Listen to these three teachers talking about their reasons for learning English and its importance in China.

Why does this teacher like speaking English?

Answer

Why does she think that it's natural for English to be the international language?

Answer

How does this teacher describe English? "English is a _____."

Answer

How does this teacher describe the purpose of learning English in China?

Answer

How has learning English changed this teacher's life?

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How has learning English changed this teacher?

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Question 1

I like English and I like to speak English because I think speaking very important for communication with the people, OK? So after I go to the university for one year, so I think I like English better and better, more and more.

Question 2

You mean English as an international language?

So separated from any culture do is it possible to think of English in that way?

No I don't think so. We use English as an international language because I think.... I don't know why we use English as an international language because so many people in so many countries speak English though there are so many people speak Chinese because just people in China speak Chinese now so I think English as an international language is natural.

Question 3

English is very useful. I take English as a tool. You know nowadays communication is very important, so English is a widely used language in the world. I think if you want to communicate with people you must learn this language. Use this tool.

Question 4

Because I think the language is, the foreign language is very important. The world is a big family, the people in different countries must know each and help each other, so they should communicate with each other. The language is the most important, so I think in China, English is the bridge to know another country.

Question 5

Yes, I think English teaching can change a person's life.

In what ways and how about for you, how has learning English changed your life?

I think I know some English, so I can know something about foreign countries. I can watch TV, know the news and current affairs.

Question 6

Do you think learning a foreign language has changed you in any way?

Changed me? Yes, I think.

How?

Especially the way of thinking, I can be more open. You know the cultural difference between China and how to say foreign or English speaking countries they are quite different. If you speak Chinese you must think in how to say, in Chinese, in Chinese way. For example, you must be modest. If I say "You are so good, your English is so good", if I'm Chinese I say "No, no", but if you are Englishman, so if you are, how you say, you are the people of English speaking countries, I say "Your English is good, you are so beautiful", so we say thank you, that's a different way. That will make you confident.

• learning [´lə:niŋ]   n.学习；学问；知识   (初中英语单词)
• international [,intə´næʃənəl]   a.国际的，世界的   (初中英语单词)
• communication [kə,mju:ni´keiʃən]   n.通信；通讯联系   (初中英语单词)
• culture [´kʌltʃə]   n.修养；文化；饲养   (初中英语单词)
• cultural [´kʌltʃərəl]   a.文化(上)的；教养的   (初中英语单词)
• modest [´mɔdist]   a.谦虚的；朴素的   (初中英语单词)
• communicate [kə´mju:nikeit]   vi.通讯；传达；传播   (高中英语单词)
• confident [´kɔnfidənt]   a.有信心的，自信的   (高中英语单词)
• bridge [bridʒ]   n.桥(梁)；鼻梁；桥牌   (英语四级单词)
• speaking [´spi:kiŋ]   n.说话 a.发言的   (英语六级单词)