1 Organize a discussion. Don't forget to use the phrases from Conversation bricks. In the end your group should have an answer to the question under discussion.
Role card 1
You are Mr (Mrs) Brinks, a rich American businessman.
You think that English is so popular because it is the language of America. The world has to understand America because it is one of the biggest and strongest countries. Everybody wants to do business with America. Illustrate your position with these ideas.
1. Six out of ten richest people in the world are Americans.
2. The whole world eats in American restaurants: McDonalds, Burger King and Pizza Hut.
3. The whole world wears American jeans such as Levis ['li:vaizj.
4. Hollywood is the biggest film producer in the world. The most popular films in the world are American.
5. The dollar is the most popular currency (валюта) in the world.
6. The USA is the world leader in science and technology.
Role card 2
You are Mr (Mrs) Belov(a), a Russian translator.
You think that English is so popular because it is very easy. Use Misha's or your classmates' arguments.
Role card 3
You are Mr (Mrs) Bamridge, an English historian.
You think that English is so popular because it has words from other languages. It is like many European languages and that's why people can learn it easily.
Use this information and facts from the text as examples.
A lot of English words are like German. The grammar is also very similar. Compare:
Meine Freundin ist neun Jahre alt. (German) — My friend is nine years old. (English)
Wir gehen in die Schule. (German) — We go to school. (English) Sie ist interessant. (German) — She is interesting. (English)
Scandinavian words in English: anger (гнев), cake, call, egg, get, give, kick, kill, score, scrub, seat, skill, skin, skirt, sky, take, they, them, their, ugly, want, window, husband.
Latin words in English: street, kitchen, cup, cheese, wine, angel, wall paper.
French words in English: country, court (суд), crime (преступление), prison religion, prince, princess; royal, adventure, change, fruit, letter, literature magic, male, female, mirror, question, special.
The roots of the English language
In fact, English is a Germanic language. The Anglo-Saxons contributed tc the formation of English most of all. English grammar is still very similar tc German. There are also a lot of French words in English from when Willian Duke of Normandy became the King of England in 1066. You can find a lo of Scandinavian words in English too. They came from the times when the Vikings raided Britain. The English alphabet came from Latin. Christiar monks, who spoke Latin, brought it to England from Ireland.
It is very strange, but the Celtic language didn't contribute many words tc modern English.
We can only find Celtic words in the names of places and rivers such as Dover, Kent, Avon and the Thames, for example.
Role card 4
You are Mr (Mrs) Swarup, an Indian student.
You think English is so popular because the United Kingdom used to have a big empire. The British had colonies all over the world, and all the people in the colonies had to speak English.
Your country, India, is an example.
Look at the text and the map.
Use the map and the facts from the text to support your ideas.
Role card 5
Part 1
You are Mr (Mrs) Forbes, a Canadian journalist.
You have to write an article about the English language and you want to know what people from different countries think about it.
You have a small role in the discussion, but you must:
• start the discussion
• introduce the people to each other
• lead the discussion
• take notes of the discussion
• stop the discussion and say who convinced (убедил) you
Your guests are:
Mr (Mrs) Bamridge, an English historian.
Mr (Mrs) Belov(a), a Russian translator.
You are Mr (Mrs) Brinks, a rich American businessman.
Mr (Mrs) Swarup, an Indian student.
Role card 1
You are Mr (Mrs) Brinks, a rich American businessman.
You think that English is so popular because it is the language of America. The world has to understand America because it is one of the biggest and strongest countries. Everybody wants to do business with America. Illustrate your position with these ideas.
1. Six out of ten richest people in the world are Americans.
2. The whole world eats in American restaurants: McDonalds, Burger King and Pizza Hut.
3. The whole world wears American jeans such as Levis ['li:vaizj.
4. Hollywood is the biggest film producer in the world. The most popular films in the world are American.
5. The dollar is the most popular currency (валюта) in the world.
6. The USA is the world leader in science and technology.
Role card 2
You are Mr (Mrs) Belov(a), a Russian translator.
You think that English is so popular because it is very easy. Use Misha's or your classmates' arguments.
Role card 3
You are Mr (Mrs) Bamridge, an English historian.
You think that English is so popular because it has words from other languages. It is like many European languages and that's why people can learn it easily.
Use this information and facts from the text as examples.
A lot of English words are like German. The grammar is also very similar. Compare:
Meine Freundin ist neun Jahre alt. (German) — My friend is nine years old. (English)
Wir gehen in die Schule. (German) — We go to school. (English) Sie ist interessant. (German) — She is interesting. (English)
Scandinavian words in English: anger (гнев), cake, call, egg, get, give, kick, kill, score, scrub, seat, skill, skin, skirt, sky, take, they, them, their, ugly, want, window, husband.
Latin words in English: street, kitchen, cup, cheese, wine, angel, wall paper.
French words in English: country, court (суд), crime (преступление), prison religion, prince, princess; royal, adventure, change, fruit, letter, literature magic, male, female, mirror, question, special.
The roots of the English language
In fact, English is a Germanic language. The Anglo-Saxons contributed tc the formation of English most of all. English grammar is still very similar tc German. There are also a lot of French words in English from when Willian Duke of Normandy became the King of England in 1066. You can find a lo of Scandinavian words in English too. They came from the times when the Vikings raided Britain. The English alphabet came from Latin. Christiar monks, who spoke Latin, brought it to England from Ireland.
It is very strange, but the Celtic language didn't contribute many words tc modern English.
We can only find Celtic words in the names of places and rivers such as Dover, Kent, Avon and the Thames, for example.
Role card 4
You are Mr (Mrs) Swarup, an Indian student.
You think English is so popular because the United Kingdom used to have a big empire. The British had colonies all over the world, and all the people in the colonies had to speak English.
Your country, India, is an example.
Look at the text and the map.
Use the map and the facts from the text to support your ideas.
Role card 5
Part 1
You are Mr (Mrs) Forbes, a Canadian journalist.
You have to write an article about the English language and you want to know what people from different countries think about it.
You have a small role in the discussion, but you must:
• start the discussion
• introduce the people to each other
• lead the discussion
• take notes of the discussion
• stop the discussion and say who convinced (убедил) you
Your guests are:
Mr (Mrs) Bamridge, an English historian.
Mr (Mrs) Belov(a), a Russian translator.
You are Mr (Mrs) Brinks, a rich American businessman.
Mr (Mrs) Swarup, an Indian student.