The Reading / Listening - Level 5

The European Parliament has urged its politicians to speak more slowly and to use their native language instead of English. This is to help interpreters who work at the institution. Many interpreters are experiencing difficulties doing their job. A spokesman said: "It's extremely important that people do not speak too fast." He said politicians who use English when it is not their native language complicate things for translators. He said politicians should speak their own language because: "If the politicians speak a foreign language, the quality of interpretation goes down."

There are 24 official languages at the European Parliament. The most recent additions are Croatian and Bulgarian. A small army of 330 interpreters makes sure everyone understands each other. There are an additional 1,800 freelancers, plus more than 700 translators. If everyone used their native language, only politicians from the UK would be allowed to speak English. Many politicians prefer to use English so they do not confuse people when they need several interpreters. The parliament's annual budget for interpreters is $50 million.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35501198
  • https://euobserver.com/institutional/132136
  • http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/641484/Stop-speaking-ENGLISH-it-s-driving-us-CRAZY-MEPs-told


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.

urged its politicians to speak

a.

for translators

2.

use their native language

b.

important

3.

help interpreters who work

c.

goes down

4.

Many interpreters are experiencing

d.

at the institution

5.

It's extremely

e.

difficulties

6.

complicate things

f.

language

7.

speak their own

g.

more slowly

8.

the quality of interpretation

h.

instead of English



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

There are 24 official

a.

other

2.

The most recent additions

b.

people

3.

A small army

c.

are Croatian and Bulgarian

4.

makes sure everyone understands each

d.

budget

5.

There are an additional

e.

use English

6.

Many politicians prefer to

f.

languages

7.

so they do not confuse

g.

of 330 interpreters

8.

annual

h.

1,800 freelancers

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The European Parliament (1) ___________________ politicians to speak more slowly and to use (2) ___________________ instead of English. This is to help interpreters who work at the institution. Many interpreters are experiencing difficulties (3) ___________________. A spokesman said: "It's extremely important that people do not speak too fast." He said politicians who use English (4) ___________________ native language complicate things for translators. He said politicians (5) ___________________ own language because: "If the politicians speak a foreign language, (6) ___________________ interpretation goes down."

There are 24 (7) ___________________ at the European Parliament. The most recent additions are Croatian and Bulgarian. (8) ___________________ 330 interpreters (9) ___________________ understands each other. There are an additional 1,800 freelancers, (10) ___________________ 700 translators. If everyone used their native language, only politicians from the UK (11) ___________________ speak English. Many politicians prefer to use English so they do not confuse people when they need several interpreters. The parliament's (12) ___________________ for interpreters is $50 million.

INTERPRETERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about interpreters 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.

 

 

 

 

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 interpreters for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You