The problem of
learning languages is very important today. Foreign languages are socially
demanded especially at the present time when the progress in science and
technology has led to an explosion of knowledge and has contributed to an
overflow of information. The total knowledge of mankind is known to double
every seven years. Foreign languages are needed as the main and the most
efficient means of information exchange of the people of our planet.
Today English is
the language of the world. Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue.
The native speakers of English live in Great
Britain, Australia,
New Zealand and the United States of America.
English is one of the official languages in the Irish
Republic, Canada
and the South African Republic.
As a second language it is used in the former British and US colonies.
English is not
only the national or official language of some thirty states which represent
different cultures, but it is also the major international language of
communication in such areas as science, technology, business and mass
entertainment. English is one of the official languages of the United Nations
Organization and other political organizations. It is the language of
literature, education, modern music, international tourism.
Russia is
integrating into the world community and the problem of learning English for
the purpose of communication is especially urgent today.
So far
there is no universal or ideal method of learning languages. Everybody has his own
way. Sometimes it is boring to study grammar or to learn new words. But it is
well known that reading books in the original, listening to the BBC news,
communicating with the English speaking people will help a lot. When learning a
foreign language you learn the culture and history of the native speakers. One
must work hard to learn any foreign language.
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