Part III. Speaking and Writing. 14. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases in English: higher education, full-time education

14. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases in English: higher education, full-time education, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, finals, a thesis.

 

15. Prepare dialogues using your questions from ex.11.

16. Speak about the system of higher education in Russian Federation.

17. Speak about the history of tech education in Russia.

18. Speak about the Bauman MTSU.

 

UNIT 2

Global English

Part I. TEXT

1. Answer the questions:

1. What does the word “global’ mean?

2. Is English “global”? Prove your point of view.

3. Name the countries where English is an official language.

4. "English is necessary for living on the Internet." What do you think about this statement?

5. Is learning languages an easy thing? Why?

6. Why learning English is important for the Russian students?

7. Why are foreign languages important for specialists?

2. Look at the following international words and guess their meaning and check the pronunciation:

Official, essentially, characterized, “lingua franca”, diverse, tribal, ethnic, widespread, fluent, accent, minority, emerge, percent, particularly, approximately, major, to pronounce, to identify, currency, taught, multinational, proficiency, potential, employee, requirements, sphere.

 

3. Here are the words and word combinations you have to learn:

“Lingua franca”, widely spoken, widespread, the spread of, worldwide status, according to the statistics, fluent, technological and cultural influence, to identify, to borrow, to transfer via, to expand, to establish, to tie up, proficiency, potential, employee, requirement, to require.

 

4. Read and translate the text:

 

Global English

There is no official definition of "global" or "world" language, but it essentially refers to a language that is learned and spoken internationally, and is characterized not only by the number of its native and second language speakers, but also by its geographical distribution, and its use in international organizations and in diplomatic relations. A global language acts as a “lingua franca”, a common language that enables people from diverse backgrounds to communicate on a more or less suitable basis.

So because of English is so widely spoken, it has been referred to as a “global language”. While English is not an official language in many countries, it is the language most often taught as a second language around the world. It is also, by international standards of communication, the official language for aircraft/airport communication and shipping. Also, in countries with several tribal or ethnic groups speaking different languages, they often choose English as the official language of government, as in Nigeria, India and Papua New Guinea.

Its widespread acceptance as a first or second language is the main indication of its worldwide status. According to the statistics, about 400-500 million people around the world speak English as a first language and about 1.5 billion people speak English as a second language. In other words, one in every 5 people on our planet regularly uses some sort of English - and the percentage is growing all the time.

But there are numerous arguments for and against English as a global language. On one hand, having a global language aids in communication and in the scientific community. On the other hand, it leaves out those who, for one reason or another, are not fluent in the global language.

A secondary concern with respect to the spread of global languages (including major languages other than English such as Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, etc.) is the resulting disappearance of minority languages, often along with the cultures and religions that are primarily transmitted in those languages. Language death caused by English has been particularly pronounced in areas such as Australia and North America where native speakers have been displaced by speakers of English in the process of colonization.

The major varieties of English in most cases contain several sub varieties, such as Cockney slang within British English, Newfoundland English, and the English spoken by Anglo-Quebecers within Canadian English, and African American English within American English. English is considered a language with no variety being clearly considered the only standard. Because of English's wide use as a second language, English speakers can have many different accents, which may identify the speaker's native dialect or language.

Just as English itself has borrowed words from many different languages over its history, English words now appear in a great many languages around the world, indicative of the technological and cultural influence of English speakers.

In spite of these facts, English has emerged as a global language for many reasons. English is the main language used for electronic communication. About 80 percent of all electronic information stored in computers and transferred via internet is in English. Approximately 65 percent of Internet host computers are in the US. In more than 100 countries, people in chat rooms discuss topics and communicate in English.

Besides the reason above, English is greatly necessary for businesses, global corporations, the global economy and commerce. It’s increasingly true as international trade expands every year, bringing new countries into contact. Large corporations have established themselves all over the world in almost every country and all stock and currency markets are so closely tied up. Many of the best MBA programs are taught in English, so speaking it well can put you in a position to get the best training. Most multinational companies require a certain degree of English proficiency from potential employees so in order to get a position with a top company, more and people are learning English.

