As is known to all, nowadays many students are interested in studying abroad.

Attending schools abroad has many advantages. First, by looking at our own country from outside, we can best see the strong points and weak points of our nation and therefore broaden our minds. Second, while studying in a foreign country, we can travel widely, visiting famous scenic spots and making friends with the local people. Third, we can use the foreign language in our daily life so that our ability in that language may be improved quickly. But the most important is to learn advanced(先进的) science and technology. For all these advantages, it is really worthwhile to go abroad for education.

However, as everything has two sides, there are also some disadvantages in attending a foreign university. The most serious problem is the language barrier(障碍). Most of the students who are ready to go abroad do not prepare themselves well for the new language environment. As a result, on arriving there, they will find it difficult to understand what the instructors are saying in class. Besides, for not knowing about the customs and way of life of the local people, they may run into trouble in dealing with various situations. Therefore, misunderstandings foten arise. Furthermore, the cost of living is much higher than that in our country, so most students have to find part-time jobs in order to help support themselves. Faced with these difficulties, many students find themselves unable to pay full attention to their studies and some students may even fail in their courses and learn little.

Therefore, given an opportunity to attend a school abroad, one must consider the factors carefully before making up his mind. On the one hand, it is a good thing to go and study abroad. But on the other hand, one must not neglect(忽视) the disadvantages.

My name is Ann. I've been in China in a few years. With the help of Li Hua, a good friend of mine, I've been used to live in China. Li Hua, like other girls, are beautiful and lively. We became friends after we meet each other a few years ago. Although her English isn't easy to understand, but we enjoy chatting and we usually talk a lot about our favorite books. We're all surprised that Chinese culture and American culture are so differently. Now we are planning nice party for next Sunday. There, I will introduce Li Hua to my friends, one of who has been to China several time.

   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!

Learning a second language

What is American Sign Language?

American Sign Language （ASL）is a complete, complex language that employs signs made by moving the hands combined with facial expressions and postures of the body. 【小题1】 It is also one of several communication options used by people who are  deaf or hard of hearing.

Is sign language the same in other countries?

No one form of sign language is universal. 【小题2】 For example, British Sign Language（BSL）is a different language from ASL, and Americans who know ASL may not understand BSL.

【小题3】

The exact beginnings of ASL are not clear, but some suggest that it arose more than 200 years ago from the intermixing of local sign languages and French Sign Language （LSF）. Today's ASL includes some parts of LSF plus the original local sign languages , which over the years have combined and changed into a rich,complex, and mature language. Modern ASL and modern LSF are distinct languages. 【小题4】

How does ASL compare with spoken language?

【小题5】 But for people who are deaf （particularly those who are profoundly deaf）, the sounds of speech are often not heard, and only some speech sounds can be seen on the lips. Sign languages are based on the idea that vision is the most useful tool a deaf person has to communicate and receive information.