BY FAR THE BEST

TIM DONER

 

The text below is about a young polyglot and his own way of learning languages. Read it through:
• Firstly spot, count and categorise all the linkers used in the text.
• Next, with your partner list and discuss Tim's strategies for learning languages.
• Describe your own strategy of learning a foreign language and compare it with your partner’s.
• Finally, google for other extraordinary polyglots, choose one and present his/her talents and strategies to your classmates.

 

A TEENAGE POLYGLOT 

Today many young people learn foreign languages to be able to communicate in a globalised world. Teenager Tim Doner is one of the world's most extraordinary language learners. He is a polyglot who speaks over 20 languages.
Learning foreign languages is his hobby. Whereas most people have a hard time memorising new words, learning is pure fun for him. He enjoys communicating with people and learning about foreign cultures.

Tim attracts a lot of media attention. He is invited as a speaker, makes television and radio appearances, and is featured in newspaper articles. In contrast to Tim’s expectation that the media would want to know how and why he learns, they are mostly looking for a sensation.

He invented his own way of learning and experiments with many methods. He can easily pick up foreign accents and speech patterns while listening to songs or watching TV shows. He uploads videos of him speaking a foreign language and people around the world help and teach him. He also uses mnemonic techniques whereby he associates new words with objects, or remembers words that sound similar.

Tim is a very popular talented teenager who is fascinated with linguistic diversity and is motivated to learn many languages. Compared to the average teenager, his knowledge of over 20 languages is outstanding.

TIP

Enjoy Tim Doner's video presentation by simply googling for Tim Doner at TEDxTeen.

According to Wikipedia, he speaks these languages: Ancient Greek, Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Ojibwe, Pashto, Persian, Swahili, Russian, Turkish, Wolof, Yiddish.

Do you know where these languages are spoken? Google the languages you don't know about.

GRAMMAR LOG

 

Linkers for comparing and contrasting

Linkers are words or phrases that we use to connect (link) ideas logically in a text.

Comparison

When comparing ideas you can use:

also
similarly, in a similar way
in the same way
in comparison with
Examples:

My brother likes leather jackets and my sister also likes them.

Skaters like the feeling of freedom.
Similarly/In a similar way, in the same way, surfers feel free when riding waves.
The preppy style is much more girly in comparison with the punk style.

 

Contrast
When contrasting ideas you can use:

 

but/however/nevertheless
You use them to introduce an idea that is different from the previous idea. However and nevertheless are more formal, and you use them at the beginning of the sentence.
Examples:

Samantha almost never wears skirts but I wear them all the time.
I like having my hair dyed. However/Nevertheless, I would never ever have it dyed green or blue.

               

while/whereas
You use them to point out the difference between two things.
Example:

While/Whereas my best friend dislikes too many pieces of jewellery and prefers a modest style, I really like to put on lots of necklaces and bracelets.

 

unlike / in contrast to
You use them to contrast one person or thing from another
Examples:

Unlike/In contrast to me, my mother always irons all her clothes.

 

although/even though/though
You use them to introduce a statement that contrasts the main statement. You can use though at the end of the sentence.
Example:

Although/Even though/Though this hoodie is very expensive, I am going to buy it.
I don’t like the pattern of this shirt. I quite like the colour, though.

 

despite/in spite of
You use these linkers before nouns or -ing forms of the verb.
Example:

I am going to buy this hoodie despite/in spite of its high price.

GRAMMAR LOG

 

Determiners

Determiners are words that usually come at the beginning of adjectives and nouns. Their function is to clarify nouns.

Some common determiners
a, an, the
my, your, his, her, its, our, their
some, any, no
much, many, more, most
few, fewer, fewest
both, half, all
this, that, these, those
such, every

SOLUTION

 

A TEENAGE POLYGLOT

Today many young people learn foreign languages to be able to communicate in a globalised world. Teenager Tim Doner is one of the world's most extraordinary language learners. He is a polyglot who speaks over 20 languages.

