“If you’ve gone through adolescence already, you’ll no longer be able to speak a foreign language perfectly.” This and other similar statements are not the only thing argued among brain researchers and experts in languages. But they agree on one thing: Children learn languages differently from adults.

“Good morning, boys and girls!” For decades this has been how English classes started in Germany. They are the first bits of vocabulary and basic phrases. For years now, however, increasing numbers of primary schools in Germany have been teaching younger children their first foreign language. In order to better prepare children for a multilingual future, parents, educators and policymakers are seeking support behind the idea of “the earlier the better” when it comes to learning foreign languages. But does this necessarily mean that small children in general learn foreign languages better than adolescents or adults?

“It depends on what we consider ‘better’ about foreign languages,” says Rudiger Grotjahn, professor of language learning.” If we look at the end result of language acquisition（获得）, an early start is certainly advantageous.”

If “better” means faster, then young children don’t do so well compared to adolescents or even young adults, especially at the beginning of the course when, according to Rudiger Grotjahn, the latter two groups make better progress.

Educational psychology has also shown us that successful learning is mainly based on existing knowledge. The same is true for language learning. Furthermore, techniques developed when you are learning the native language also play an important role in learning a foreign language.

Children often respond to（应对）new languages with curiosity while adults increasingly look to their own learning and life experience to help them learn the words, structures and ideas of a foreign language. The result is that children learn more through games and gestures while adults take a more analytical（分析性的）approach with stricter rules. Rudiger Grotjahn thinks that good foreign language courses should take these various requirements and methods into account. The joy of learning a foreign language is something both the young and the old can experience to an equal degree.

   You may know the difference between an American accent and a British accent. But do you know what a “posh（上流社会的）” British is _______? The difference between British accents may be less important than you think.

There are many different accents in the UK, some of which are very _______ for foreigners to understand. In the south, many people speak with what is _______ as a “posh” accent, an accent that makes people _______ the British royal family and the high-class people in the UK. In this accent, “grass” sounds more like “gr-ar-ss”. And _______ “bath” sounds more like “barth”. Often, British people who take jobs on TV on elsewhere have to _______ their own accents and make them “posher” to be _______.

So, do accents still _______? Last year Alexander Baratta, PhD, from the UK’s University of Manchester spoke about “accentism” — people being treated worse _______ how they speak — and ________ it to racism（种族歧视）, according to The Guardian. In a study, he asked people why they changed their accents and how it made them _________

It’s not hard to see why they do it — everyone wants to do well in life, and the best way to do that is to fit in.________, there is a price to pay. Facing the world with a（n）________ that is not your own can hurt your sense of ________. This was shown when a third of those questioned said they were ________ of changing their accents.

Is it necessary to stop people changing how they ________? Well, times may be changing, too. The Guardian’s lead writer Hugh Muir has a ________, “The listener must adapt when ________. The speakers must make themselves ________, whatever accent they choose.”

So as you’re learning English, don’t worry too much about how your accent makes you sound — _______it’s clear what you’re saying!

I took our foreign teacher Mr. Brown, he came to China for the first time, to the Great Wall last weekend. Having told about the history of the Great Wall, he was amazing at this world wonder. He was fascinated by the beauty of the Great Wall, so I took photos of himself, which would be a good memory for him. At the top, there was an activity about environmentally protection. Mr. Brown was so interested in protect the environment that he was eager to join in them. Both the Great Wall or the warm-hearted Chinese people deeply impress him. He decided to visit more place of interest when free.