Learning a second language

   Communication is part of our everyday life. Humans are social beings and we need to _______ other people. When we communicate, we can _______ both spoken and written language. But are they _______? The answer is “No”. Sometimes we have to communicate by using body movements instead of _______. This is called body language. Body language is very important in our life for several _______.

Firstly, it makes our communication more colorful. It’s really _______ to imagine a conversation without any body language _______. How dull and boring it will be to just talk without any gestures, facial expressions _______ any other body movements! Body language makes our talking more _______ and interesting.

Secondly, it makes our communication more ________. Sometimes a gesture or a facial expression can make us more easily and quickly understood. ________ a good speaker for example: his or her body movements will help him or her leave a deeper and stronger impression on ________.

Finally, sometimes we have to use body language. On some occasions, we are not allowed to speak ________. Examples of this are in the library or in the ________ classroom. Then body language will be quite ________. Also, when we meet someone in the street, there is no need for us to ________ for a chat, so a nod or wave of the hand may be OK.

Your body language sends a strong message to others, so be aware（意识到）that ________ you have your arms folded across your chest while you talk, you are ________ others out, for example. If you land an interview, mind your body language, ask good questions, and convey ________ and enthusiasm. Your body language indicates your level of self-esteem. So ________ body language is a crucial（关键性的）part of meeting someone new and cannot be overlooked.

I am glad that you are interested in Chinese idioms. _______________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

   The world is a rich landscape of different languages，skin colors，and different cultures. 【小题1】 One way to develop this appreciation is to try to learn about other cultures around the world.

There are several ways to become knowledgeable about different cultures. One way is to read books written by authors from a particular culture. Reading works by authors from a particular culture allows people to gain an authentic（真实的）look at the food，music，language，religion，and way of life of a particular group of people.【小题2】

【小题3】 A person can choose a language he has always wanted to learn. He can attend a foreign language class in order to learn in a more formal setting. Making contact with people who are native speakers of the language allows him to gain first-hand knowledge of a particular culture as she struggles to learn the language.

Seeking out restaurants that feature authentic food from a variety of countries is also a good way. 【小题4】 And it allows people to gain insight into a particular cultural group's way of life.

People who love to meet people in faraway areas of the world may not be able to travel in person, but they can always look for a pen pal. 【小题5】 Various websites offer pen pal services, offering to connect individuals with pen friends located around the world. Communicating with people from other countries through email or mail is another useful way to become familiar with different cultures.

   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.