Warm-up

Answer the following questions:

1. When did Russian people begin to study foreign languages as a subject?

2. What first foreign languages were studied in Russia?

3. When did Russians begin learning English?

4. How many languages are there in the world?

5. What language is spoken in Mexico?

6. What language is spoken in France?

7. What language is spoken in Brazil?

8. Where do people speak Mandarin?

9. Is English the official language of Russia?

10. What is the official language of Russia?

11. Where is English the official language?

12. About 5000; about 250 years ago; Spanish; Classical languages: Greece, Latin; later German and French; In China; at the end of XIX century; the USA, Canada, British Isles, Australia, New Zealand; Portuguese; Of course, not; French; Russian.

III. Practise saying, translate and learn the vocabulary:

· to find out, discover

· to read books in the original

· to talk to foreigners

· to have a profound knowledge of foreign languages

· to improve living, working conditions

· to be persistent in studies

· to travel abroad

· to have something to do in your spare time

· to be familiar with social and cultural life

· to participate in conversations with people

· the chief (leading, main) language of international business

· advertising

· satellite broadcasting

· to be effective medium of international communication

· to be convinced

· to open up opportunities and careers

· to broaden the mind

· to be acquainted with the unknown culture

· to depend on smb’s own efforts

· to sign international contracts

II. Read the text and translate the italicized word combinations.