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The use of English as a global tongue is booming, and so is concern.

THALWIL, Switzerland � In the tall stucco schoolhouse here its big,
airy classrooms and views of Lake Zurich, English has become part of
the daily routine.

Students as young as 7 are learning multiplication or discussing the
weather in English. In one classroom, lists of songs that the first
grade has already mastered include not only local German tunes but
�Old Mc Donald� and �How are you this morning?�.

Parents are delighted. �It is something that you need,� said
Beatrix Caforeo, whose son, Andrea, goes to the school there.
�Everywhere people are speaking Englsih, not just abroad.�

Throughout Europe, English is growing in use and acceptability. Beyond
the schoolhouse here, European Universities, particularly in Northern
Europe, are giving courses in science, philosophy and business in
English. Even some companies like the French telecommunications giant
Alcatel �state-owned until 1982- now use English as their internal
language.

But the growing use of English is not going down easily everywhere.
The Englsih program here has caused an uproar in other parts of the
country, where critics have questioned why English should be taught
before another one of Switzerland�s four national languages. In many
places and in many ways, Europe is debating the growing prominence of
English.

Some see it as the language that might bind the Continent together. In
one European Union survey, 70 percent of those surveyed agreed with
the proposition that �everybody should speak English.� But nearly
as many said their own language needed to be protected. Capturing the
right balance is a subject of debate.

QUESTIONS
=========

1. Read each definition below and choose the word from the list that
matches the definition (2 points).

mastered

tunes

delighted

uproar

bind

surveyed

balance

Commotion, tumult

Learned, studied

Tie, secure, joint

Equilibrium, equality

Very pleased

2. Answer the following questions according to the text. Try to use
your own words (2 points).

a. According to the text, where in Europe, besides the Swiss school,
is English increasing in use?

b. What is the main argument against the teaching of English in
Switzerland?

c. What do the defenders of using English as a global language
contend?

d. According to the article, what seems to be the opinion of the
majority of Europeans?

3. Rewrite the following sentences maintaining the same meaning (1.5
points).

a. The use of English as a global tongue is booming, and so is
concern. (too)

b. Lists of songs that the first grade has already mastered include
not only local German tunes but Old Mc Donald and How are you this
morning? (both)

c. Europe is debating the growing prominence of English. (The growing
prominence�).

4. Complete the following paragraph with the correct form of the verb
in brackets (1.5 points).

In Switzerland, some politicians and editorial writers (attack)
 the program in Thalwil with passion, asking why
in a country with four national languages children (learn)
 English as their first foreign language.
However, the fiercest defenders of their language (be)
 the French. Numerous laws (establish)
 in France in the last decade intended to
protect the French language. But France and Switzerland (be)
 not alone in considering legal action to
protect national languages.

5. Composition (120 words). What do you think about the use of English
as a global language? Would it be practical? Would it threaten or
endanger national identity?

 

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