1
Why do some people find it much harder to learn a foreign language as adults?
Adults often struggle because brain plasticity decreases with age, and they tend to be far more self-conscious than children. Young learners absorb pronunciation naturally through immersive play, whereas mature students frequently overanalyse rules and fear looking foolish. For instance, an adult in a class might stay silent to avoid an error, while a child simply blurts out words. That said, motivated adults can compensate by using disciplined study strategies that younger learners lack.
2
How has technology changed the way people practise speaking other languages?
Modern technology has essentially democratised speaking practice by removing geographical boundaries. Learners no longer need to travel abroad to find conversation partners; they can connect via online video platforms or community discussion forums from home. For example, a student living in a rural area can now chat weekly with someone overseas. Nevertheless, virtual interactions can occasionally feel slightly detached compared to real-life encounters where subtle body language is much easier to read.
3
Do you believe that schools should place more emphasis on speaking skills rather than grammar?
I firmly believe that spoken fluency deserves greater priority in the classroom. Traditional curricula rely heavily on rote memorisation, which often produces students who achieve high test scores but freeze during basic spontaneous conversations. If schools incorporated interactive debates and simulations, learners would develop genuine communicative confidence. Even so, basic grammar instruction remains essential, as speaking without structural accuracy can lead to severe misunderstandings.
4
In what ways might global communication be affected if everyone spoke the same universal language?
A single shared tongue would certainly streamline international commerce, science, and diplomacy. People across different continents could collaborate instantly without translation delays, reducing friction in international negotiations. However, this widespread convenience would likely threaten linguistic diversity. If regional dialects and minority tongues fade away, unique cultural perspectives, untranslatable idioms, and oral histories could be permanently lost, which would be a profound cultural setback.
5
How important is it to understand a country's culture when learning its language?
Cultural awareness is crucial because vocabulary is deeply rooted in local customs and social etiquette. Without this background, a speaker might translate phrases literally and inadvertently cause offence or misread subtle humour. For instance, the degree of directness considered polite varies immensely across different societies. Having said that, for someone who only requires basic transactional communication, such as buying transport tickets or ordering food, in-depth cultural knowledge is arguably less vital.
Use the shape, not the sentences: a view, a reason, an example, a limit. Examiners mark memorised answers down.