Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English easier and more interesting.

The first step is to feel confident about learning English. If you believe that you can learn well, you will learn well. Be patient. You don't have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks.

    The second step is to practice your English. For example, keep a diary or make notes every day. You will be used to writing in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English After several weeks, you will see' that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English

The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your diary. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it. Write these achievements in your diary.

    You must have confidence about learning English and believe that you can do it. It's important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will have more confidence in yourself.

Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel confident about learning English. If you believe that you can learn well, you will learn well. Be patient. You don’t have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks.
The second step is to practice your English. For example, keep a diary or make notes every day. You will be used to writing in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English After several weeks, you will see’ that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your diary. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it. Write these achievements in your diary.
You must have confidence about learning English and believe that you can do it. It’s important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will have more confidence in yourself.

Hip hop or rap (说唱） music as it is also called, started on the street and in the clubs of the New York City in the 1970s . But today many countries have their own kind of  hip hop music . This kind of music comes from reggae, disco and funk music . Rapping means speaking to the  rhythm of the music, and it is an important part of the music . People rap to express how they feel about their lives and problems .
Rapping in class.
Would you like to rap in class? Well actually, hip pop music is played in more than 10,000 schools in the USA .Why ? There is a new school program called “ Flocabulary ”in which teachers use texts and hip hop CDs to help teach different school subjects . The words of the songs are just what students are studying . This makes learning easy and fun . Students and teachers are excited about the positive results it has had on exam marks . One teacher said, “ I’ve used hip hop songs in class, and I have never seen my students so crazy about history ! You can't imagine how well they imagine how well they remember what I teach ! We even try to write our own songs . ”
Whose idea was Flocabulary?
Blake Harrison, a high school student, was the first person to come up with the idea of Flocabulary . The word “ Flocabulary ” comes from the word “ flow ” and “ vocabulary ” . “ Flow ” is a rap word for “ style ”,or the way a rapper says the words of a song . “ Vocabulary ” means the words you have to learn in a language . How did he get the idea ? Well, he realized he could remember the words of a hip hop song very easily . So,why not make lessons into songs ? Today together with Alex Rappaport, a song writer, Blake produces hip hop songs for maths, science and literature (文学）. They are now used in schools with great success .
【小题1】Rap music started  _____ in New York city .

Hip hop or rap (说唱） music as it is also called, started on the street and in the clubs of the New York City in the 1970s . But today many countries have their own kind of  hip hop music . This kind of music comes from reggae, disco and funk music . Rapping means speaking to the  rhythm of the music, and it is an important part of the music . People rap to express how they feel about their lives and problems .

Rapping in class.

Would you like to rap in class? Well actually, hip pop music is played in more than 10,000 schools in the USA .Why ? There is a new school program called “ Flocabulary ”in which teachers use texts and hip hop CDs to help teach different school subjects . The words of the songs are just what students are studying . This makes learning easy and fun . Students and teachers are excited about the positive results it has had on exam marks . One teacher said, “ I’ve used hip hop songs in class, and I have never seen my students so crazy about history ! You can't imagine how well they imagine how well they remember what I teach ! We even try to write our own songs . ”

Whose idea was Flocabulary?

Blake Harrison, a high school student, was the first person to come up with the idea of Flocabulary . The word “ Flocabulary ” comes from the word “ flow ” and “ vocabulary ” . “ Flow ” is a rap word for “ style ”,or the way a rapper says the words of a song . “ Vocabulary ” means the words you have to learn in a language . How did he get the idea ? Well, he realized he could remember the words of a hip hop song very easily . So,why not make lessons into songs ? Today together with Alex Rappaport, a song writer, Blake produces hip hop songs for maths, science and literature (文学）. They are now used in schools with great success .

1.Rap music started  _____ in New York city .

A．in the 1970s                           B．In a high school

C．in the 19 th century .                     D．In a music class .

2.From the passage, we can learn “ Flocabulary ” is a program to _____ .

A．Write rap music .                       B．Sing a song by talking

C．Remember the words of a song .            D．help teach some school subjects.

3.The underlined word  positive  in paragraph 2 most probably means _____ 

A．bad              B．good             C．final              D．direct

4.Blake Harrison has produced hip hop songs for school subject EXCEPT _____ .

A．maths            B．science           C．history            D．literature

For many years, no one could communicate with people who had been born without hearing. These deaf people were not able to use a spoken language.

But, beginning in the 1700s, the deaf were taught a special language. Using the language, they could share thoughts and ideas with others. The language they used was a language without sound. It was a sign language.

How did this sign language work? The deaf were taught to make certain movements using their hands, faces, and bodies. These movements stood for things and ideas. People might move their forefingers across their lips. This meant, “You are not telling the truth.” They might tap their chins with three fingers. This meant, “my uncle”.

The deaf were also taught to use a finger alphabet(字母表). They used their fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. In this way, they spelled out words. Some deaf people could spell out words at a speed of 130 words per minute.

Sign language and finger spelling are not used as much as they once were. Today the deaf are taught to understand others by watching their lips. They are taught how to speak.

1.In the 1700s, the deaf were taught __________.

A. to speak                           B. to watch others

C. a sign language               D. a spoken language

2.The word forefingers in paragraph 3 means__________.

A. the finger next to the thumb (拇指)                B. three fingers

C. a language                                                            D. hands

3.On the whole the story is about __________.

A. how the deaf communicate                                       B. learning to spell

C. teaching the deaf to speak                               D. writing sign languages

4.Which of these sentences do you think is RIGHT?

A.Deaf people draw signs

B.Deaf people can’t use their fingers.

C.Many deaf people now can speak

D.Deaf people speak with their fingers.