“ One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”
Frank Smith
Why is learning English so important?
Recommended Vocabulary:
Put up, phr v- if (smth) to fix it to a wall or board, to add extra, construct
Capture , v- record or express accurately in words or pictures
a snap shot (snapshot) -a photograph that is taken quickly and casually. (typically with a small handheld camera)
Enable , v- to make possible
Recommended Vocabulary:
Standard English - the form of the English language widely accepted as a usual correct written and spoken form by educated people in both formal and informal contexts.
Versatile , adj ['vɜːsəˌtaɪl] - variable or changeable
Incredible , adj [ɪn'kredɪbl] - impossible to believe, extraordinary, but in inf- very good; wonderful
Proper Names:
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
William Caxton (1422-1491) - the first English printer and a translator and importer of books into England. He established a press at Westminster, the first printing press in England.
Chaucer Jeffrey (1343-1400)– an English poet. His Canterbury Tales is a cycle of linked tales told by a group of pilgrims. His skills of characterization, humor, and versatility established him as the first great English poet.
New words recently added to Oxford English Dictionary
Bling (n): Expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry
брюлики, цацки (дорогие, броские ювелирные украшения)
Chillax (v): Calm down and relax
D'oh (excl) [dəu]: Exclamation used to comment on a foolish or stupid action, esp. one’s own
Droolworthy (adj): Extremely attractive or desirable
Infomania (n): The compulsive desire to check or accumulate news and information, typically via mobile phone or computer.
Screenager (n): A person in their teens or twenties who has an aptitude for computers and the Internet
Unfriend (v): Remove (someone) from a list of friends or contacts on a social networking site.
Woot (excl): (Especially in electronic communication) Used to express elation, enthusiasm, or triumph
Text
Translation
1) C U L8R M8
a) As far as I know
2) B4
b) Love you with all my heart
3) AFAIK
c) Boring
4) W8 4 ME, I’M L8, SOZ
d) Text me back
5) KIT
e) Have a nice day
6) RUOK?
f) See you later mate
7) LUWAMH
8) HAND
g) Keep in touch
9) Zzzzzzzzz
h) Easy
10) KOTL
i) Are you okay?
11) TMB
j) Wait for me, I’m late, sorry
12) 0 ME
k) See you tonight or tomorrow
13) EZ
l) By the way
m) Before
14) BTW
15) C U 2NITE O 2MORO
n) Ring me
o) Kiss on the lips
Task 3 This is part of an essay written by a Scottish 13-year-old secondary school pupil. Read the texting and ‘translate’ it into English.
My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :- @ kds FTF. ILNY, its gr8. Bt my Ps wr so {:-/ BC o 9/11 tht thay dcdd 2 stay in SCO & spnd 2 wks up N. Up N, WUCIWUG -- 0. I ws vvv brd in MON. 0 bt baas & ^^
My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York, it's a great place. But my parents were so worried because of the terrorism attack on September 11 that they decided we would stay in Scotland and spend two weeks up north. Up north, what you see is what you get - nothing. I was extremely bored in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but sheep and mountains.
Homework:
Answer the questions:
What do you know about the history of your language?
Do you think you could read Middle English? Why or why not?
How do you think English will change in the future?