So to know English is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. Knowing English well is one of the main requirements for graduates of Russian universities, who want to become ICT specialists and to have a successful career.

 

5. True, false or no information:

1. “Lingua franca”, a common language that enables people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities to communicate on a more or less unsuitable basis.

2. English is a “global” language because it’s widely spoken by people over the world.

3. According to the statistics, about 150 million people speak English as a second language.

4. English speakers can have many different accents, which may identify the speaker's native dialect or language.

5. English is the unofficial language of the Internet.

6. Many of the best MBA programs are taught in English, so speaking it very well can put you in a position to get the best training.

7. Unofficially, English is becoming the international language of travelling and tourism.

 

6. Complete the sentences:

1. A global language acts as…. 2. By international standards of communication, English is the official language for…. 3. English is spoken by about 1.5 billion people as…. 4. The major varieties of English contain…. 5. … now appear in a great many languages around the world. 6. About 80 percent of… stored in computers and transferred via internet is in English. 7. Many of the best… are taught in English.

 

7. Find in the text the words or phrases which mean the same as:

Родной язык, официальный язык, общий, универсальный, дипломатический, широко распространенный, этический, всемирный, около, появление, многочисленный, быстро, с одной стороны, с другой стороны, малочисленный, заменить, считать, определять, заимствовать, влияние, примерно, работники, образованный.

 

8. Make a plan of the text. Retell the text according to the plan.

9. Prepare a short summary of the text using the following expressions:

The main idea of the text is….

The problems/statements/points mentioned/discussed/described in the text are….

The text is divided into… logical parts.

The first/ second/ third logical part deals with the problems/statements/points of/ contains information about/ gives the definition of….

In my opinion/ to my mind the text is….

 

Part II. Language

 

10. Rewrite sentences using Passive verb form:

1. People use English in electronics and business communication. 2. Professors teach English as a second language all over the world.3. About 400-500 million people around the world speak English as a first language. 4. Speakers of English displaced native speakers in the process of colonization. 5. In more than 100 countries, people in chat rooms discuss topics in English. 6. English has borrowed words from many different languages over its history. 7. Most multinational companies require a certain degree of English proficiency from potential employees.

 

11. Make sentences using the given words in the correct order:

1. A global, basis, people, diverse, from, backgrounds, to communicate, on, a more or less, enables, language, suitable. 2. Words, in, a great many, now, English, languages, appear, around, the world. 3. Different, native, the speaker's, accents, identify, dialect, or, may, language. 4. Disappear, along with, religions, minority, often, the cultures, languages, and. 5. English, well, absolutely, necessary, specialists, for, future, is, ICT, knowing.

12. Make your own sentences with the words and phrases: widely spoken, widespread, social status, according to the statistics, fluent, influence, to transfer via/to connect via, to expand, to establish, employee, requirement, to require.

13. Translate the sentences using the phrases:

1. Английский язык является официальным языком в 40 странах. Это наиболее распространенный язык в международном бизнесе, науке, медицине.

2. Слова, которые заимствуются из английского языка, могут использоваться в том же виде. Некоторые слова, заимствованные из английского языка, изменяются.

3. Лингвисты считают, что исчезновение многих языков неизбежно.

4. Каждый образованный человек обязан знать хотя бы один иностранный язык.

5. Знание иностранных языков дает возможность общаться и понимать людей других стран.

6. На английском языке говорят во всем мире.

7. Настоящий профессионал не может обходиться без знания английского языка, так как это язык международного общения.

8. Инженер сможет прочесть инструкции к машинам, если он будет знать английский язык.

9. Ученый должен знать английский язык, чтобы читать научные книги и выступать с докладами на международных конференциях.

10. Знание иностранных языков помогает нам знакомиться с обычаями и традициями других народов.

 

necessary, in English, scientific books, to make reports, customs and traditions, a language of international communication, in science, words which are borrowed from, may be used just as they are, to save the purity of one’s native tongue, language experts, consider, the disappearance of… is…, every educated person, at least one foreign language, the knowledge of…, English is spoken all over the world, the most widespread language, a real professional, a scientist