English for the beginner elementary course (61)

Read the text. Which paragraph:

a) is about a man who invented a new form of English with a smaller vocabulary?

b) is about a man who tried to change the spelling of English?

c) introduces the topic?

d) is about how e-mail is changing English?

e) is about a form of English that people use at sea?

1. English is an important global language. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn. Many experts have tried to make English easier for students to learn-but they weren’t always successful. 2. In 1990, professor CK Ogden of Cambridge University invented Basic English. It had only 850 words (and just eighteen verbs) and Ogden said most people could learn it in just thirty hours. The problem was  that people who learned basic English could write and say simple messages, but they couldn’t understand the understand the answers ‘real’ English.  It was also impossible to explain a word if it wasn’t in the Basic English word list. For example, if you wanted a water melon, you asked for ‘a large green fruit with the form of an egg, which has a sweet red inside and a good taste’! 3. RE  Zachrisson, a university professor in Sweden, decided that the biggest problem for learners of English was spelling. ‘father’ became ‘faadher’, ‘new’ became ‘nue’ and ‘year’ became ‘ yeerz’. Unfortunately for some students of English, Anglic never became popular. 4. Even easier is the language with ships’ captains use: it’s called ‘Seaspeak.’ Seaspeak uses a few simple phrases for every possible situation. In Seaspeak, you don’t say, ‘I’m sorry what did you say?’ or ‘ I didn’t understand,  can you repeat that?’--- it’s just, ‘say again.’ No more grammer! 5. In the age of international communication through the internet who knows? – a new form of English might appear. A large number of the world’s e-mails are in English and include examples of ‘NetLingo’ like OIC (Oh, I see) and TTYL (Talk to you later). In nother fifty years, English as we know it might not exist--- we will probally all speak fluent Internetish!

3. Work in pairs. Answer the questions.

a) When did Professor Ogden invent Basic English?

How many words did it have?

b) Why did Professor Zachrisson invent Anglic?

What happened to it?

c) Why is Seaspeak easier than ordinary English?

d) What is ‘ Internetish’, do you think?

e) Is it a good idea to learn Anglic or Seapeak instead of English?

4. Look at the unusual words people sometimes use on the internet and match them with the phrase.

a. LOL                        By The Way

b. ATM           As Soon As Possible

c. BTW            Estimated Time of Arrival

d. ASAP         Laugh Out loud

e. CUL8R       At The Moment

f. ETA             Mind You Own Business

g. FYI             Have A Nice Day

h. HAND        See You Later

i. MYOB         For Your Imformation

             

practice

2. finish the sentences using the ideas in the box. Which the best reason for each.

Pass his exams               study French                 train as a nurse Meet some friends        do some studying          check something Look up a word            buy a train ticket           borrow a book

a) I went on the Internet ---- to find some information.

b) She went to the  library ----

c) I’m going up stair ----

d) He want to  Paris----

e) Can I borrow your dictionary ----

f) She’s going back to college-----

g) I’m going into town ----

h) He worked very hard---

I) He wants to the station ----

j) I’m phoning the office----

 Easy English?

1. Discuss these questions.

a) Which foreign language to learn or not?

b) Do you think English is an easy language to learn or not?

c) Which of these areas of the languages are easiest/hardest for foreign students do you think: grammar, pronunciation, spelling or vocabulary? Why?

d) Is your languages easy for foreigners to learn? Why?/ Why not?