The role of foreign languages

1. Practise saying, translate and learn the vocabulary:

to find out, discover

to read books in the original

to talk to foreigners

to have a profound knowledge of foreign languages

to improve living, working conditions

to be persistent in studies

to travel abroad

to have something to do in your spare time

to be familiar with social and cultural life

to participate in conversations with people

the chief (leading, main) language of international business

advertising

satellite broadcasting

to be effective medium of international communication

to be convinced

to open up opportunities and careers

to broaden the mind

to be acquainted with the unknown culture

to depend on smb’s own efforts

to sign international contracts

2. Answer the following questions:

1. When did Russian people begin to study foreign languages as a subject?

2. What first foreign languages were studied in Russia?

3. When did Russians begin learning English?

4. How many languages are there in the world?

5. What language is spoken in Mexico?

6. What language is spoken in France?

7. What language is spoken in Brazil?

8. Where do people speak Mandarin?

9. Is English the official language of Russia?

10. What is the official language of Russia?

11. Where is English the official language?

About 5000; about 250 years ago; Spanish; Classical languages: Greece, Latin; later German and French; In China; at the end of XIX century; the USA, Canada, British Isles, Australia, New Zealand; Portuguese; Of course, not; French; Russian.