上海交通大学英语讲义Exercise Four听力答案与原文.docxVIP

Exercise FourSection 1. Compound DictationBeing the mother of two potentially bilingual children (the youngest is only three months old) and the teacher of French and English bilingual children, the subject of bilingualism is very important to me. In fact we have recently moved to China and are now considering multilingualism. But what are the advantages of learning several languages from an early age? What are the dangers? What’s the best way to teach your child two or more languages (1) simultaneously? I don’t suggest I have the answers here but like most mothers and teachers I certainly have a point of view!What is a bilingual child?The way I see it, being bilingual means being able to (2) communicate almost perfectly in two languages and also knowing something about both cultures. If I take the example of my daughter it’s about being able to understand when someone is speaking another language and being able to switch (3) automatically into speaking it with them. At two and a half she has already grasped the concept of ‘Daddy speaks French and Mummy speaks English’. She has even picked up that Bai Yuoine speaks Chinese! I think it’s very important for her to know that the (4) cartoon character Noddy is also called Oui Oui by her friends at playgroup and that Marmite and Cadburys chocolate exist as well as croissants. This is what makes it possible for her to communicate with the people around her (5) regardless of whether they are French or English. Why encourage bilingualism?In our case it is logical that with an English mother and French father our children should be able to speak both languages to communicate, not only with us, but with their grandparents and (6) extended family. On a wider scale learning two or more languages helps children to accept cultures other than their own. If speaking their mother tongue(s) at home and at school is (7) encouraged they are more likely to enjoy their difference and view difference in general as a positive thing. How