“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.

【小题1】The underlined word “multilingual” in the second paragraph probably means __________”.

A．going to happen soon	B．using different languages
C．better than expected	D．unclear or unknown

【小题2】Which of the following is important to language learning in educational psychology?

A．Study skills.	B．Kinds of foreign languages.
C．Interests.	D．Language teachers.

【小题3】What is the main idea of the text?

A．Different advantages that children and adults have in learning.

B．Teaching methods of foreign languages are wrong in Germany.

C．The role that age plays in learning foreign languages.

D．Learning foreign languages helps to prevent aging.

【小题4】It can be inferred from the last paragraph that _________.

A．adults learn foreign languages only by past experience

B．foreign language courses have too many requirements

C．when teaching foreign languages we should consider age differences

D．children like learning foreign languages better than adults do

A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students. It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival. This was followed by speaking, Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in. Reading remained as a significant（显著的）problem.
The information gained helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course. Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation（动机）, we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest. Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country. To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past. Therefore a different method may help because it is different.
Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining（保持）or increasing motivation. Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest by about halfway through the ten weeks. This led us to a major re-think, so finally we broughtitinto line with the expressed language needs of the students.
【小题1】What is the text mainly about?

A．Foreign students have more problems.

B．There are many ways to improve English.

C．Teaching should meet students’ needs.

D．English learning problems should be studied again.

【小题2】Writing became a bigger problem when foreign students .

A．became less interested in reading

B．became better at speaking

C．had to write their papers

D．had fewer problems with listening

【小题3】We may infer from the last two paragraphs that .

A．grammar-based teaching seems to be encouraging

B．different teaching methods should be used

C．English courses are necessary for foreign students

D．teaching content should be changed halfway

【小题4】The word “it” underlined in the last paragraph refers to“ ”.

A．re-think	B．activity
C．motivation	D．timetable

语法填空

If your child is learning English as a second language, I am 【小题1】（convince）that there are many things you can do at home. As long as you can keep these things up, they 【小题2】（help）him. First, it will help if you can read and write English 【小题3】 a higher level than your child.【小题4】 it’s necessary and possible, take English lessons in order to better focus on your child’s learning needs. This will enable you to sit down with your child and read, although you may also consider 【小题5】（hire）a private, one-on-one English tutor（家庭教师）.

Many non-native speaking students take part in English as a Second Language（ESL）programs in their school. Some ESL programs have pull-out classes, 【小题6】 means that your child is pulled out of class for individual or group 【小题7】（instruct）in English. Talk to your child’s teachers and other learning experts 【小题8】（determine） what style of education is best for your child’s individual learning needs and 【小题9】 you can do to help.

Success lies 【小题10】（actual） in practice. Just encourage your kids to follow these tips and practise.

   Do you still remember your favorite poem during high school or some other important periods in your life? Why is it that decades later it still stands out in your mind? Probably the main reason is that some aspect of that poem resonates (产生共鸣) with you. In the same way, you too as a school leader can touch the hearts of your teachers and students.

Poetry allows us to experience strong spiritual connections to things around us and to the past. The power that poetry has displayed over time and across cultures actually satisfies this common need of the human heart and soul.

As one of the oldest art forms, poetry has successfully connected carious parts of humanity (人性) from one generation to another. Referring to poetry, Hillyer makes a simple yet meaningful statement,” With this key mankind unlocked his heart.”

School leaders can find and make use of the value of poetry for themselves, their students and their teachers. Beyond the simple use of poetry, techniques of poetry such as repetition (重复) can be sued to take advantage of the power of language to transform communication, create meaning and culture of care and attention.

Since schools are mainly about people and relationships, school leaders, like poets, are required to inspire and encourage the human heart. The use of poetry — or even of some techniques of poetry — in school leadership not only helps to improve communication, but also serves to meet the human need for inspiration.

【小题1】Who is the passage mainly written for?

A．Students.	B．Teachers.
C．School leaders.	D．Poets.

【小题2】What does the underlined part “this common need” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．The need to read poetry.

B．The need to be inspired.

C．The need to learn about the past.

D．The need to be connected with surroundings.

【小题3】The use of poetry or techniques of poetry in school leadership is in fact to make use of ______ .

A．the power of language

B．the power of school leaders

C．people’s preference for poetry

D．people’s desire for communication

【小题4】What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To talk about the art of being a school leader.

B．To show readers that poetry is really powerful.

C．To explain how poetry can be used in our daily life.

D．To encourage school leaders to use the power of poetry in school leadership.

短文改错
Dear Jim，

I'm more than happy to hear you. You told me you were having trouble learn Chinese and wanted some advices from me.

Firstly，why not to learn to sing Chinese songs？It's a good way to learn Chinese and can make you feel relaxing. Secondly，you can make some Chinese friends. Unless you get along well with them，they will help you to learn Chinese. Beside，it will be helpful if you watched some Chinese TV programmes and read some Chinese novels. Finally，joining a club is also the good way to learn Chinese. In this way，you will get more chances to practice Chinese.

I hope the suggestions will be use.

Yours sincerely，

Li Ming