6.1 Becoming plurilingual

Question 1

is speaking different languages common?

Answer 1

Far from being exceptional, bilingualism and plurilingualism are the norm in most countries and this is only likely to increase in the future. It is estimated ‘that most of the human language users in the world speak more than one
language, i.e. they are at least bilingual. In quantitative terms, then,
monolingualism may be the exception and multilingualism the norm’ (Auer and Wei, 2007, p. 1)

Question 2

Monocultural

Answer 2

describes a person who has knowledge of, or identifies with one culture only; or a society where only one culture is visible.

Question 3

Monolingual

Answer 3

describes a person who has knowledge of, or identifies with one culture only; or a society where only one culture is visible.

Question 4

bicultural

Answer 4

describes a person who has knowledge of, or identifies with, two cultures, or a society where two cultures coexist.

Question 5

Bilingual:

Answer 5

describes a person who is able to use two languages or a
society where two languages are spoken

Question 6

Multicultural

Answer 6

describes a society where two or more cultures coexist

Question 7

Multilingual

Answer 7

describes a society where two or more language varieties are used. Some individuals within a multilingual society may be
monolingual

Question 8

Pluricultural

Answer 8

describes a person ‘with the competences of knowledge,
disposition and linguistic and behavioural skills required to function as a social actor within two or more cultures’ (Council of Europe, 2009)

Question 9

Plurilingual:

Answer 9

describes a person who is able to use two or more languages or language varieties. This term emphasises the flexibility and
diversity of individual profiles, therefore plurilingualism is not just a
collection of language skills but a series of complex interactions
between different skills in different languages. No two plurilingual
people are identical in terms of their linguistic profile.

Question 10

***you can use part of this paragraph structure to finish your assignment

Answer 10

the skills involved in understanding and using a foreign language are complex, but given time, motivation and support, they can be developed at any age. It will take longer if you started your studies as an adult, but it is definitely possible to achieve a good level if you set your mind to learning a language.

Question 11

O-levels

Answer 11

O-levels: in England and Wales,
students took O-level exams at
the age of 16; these were
replaced by ‘GCSEs’ in the
late 1980s

Question 12

A-levels

Answer 12

exams taken at the age
of 18, now called ‘A2s’

Question 13

Unless you have direct access to a language because you are immersed in a culture where it is spoken, the best way to learn a foreign language is…

Answer 13

to study it formally at school, at evening classes or through distance learning and independent study. This should give you an excellent grounding in the basics of grammar, vocabulary and cultural knowledge. However, if your motivation is strong, there may come a time when you feel the need for more direct contact with the language and culture that you have been studying.

Question 14

***useful for the asignment:

Answer 14

to gainamuch better level of
German and a deeper understanding of the German way of thinking and feeling, seeing the world. Working in Germany helped me to hugely extend my vocabulary. When you are dealing with all kinds of different situations, you just learn in the process. I also became familiar with German attitudes, for example, to environmental protection and I
learned to adjust to the German lifestyle, for example, respecting the
Mittagspause, the German equivalent of siesta

• built my confidence immensely – I could fully participate in life in a different country

I think in the process of learning the language I also developed a love
for German culture

Being in the country itself, seeing all the signs, reading newspapers,
menus, hearing the language, all activates my memory and after a
couple of days improves my skills

Question 15

*** not in the book, just vocabulary: ‘gist’

Answer 15

the substance or general meaning of a speech or text.
“it was hard to get the gist of Pedro’s talk”

Question 16

***useful for assignment

Answer 16

I feel that it is important to show that you are willing to try and speak and communicate with the local people, and that you do not expect other people to speak English. I am also very good at using gesture to get across my message!
However, the better you speak a language the more you can get
involved in an intercultural exchange. Languages simply open doors to a much richer life. And the learning never ends.
has made my life so much richer

Question 17

***useful for assignment

Answer 17

tries to keep herself as exposed to her foreign languages as possible, for example, by watching German DVDs, reading German magazines and seeking out opportunities to speak the language at a higher level on a regular basis with a conversation partner. She
also tries to go abroad often, and activates her weaker languages by trying to absorb vocabulary while she is visiting the country. She also makes a conscious effort to learn some basic vocabulary and phrases, such as greetings and numbers from 1 to 20, wherever she goes.

Question 18

***Transferable skills you gain while learning a language

Answer 18

But it is not language skills alone that improve during visits abroad.
Intercultural competence also develops as a result of regular contact with other cultures. If Meryl were to apply for a job, she would be able to list a series of highly valued qualities in addition to her obvious language skills.
Through her frequent stays in Germany, Meryl has gained an in-depth knowledge of German culture and society. During her time in Stade she lived in a German family and worked, and successfully adjusted to German customs such as the Mittagspause (siesta). That she can switch between French and German contexts shows flexibility, because she is aware of cultural differences and is therefore able to act appropriately. Furthermore,
she is able to successfully learn new concepts and languages by transferring her previous knowledge to a new context, for example, when using her Latin and French to help her read Italian. These are basic, transferable skills that can be extremely useful even in working environments where languages do
not play a central role.

Overall, intercultural
competence makes you more flexible in your thinking, and that is an asset.