exercises due: calendar week 49 (first lesson of the week). So actually it's a three-week-task...)


A: Words

 

Learn the words up to "hopeful" (p.189)

 

Here's a little math exercise for you: You have to learn 50 words in those three weeks. How many words do you have to learn per day if you start two days before the voc test? And how many, if you start five days before the voc test? And how many words do you have to learn if you study ten days before the voc test (crazy, I know...)?

 

I think you understand what I'm trying to tell you...


B: Reading

 

Read the text below about English in India.

Make notes on the most important points of the text.

Then summarize it, taking into account all important points. Your summary should be something between five to seven sentences.

 

 Afterwards do the reading comprehention questions below

 

English as a National Foreign Language

 

India has two national languages: Hindi and English. Hindi is the national, official, and main language of India. English is an additional official language. The Indian Constitution also officially approves twenty-two regional languages for official purposes.

Dozens of really different regional languages are spoken in India, which share many characteristics such as grammatical structure and vocabulary. Apart from these languages, Hindi is used for communication in India. The homeland of Hindi is mainly in the north of India, but it is spoken and widely understood in all urban centers of India. In the southern states of India, where people speak many different languages that do not have much in common with Hindi, there is more resistance to Hindi. This has allowed English to remain a lingua franca to a greater degree.


Since the early 1600s, the English language was present on the Indian subcontinent, when the East India Company founded settlements in Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai, formerly called Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay. In India there has been a longer time, in which English has been spoken than in any other country which uses it as a second language. Its words, idioms (Sprichwörter), and grammar also have an influence on the habits and the culture of India.


In India, English serves two purposes. First, it provides a tool for the solidarity (Zusammenhalt) of the country, causing people who speak different languages to become united. Secondly, it serves as a language of communication, between a large variety of different people in a huge area.


Generally, English is used among Indians as a ‘link’ language and it is the first language for many well-educated Indians. It is also the second language for many who speak more than one language in India. The English language is a tie that helps bind the many segments of the society together.


The importance of the ability to speak or write English has recently increased a lot because English has become the standard. Learning English has become popular for business and cultural reasons and especially for internet communications throughout the world. English is a language that has become a standard because it is widely used by many information and technology industries and recognized as being standard.


The prevailing view seems to be that unless students learn English, they can only work in limited jobs. Those who do not have basic knowledge of English cannot get good quality jobs. They cannot communicate efficiently with others, and cannot participate in India’s rich social and cultural life. Men and women who cannot understand instructions in English, even if educated, will never get a job. They cannot help with their children’s school homework or decide about their bank accounts.

 

English, therefore, is a central part of the Indian culture and state, eventhough the time of the British Empire is long gone. India is not a British colony anymore. However, English as a language still connects the two countries.

 

(source: http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/9.html (abridged and changed))

 


Reading Comprehension:

 

1. There are twenty-four official languages in India. (t/f)

2. Hindi is mostly spoken in... (one correct answer)

… the east of India
… the north of India
… the southern states of India
… the urban centers of India

3. The English language was brought to India by the East India Company (t/f)

4. There is no other country in the world in which English has been spoken

for a longer time as a second language. (t/f)

5. English is called a “link“ language because many well-educated Indians use it as their first language.(t/f)

6. It is important for Indians to learn English because... (three correct answers)

… it has become popular.
… it has become the standard language.
… of cultural reasons.
… otherwhiles you won't get a good job.
… without English you can't take part in the social and cultural life of India


C: Grammar

 

"If you baked Mr Lauber a cake, he would be happy."

 

Now, which Conditional Sentence was that again? One? Two? Three? Check out the rules section and then do the following excercises:

 

Conditional Sentences

CLICK HERE and do excercises 1 and 4.