Unit 3 Selecting and Grading Vocabulary

[Magda Fenarova]

Task No.2.
I often travel abroad. I prefer countries where I am able to understand, I can speak English, German, Russian, I know Italian and Spanish a bit. When I travel abroad I try to say at least Hello, Bye, Thank you, Please in the language which is spoken in the country. This summer I have visited Croatia and Bulgaria, I did not have problems, our languages are similar and I speak Russian, so Bulgarian is not a problem. What is a problem in Bulgaria - yes and no when you nod your head, it is different in Bulgarian. I often travel to Hungary, no word is possible to understand, I do not know a word in this language, I rely on their knowledge of English or German.
When I travel I usually take a dictionary or a book for travellers with the phrases and words which you can need in everyday conversation.
I like to say some basic words and phrases in the language which is spoken in the country where I travel. I am happy to say something and local people can appreciate my effort.

Task No.3
To discribe someone°s charecter is not easy for students, there is "wide choice" of adjectives in a dictionary, students have problems with learning them, they are able to learn basic adjectives for active use such as carefree, easy-going, optimistic, cheerful, sociable, calm, outgoing, hardworking, intelligent, reliable, bossy. Pre-intermediate students have to have the words in their active vocabulary. They use them to discribe themselves and their friends. Other adjectives do not belong to high frequently words, they are synonims, not so often used. passive vocabulary. Intermediate students shoud learn other words - adjectives - insecure, assertive, brain, or stuffy, obstinate, nosy... But I think these adjectives are a bit problem for students, the adjectives are used for passive than actvie use more, these adjectives are not used in everyday language so much.

[Admin]

Hi Magda, thanks for doing the tasks. Interesting to read about your attempts to pick up the languages of the places that you visit - you are obviously a talented linguist! Are you able to converse in Bulgarian, or only understand?
Task 3: The question was actually "Which of these words would you teach an intermediate group?" And when it says "teach" the assumption is that these are for productive use. You selected the words according to their frequency and eliminated less frequent synonyms, which is correct. You also mention the question of register as being a factor which will influence your choice: in fact "nosy", "brainy" and "bossy" are colloquial and might be quite useful for intermediate students to know.
Take care and see you again soon!
Pieter

[Magda]

Admin wrote:
> Hi Magda, thanks for doing the tasks. Interesting to read about your
> attempts to pick up the languages of the places that you visit - you are
> obviously a talented linguist! Are you able to converse in Bulgarian, or
> only understand?
> Task 3: The question was actually "Which of these words would you
> teach an intermediate group?" And when it says "teach" the
> assumption is that these are for productive use. You selected the words
> according to their frequency and eliminated less frequent synonyms, which
> is correct. You also mention the question of register as being a factor
> which will influence your choice: in fact "nosy",
> "brainy" and "bossy" are colloquial and might be quite
> useful for intermediate students to know.
> Take care and see you again soon!
> Pieter
In Bulgarien I can say Hello, How are you, Thank you, please, let s say about 20 words and phrases. When I am in a country I try to speak with the local pople and learn something new, it is not difficult.