Being bilingual may delay dementia

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A study shows that being bilingual may delay dementia by five years. Researchers found that bilingual people showed far fewer signs of dementia than monolingual people. Dr. Thomas Bak said: "Bilingualism can be seen as a successful brain training…which can help delay dementia." Speaking two languages keeps the brain in better health. It also helps to keep diseases like Alzheimer's away for longer than in monolingual people.

Dr Bak said the bilingualism-dementia link had little to do with social status, gender, occupation or education. Bak studied the medical records of 648 Indians with dementia. Of these, 391 were bilingual and many were illiterate. Bak found that many illiterate, bilingual people who have never attended any school showed fewer signs of dementia. He suggested that learning a language could keep the brain healthier, because it's fun and trains your brain.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20131106/speaking-two-languages-may-delay-dementia-symptoms
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24537-learn-another-language-to-delay-three-dementias.html
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2013/11/06/01.wnl.0000436620.33155.a4

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	being bilingual may delay dementia	a.	the brain in better health
2.	bilingual people showed far	b.	monolingual people
3.	successful brain	c.	Alzheimer's away
4.	Speaking two languages keeps	d.	by five years
5.	helps to keep diseases like	e.	training
6.	for longer than in	f.	fewer signs of dementia

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	the bilingualism-	a.	with social status
2.	little to do	b.	attended any school
3.	the medical records	c.	keep the brain healthier
4.	391 were bilingual and	d.	of 648 Indians
5.	people who have never	e.	dementia link
6.	learning a language could	f.	many were illiterate

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A study shows (1) ___________________ may delay dementia by five years. Researchers found that bilingual people (2) ___________________ signs of dementia (3) ___________________. Dr. Thomas Bak said: "Bilingualism can be seen as a successful brain training… (4) ___________________ dementia." Speaking two languages (5) ___________________ better health. It also (6) ___________________ like Alzheimer's away for longer than in monolingual people.

Dr Bak said the bilingualism-dementia link (7) ___________________ social status, gender, (8) ___________________. Bak studied the medical records of 648 Indians with dementia. Of these, (9) ___________________ and many were illiterate. Bak (10) ___________________ illiterate, bilingual people who have (11) ___________________ school showed fewer signs of dementia. He suggested that learning a language could keep the brain healthier, because (12) ___________________ your brain.

BILINGUALISM SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about bilingualism in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about bilingualism for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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