Learning foreign languages is his hobby. Whereas most people have a hard time memorising new words, learning is pure fun for him. He enjoys communicating with people and learning about foreign cultures.

Tim attracts much media attention. He is invited as speaker, makes television and radio appearances, and features in newspaper articles. In contrast to Tim's expectation that the media would want to know why and how he learns, they are mostly looking for a sensation.

He invented his own way of learning and experiments with many methods. He can easily pick up foreign accents and speech patterns while listening to songs or watching TV shows. He uploads videos of him speaking a foreign language and people around the world help and teach him. He also uses mnemonic techniques whereby he associates new words with things in the space, or remembers words that sound similar.

Tim is a very popular talented teenager who is fascinated with linguistic diversity and is motivated to learn many languages. Compared to the average teenager, his knowledge of over twenty languages is outstanding.

ESSAY

 

An essay is divided into an introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

Introduction: Tell what you’re going to tell.
The introduction is a broad beginning of the essay and tells the reader what it is about. It contains an opening line that introduces the topic. It also gives the main idea of the whole essay in a thesis statement (thesis here means subject of the essay).

Body: Tell it.
The body consists of more paragraphs. A paragraph is a unit that deals with a single idea or topic. The topic of the paragraph is signaled in the topic sentence, which is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. The sentences that follow it are supporting sentences that focus on the main idea of the paragraph.

Conclusion: Tell what you told.
The conclusion wraps up the essay and sums up the main points.

EXAMPLE

 

A TEENAGE POLYGLOT

Introduction
Opening line: Today many young people learn foreign languages to be able to communicate in a globalised world.
Thesis statement: Teenager Tim Doner is one of the world's most extraordinary language learners. He is a polyglot who speaks over 20 languages.

Body
Paragraph 1
Topic sentence 1: Learning foreign languages is his hobby.
Supporting sentences: Whereas most people have a hard time memorising new words, learning is pure fun for him. He enjoys communicating with people and learning about foreign cultures.

Paragraph 2
Topic sentence 2: Tim attracts much media attention.
Supporting sentences: He is invited as speaker, makes television and radio appearances, and features in newspaper articles. In contrast to Tim's expectation that the media would want to know why and how he learns, they are mostly looking for a sensation.

Paragraph 3
Topic sentence 3: He invented his own way of learning and experiments with many methods.
Supporting sentences: He can easily pick up foreign accents and speech patterns while listening to songs or watching TV shows. He uploads videos of him speaking a foreign language and people around the world help and teach him. He also uses mnemonic techniques whereby he associates new words with things in the space, or remembers words that sound similar.

Conclusion
Tim is a very popular talented teenager who is fascinated with linguistic diversity and is motivated to learn many languages. Compared to the average teenager, his knowledge of over twenty languages is outstanding.

WORDS TO REMEMBER

 

globalised = (adj.) connected worldwide

extraordinary = (adj.) not ordinary, very unusual, or special

polyglot = (n.) someone who speaks several languages

attract = (v.) arouse interest

media = (n.) form of communication like newspapers, radio, or television

attention = (n.) concentration or focus on something

appearance = (n.) coming to public view, for example appearing on television

feature = (v.) be an important part

expectation = (n.) belief that something will happen

sensation = (n.) something exciting and outstanding

invent = (v.) make up, create

experiment  = (n.) try out something new

method = (n.) way of doing something

pick up = (v.) learn by accident

accent = (n.) a way of pronouncing words, characteristic of a particular area or country

pattern = (n.) special style or way 

upload = (v.) transfer a file to a computer, network, or the internet

mnemonic = (adj.) helping the memory

technique = (n.) way of completing a particular task

associate = (v.) connect together

fascinate = (v.) attract strong interest

linguistic = (adj.) relating to language

diversity = (n.) quality of having many different types

ACTIVITY IDEA

Think of an outstanding person and write a short essay describing his/her qualities and abilities. Structure your essay following the guidelines above. Try to use a few linkers for comparing and contrasting.