Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on European Day of Languages. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) created the day on the 6th of December 2001. Its main aim is to encourage language learning across Europe. Other objectives are to alert the public to the wide range of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, and to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged to take up a new language. The founders of this day also hope those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraged to make it easier for people to learn languages. There is an emphasis on learning a language other than English.
There are about 225 languages native to Europe. This is about three per cent of the world's total. With an increase in immigration to Europe, the continent has become more multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are spoken in London. According to an EU survey 56% of EU citizens speak a second language. However, 44% only know their mother tongue. English is the most widely spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is much higher than that for French or German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have mastered one of these languages. The EU spends more than thirty million euros a year promoting language learning and linguistic diversity.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
Its main aim is to encourage
a.
on learning
2
alert
b.
of this day
3.
cultural
c.
than English
4.
The founders
d.
language learning
5.
an emphasis
e.
diversity
6.
a language other
f.
the public
Paragraph 2
1.
225 languages
a.
the world's total
2
three per cent of
b.
tongue
3.
an increase in immigration
c.
of these languages
4.
mother
d.
diversity
5.
they have mastered one
e.
native to Europe
6.
linguistic
f.
to Europe
LISTENING GAP FILL
September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) created _________________ 6th of December 2001. _________________ encourage language learning across Europe. Other objectives are to alert the public _________________ of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, _________________ rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged _________________ language. The founders of this day also hope those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraged to _________________ people to learn languages. There is an emphasis on learning a language other than English.
There are about 225 languages _________________. This is about three per cent of the world's total. With an increase in immigration to Europe, the continent _________________ multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are spoken in London. _________________ EU survey 56% of EU citizens speak a second language. However, 44% only know _________________. English is the most widely spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is ___________________ for French or German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have mastered one of these languages. The EU spends more than thirty million euros a year _________________ learning and linguistic diversity.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) ____________ the day on the 6th of December 2001. Its main ____________ is to encourage language learning across Europe. Other objectives are to ____________ the public to the wide range of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, and to ____________ the rich linguistic and cultural ____________ of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged to take up a new language. The ____________ of this day also hope those responsible for providing ____________ to language learning are encouraged to make it easier for people to learn languages. There is an ____________ on learning a language other than English.
alert founders created access promote emphasis aim diversity
There are about 225 languages ____________ to Europe. This is about three per cent of the world's ____________. With an increase in immigration to Europe, the continent has become more multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are ____________ in London. According to an EU survey 56% of EU citizens ____________ a second language. However, 44% only know their mother ____________. English is the most widely spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is much ____________ than that for French or German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have ____________ one of these languages. The EU spends more than thirty million euros a year ____________ language learning and linguistic diversity.
speak higher native tongue promoting mastered total spoken
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) creative / created the day on the 6th of December 2001. Its main aim is to encourage language learning cross / across Europe. Other objectives are to alert / alarm the public to the wide range / ranging of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, and to promotion / promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged to take up / down a new language. The founders of this day also hope those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraging / encouraged to make it easier for people to learn languages. There is an emphasis on / in learning a language other than English.
There are about 225 languages native at / to Europe. This is about three per cent of the world's total. With an increase in emigrated / immigration to Europe, the continent has become more multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are speaking / spoken in London. According to an EU survey 56% of EU citizens speak a second language. However, 44% only know / known their mother tongue. English is the most widely / deeply spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is many / much higher than that for French or German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have masters / mastered one of these languages. The EU spends more than thirty million euros a year promotion / promoting language learning and linguistic diversity.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) (1) ____ the day on the 6th of December 2001. Its main (2) ____ is to encourage language learning across Europe. Other objectives are to alert the (3) ____ to the wide range of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, and to promote the rich linguistic and (4) ____ diversity of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged to take up a new language. The founders of this day also (5) ____ those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraged to make it easier for people to learn languages. There is an emphasis (6) ____ learning a language other than English.
There are about 225 languages (7) ____ to Europe. This is about three per cent of the world's total. With an increase in (8) ____ to Europe, the continent has become more multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are (9) ____ in London. According to an EU survey 56% of EU citizens speak a second language. However, 44% only know their mother (10) ____. English is the most widely spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is (11) ____ higher than that for French or German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have mastered one of these languages. The EU spends more than thirty million euros a year (12) ____ language learning and linguistic diversity.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
creation
(b)
creative
(c)
creates
(d)
created
2.
(a)
aim
(b)
aiming
(c)
aims
(d)
aimed
3.
(a)
private
(b)
publicly
(c)
public
(d)
privately
4.
(a)
culturally
(b)
cultural
(c)
cultured
(d)
culture
5.
(a)
hopes
(b)
hoping
(c)
hopeful
(d)
hope
6.
(a)
at
(b)
by
(c)
on
(d)
to
7.
(a)
native
(b)
natives
(c)
nativity
(d)
natively
8.
(a)
immigration
(b)
immigrant
(c)
emigrant
(d)
emigrate
9.
(a)
speaking
(b)
spoke
(c)
speaks
(d)
spoken
10.
(a)
mouth
(b)
lips
(c)
tongue
(d)
teeth
11.
(a)
many
(b)
much
(c)
most
(d)
more
12.
(a)
promotion
(b)
promoting
(c)
promote
(d)
promoted
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
aruoceegn language learning
2.
the wide gaenr of languages
3.
alrctuul diversity
4.
The usrfoend of this day
5.
providing secacs to language learning
6.
an ipshaesm on learning a language
Paragraph 2
7.
languages eitanv to Europe
8.
an sceraine in immigration to Europe
9.
According to an EU ursyev
10.
mother ogtneu
11.
the most yldewi spoken second language
12.
they have damstere one of these languages
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
emphasis on learning a language other than English.
( )
spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is much higher than that for French or
( )
multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are spoken in London. According to an EU survey 56%
( )
day on the 6th of December 2001. Its main aim is to encourage language learning across Europe. Other objectives are to
( )
to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged to take up a new
( )
alert the public to the wide range of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, and
( )
of EU citizens speak a second language. However, 44% only know their mother tongue. English is the most widely
( 1 )
September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) created the
( )
more than thirty million euros a year promoting language learning and linguistic diversity.
( )
to language learning are encouraged to make it easier for people to learn languages. There is an
( )
There are about 225 languages native to Europe. This is about three per cent
( )
of the world's total. With an increase in immigration to Europe, the continent has become more
( )
German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have mastered one of these languages. The EU spends
( )
language. The founders of this day also hope those responsible for providing access
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
language aim learning is to Its encourage main.
2.
objectives Other public the alert to are.
3.
linguistic Europe and cultural The diversity rich of.
4.
to it learn easier languages for people Make.
5.
a other English Learning language than.
6.
225 languages There native are to about Europe.
7.
About the three world's per total cent of.
8.
languages 300 Over London in spoken are.
9.
second the language most widely English spoken is.
10.
mastered have They languages these of one.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
Write five questions about European Day of Languages in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about European Day of Languages for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about European Day of Languages. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about European Day of Languages. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about European Day of Languages. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
