Name:

Group:

Complete the following text with :

-

the correct verb tenses (SIMPLE PRESENT or PRESENT CONTINUOUS)

CHOOSE the correct options given.

Mathews advice to learn a new language

Matthew Youlden (speak) 1._________ nine languages fluently and (understand)2___________ more than a
dozen more. We (work) 3_______ in the same office in Berlin, so I (hear/ always) 4____________ him using his
skills. He (switch) 5 _________ from language to language like a chameleon changing colors.
I asked Matthew how he learned so (many/much) 6 _________ languages, and he gave me some (advice/advices)
7________ that are the followings. You (take/should) 8____________ note!
1. KNOW WHY YOURE DOING IT
This might sound obvious, but if you (not have) 9__________ a good reason to learn (a/an) 10_______ language,
you ( be)11________less likely to stay motivated in the process. Wanting to impress English-speakers with your
(French/French) 12___________ is not a very good reason; wanting to get to know a French person in his or her
own language is another matter. No matter what your reason (be) 13___________, once you (decide) 14_______
to learn a new language, it (be) 15_________ crucial to commit:
OK, I want to learn this and Im going to do as much as I can in this language, with this language and for this
language.
2. DIVE IN
(be) 15______ there a proper way to learn a language? Matthew recommends the 360 maximalist approach: no
matter which learning tools you use, it (be)16 _______crucial to practice your new language every single day:
Matthew said that he (want) 17_______ to absorb as much as possible right from the start. Then, if he (learn)
18___________something I really go for it and he (try) 19________ to use it throughout the day. As the week
progresses He (think) 15_______ in it, (write) 20________ in it, (speak) 21_______ to himself even in that
language.
He also said for me it (be) 22________ about putting what you (learn) 23________ into practice. Write (a/an)
24________ email, speak to yourself, listen (to/at) 25 __________ music, and listen (to/at) 26_____________ the
radio. Surrounding yourself, submerging yourself in the new language culture (be) 27_______extremely
important.
Remember, the best possible outcome of speaking a language is for people to speak back to you. Being able to
have a simple conversation (20) 28________ a huge reward in itself.

3. FIND A PARTNER
Matthew said that he learned several languages together with (his/her)29________ twin brother
He said that he and (his/her) 30 ______ brother We were very motivated, and we still (be) 31_______. We (push)
32_________ each other to really go for it. If he (realize) 33_______ that Im doing more than he is he will get a
bit jealous and then try and outdo me (maybe because he(be) 34________my twin) and the other way round.
Even if you cant get a sibling to join you on your language adventure, having any kind of partner will push both
of you to always try just a little bit harder and stay with it:
I (think) its a really great way of actually learning a new language. You (have)35__________someone with
whom you can speak, and that (be) 36_________ the idea behind learning a language.
4. KEEP IT RELEVANT
If you make conversation a goal from the beginning, you are less likely to get lost in textbooks. Talking to
(people/person) 37___________ will keep the learning process relevant to you:
You (learn) 38 _____________________________ a language to be able to use it. You (not have/ necessarily)
39________________ have to go abroad; you can go to (a /an) 40______
restaurant down the road and order
in Greek.
5. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Using your new language in any way (be) 41_________a creative act. The Super Polyglot Bros. practiced their
Greek by writing and recording songs. Think of some fun ways to practice your new language: make a radio play
with a friend, draw a comic strip, write a poem, or simply talk to whomever you can.
6. ACT LIKE A CHILD
This(not be)42________ to say you should throw a tantrum (or/ and) 43__________ get food in your hair when
you go out to a restaurant, (but/or/so) 44 _______try learning the way children (learn) 45__________. The idea
that children (be) 46________ inherently better learners than adults (be) 47_________proving to be a myth. The
key to learn as quickly as a (child/children) 49_________ may be to simply take on certain childlike attitudes: for
instance, lack of self-consciousness, a desire to play in the language and willingness to make mistakes.
We (learn) 50__________ by making mistakes. As kids, we (be) 51_______ expected to make mistakes,
(but/or/so) 52___________ as adults mistakes become taboo. Think how an adult (be) 53___________ more
likely to say, I cant, rather than, I havent learned that yet. When it comes to learning a language, admitting
that you (not know) 54___________ everything (be) 55___________the key to growth and freedom.
7. LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Willingness to make mistakes means being ready to put yourself in potentially embarrassing situations. This can
be scary, but it (be) 56__________the only way to develop and improve. No matter how much you learn, you
wont ever speak a language without putting yourself out there: talk to strangers in the language, ask for
directions, order food, try to tell a joke. The more often you do this, the bigger your comfort zone (become)
57_____________ and the more at ease you can be in new situations:

At the beginning youre going to encounter difficulties: maybe the pronunciation, maybe the grammar, the
syntax, or you dont really get the sayings. But I (think) 58__________ the most important thing is to always
develop this feel. Every native speaker has a feel for his or her own language, and thats basically what makes a
native-speaker whether you can make the language your own.
8. LISTEN
You must learn to look before you can draw. In the same way, you must learn to listen before you can speak.
Every language (sound) 59_____________ strange the first time you hear it, but the more you (expose)
60___________ yourself to it the more familiar it (become) 61____________, and the easier it(be)
62__________to speak it properly:
Were able to pronounce anything, its just were not used to doing it. For example the rolled r doesnt exist in
my form of English. When I was learning Spanish there were words with the hard r in them like perro and
reunin. For me, the best way to go about mastering that is actually to hear it constantly, to listen to it and to kind
of visualize or imagine how that is supposed to be pronounced, because for every sound there is a specific part of
the mouth or throat that we use in order to achieve that sound.
9. WATCH PEOPLE TALK
Different languages (make) 63_______ different demands on your tongue, lips and throat. Pronunciation is just as
much physical as it is mental:
One way (be) 64__________ to really look at someone while they(say) 65______ words that they use, and then
to try to imitate that sound as much as possible. Believe me, it might be difficult at the beginning, but you will.
Its something that is actually quite easily done; you (need/just) to practice it.
If you cant watch and imitate a native-speaker in person, watching foreign-language films and TV (be)
66________ a good substitute.
10. TALK TO YOURSELF
When you have no one else to speak to, theres nothing wrong with talking to yourself:
It might sound really weird, but actually speaking to yourself in a language is (a/an) 67_________ great way to
practice if you(not be) 68_______able to use it all the time.
This can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind and build up your confidence for the next time you
speak with someone.