region or social class.
Ex 3: Read the sentences and, in pairs, try to guess the meaning of the language in bold print.
1. I think I’m going to take up French next year, or maybe I’ll take up a new sport. I’m not sure yet.
2. I got the lead role in the school play, so I need to learn my lines by heart.
3. My French isn’t great, but when I go there on holiday, I get by. I can order food and ask for what I need.
Ex 4: Ask and answer the questions below with your partner.
1. How many languages can you speak? Are you bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual?
2. How many languages can you and your partner say ‘hello’ in?
3. When did you start learning English? Why are you learning it?
4. Which languages do you think you would find easy to learn? Which would be difficult, and why?
5. What do you find most difficult about learning English? Grammar? Vocabulary? Speaking?
6. What are the benefits of learning English? What other languages would give you an advantage in life?
7. Have you ever had the opportunity to use a language you have learnt, in a country where it is spoken?
How was this experience? Were you able to speak fluently, or did you just know enough to get by?
8. Do you know the phonetic alphabet? Do you find it useful for your pronunciation?
9. What is the best way, in your opinion, to learn a foreign language? What means do you use to improve
your English? How can we use the internet to help us learn languages?
10. Have you ever studied abroad? Do you think it’s important to have a native speaker as a teacher?
11. What are the possible drawbacks of having a non-native teacher? What are the benefits of having a
teacher who speaks your language?
12. Would you like to take up a new language in the future? What language would you choose, and why?
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Ex 5: Cut up the cards below or display the page for online classes.
abroad accent dialect foreigner grammar

adv n n n n
benefit means drawback pronunciation pick up (a language)

n n n n pv
learn by heart idiom mother tongue job prospects bilingual

exp n n n adj
pronounce fluent get by language multilingual

v adj pv n adj
take up phonetic alphabet trilingual native speaker lyrics

pv n adj n n

Teacher’s Notes
Lesson: Let’s talk about… Learning Languages Level: B1 – B2 Time: 45 minutes +
Preparation:
- Print or display handouts and cut up the cards on page 2 (You will need one set for every group of 2-4
students). If teaching online, see the notes below for adapting the game for online lessons.
Teaching Method:
Step 1:
- Students discuss the questions in Ex 1. and make a note of their answers.
- Encourage them to come up with lots of ideas.
- Elicit answers and add to the board as follows.
1. What are some advantages to learning a new language?
(ability to communicate with foreigners, makes travelling easier, good exercise for the brain, better
understanding of other cultures, improves job prospects, …)
3. What are some different ways people can learn a new language?
(school, language schools, books, listening to and repeating recordings (Linguaphone), online learning websites
and apps, pick it up (learn easily or casually by listening to natives without any formal study), …)
Step 2:
- Students complete Ex 2 individually, matching the vocabulary to the definitions.
- Students compare their answers with a partner.
- Go through the answers, giving further examples for difficult vocabulary.
Step 3:
- Students read the sentences in Ex 3 and discuss the meaning of the language in bold print, in pairs.
- Elicit their ideas and be prepared to give them the following definitions and further examples where
required.
• take up = start a new hobby, activity, or school subject
• learn by heart = memorise something perfectly (for example, the lyrics of a song).
• get by = survive/manage or be able to do something but with difficulty.
Step 4:
- Students ask and answer the questions (Ex 4) in pairs or small groups.
- Encourage them to repeat the new vocabulary in their responses.
Step 4 / Revision exercise for another day:
- Give students 5 minutes to study the vocabulary before they begin the game (Ex 5).
- Put students into small groups and give a set of cards from Ex 5 to each group.
- Students take turns in picking a card and describing the word they see. Students must not show the
other students their card.
- They can (a) give a definition/synonym, (b) give an antonym, or (c) make a sentence omitting the
word. The other students should guess the word/phrase.
- Demonstrate the activity before the students begin.
Online lessons:
- Display page 3 on your device.
- Students take turns to secretly choose a word/phrase from the page and describe it to the class.

Answers & Pronunciation
Lesson: Let’s talk about… Learning Languages Level: B1 – B2 Time: 45 minutes +
Answers: Pronunciation:
Exercise 1: Vocabulary: British: American:
1. H abroad əˈbrɔːd əˈbrɔd

2. L accent ˈæksənt ˈæksɛnt
3. A benefit ˈbɛnɪfɪt ˈbɛnəfɪt
4. I bilingual baɪˈlɪŋgwəl baɪˈlɪŋgwəl
5. D dialect ˈdaɪəlɛkt ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt
6. J drawback ˈdrɔːbæk ˈdrɔˌbæk
7. K fluent ˈflu(ː)ənt ˈfluənt
8. F get by gɛt baɪ gɛt baɪ
9. B idiom ˈɪdɪəm ˈɪdiəm
10. G learn by heart lɜːn baɪ hɑːt lɜrn baɪ hɑrt
11. C means miːnz minz
12. E mother tongue ˈmʌðə tʌŋ ˈmʌðər tʌŋ
multilingual ˌmʌltɪˈlɪŋgwəl ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋwəl
phonetic alphabet fəʊˈnɛtɪk ˈælfəbɪt fəˈnɛtɪk ˈælfəˌbɛt
pick up pɪk ʌp pɪk ʌp
pronounce prəˈnaʊns prəˈnaʊns
take up teɪk ʌp teɪk ʌp
trilingual ˌtraɪˈlɪŋgwəl trī-ˈliŋ-gwəl
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Let’s talk about … Learning Languages

1. What are some advantages to learning a new language?

Ex 2: Match the vocabulary to the definitions below.

1. abroad adv A. a form of a language specific to a particular region or social group.

Ex 4: Ask and answer the questions below with your partner.

© 2023 TEFLlessons.com. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

abroad accent dialect foreigner grammar

benefit means drawback pronunciation pick up (a language)

learn by heart idiom mother tongue job prospects bilingual

pronounce fluent get by language multilingual

take up phonetic alphabet trilingual native speaker lyrics

© 2023 TEFLlessons.com. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

© 2023 TEFLlessons.com. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

Exercise 1: Vocabulary: British: American:

1. H abroad əˈbrɔːd əˈbrɔd

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