Page 102 - Grasp English B2 (Student Book)

8 Taking a Course

Did you dread your language
lessons at school or were they
a highlight of your timetable?
We spoke to three language
learners to find out their tips.

“I didn’t really get on with my English teacher at school and,
in that typical teen fashion, I thought I didn’t really need the
language. I fell behind in the class and when I left school, I was
sure I was never going to speak English again. Because I wanted
to work in international banking at the European Central Bank
in Frankfurt, I started learning German at university. During my
second year, one of my tutors said I would really need to have
a good level of English as well. I found that this time, I made
really good progress with the language – I think that I knew
I was doing it for a really important reason, not just because it
was another subject at school. I guess that would be my main
piece of advice – think about why you’re learning the language
and what you want to achieve. I also take online Italian classes,
so with four languages under my belt, I hope to be in with a
chance when I go for an interview next month!” - Henri, France

“I was such a goody-two-shoes at school, and I absolutely
adored my language lessons. I was the typical teacher’s pet
who would be ready to hand in the homework as soon as the
teacher came in through the door. All my friends would groan
when the teacher gave us a list of vocabulary to learn by
heart, but I was in my element! I guess maybe I’m lucky, and
I find it easy to pick up new languages, and whenever I travel,
I always try to learn a few phrases before I go. Sticking notes
around the house is a great way to be constantly learning; so,
for example, on my coffee machine, I have notes to remind me
how to order coffee in Bulgarian and Turkish as I’m going there
in three weeks’ time!” - Radka, Poland

“I dropped out of school during my final year because I had
some family issues, and I was struggling to cope with the stress
of projects and exams. At the time, it was really difficult, but
looking back now, it was definitely the right decision. I decided
to travel a bit and read up on language courses in Japan, as
I’d always loved the culture. If you can, living in the country
is a great way to learn the language. I mean, I was going to
classes every day, but also I spent a lot of time interacting with
people – I’d go for sushi and strike up a conversation with the
person next to me. I’m going back to school next year to resit
my exams, and then I’d like to learn another language and live
somewhere else exciting and new.”- Aimée, UK

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