- how our ears hear and our brain understands when we learn a new language
The Ears and the Brain in Language Learning
When we learn a new language, listening is very important. Our body has two helpers for listening: the ears and the brain. They work together all the time.
The ears hear sounds from outside. They hear words, voices, and sentences. The ears do not understand the meaning, but they bring all sounds to the brain. The ears are like doors. They open and let the sounds go inside.
The brain takes the sounds from the ears. Then it starts to work. The brain listens again inside, and it looks for meaning. It remembers old words and connects them with new ones. When the brain finds the meaning, we understand.
When we listen many times, the brain becomes faster. It learns the correct sounds, the right stress, and the rhythm of the language. Later, this helps us to speak more clearly and with more confidence.
So, the ears and the brain are a team. The ears bring the sounds, and the brain builds the meaning. Without ears, no sounds come in. Without the brain, no meaning comes out. Together, they make language learning possible.
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Vocabulary:
brain – the part inside your head that thinks and remembers.
to listen – to pay attention with your ears.
important – something we really need.
a helper – a person or thing that helps.
to work together – to do something with another person or thing.
all the time – always, every moment.
to hear – to get sounds with your ears.
sounds – noises we hear with our ears.
from outside – not inside, but in the world around us.
a voice – the sound from a person when they speak.
a sentence – a group of words that go together.
a meaning – what a word or sentence tells us.
to listen again inside – the brain hears the sounds one more time and thinks.
to look for meaning – to try to find what the words want to say.
to remember – to keep something in your mind.
to connect – to join things together.
stress (pronunciation) – the part of a word we say stronger or louder.
rhythm of a language – the music or beat of how people speak.
to speak clearly – to say words in a way that people can understand.
confidence – to feel strong and sure, not afraid.
to make possible – to help something happen.
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Multiple choice, one answer correct:
- What is the brain?
a) The part inside the head that thinks
b) A sound from outside
c) A group of words together - What does to listen mean?
a) To speak loudly
b) To pay attention with your ears
c) To write words on paper - What does important mean?
a) Something very big
b) Something funny
c) Something we really need - What is a helper?
a) A person or thing that helps
b) A strong feeling
c) A word in a sentence - What does to work together mean?
a) To do something alone
b) To say words clearly
c) To do something with another person or thing - What does all the time mean?
a) Always, every moment
b) Only one time
c) Sometimes - What does to hear mean?
a) To look with your eyes
b) To get sounds with your ears
c) To remember something - What are sounds?
a) Pictures we see with our eyes
b) Words we write on paper
c) Noises we hear with our ears - What does from outside mean?
a) In the world around us
b) Inside your head
c) Something we remember - What is a voice?
a) A place to study
b) The sound from a person when they speak
c) The brain inside the head - What is a sentence?
a) A group of words that go together
b) A word we say louder
c) A sound from outside - What is a meaning?
a) A kind of rhythm
b) What a word or sentence tells us
c) A strong voice - What does to listen again inside mean?
a) To write the words again
b) To speak in a loud voice
c) The brain hears the sounds one more time and thinks - What does to look for meaning mean?
a) To speak with stress
b) To connect two things together
c) To try to find what the words want to say - What does to remember mean?
a) To keep something in your mind
b) To forget something
c) To speak very clearly - What does to connect mean?
a) To say a word louder
b) To join things together
c) To work alone - What is stress (pronunciation)?
a) The beat of a language
b) The part of a word we say stronger or louder
c) A group of words - What is rhythm of a language?
a) A helper in the brain
b) The sound of one voice
c) The music or beat of how people speak
———————————- - What does to speak clearly mean?
a) To say words in a way people understand
b) To say words very quickly
c) To read silently - What is confidence?
a) To work with a helper
b) To feel strong and sure, not afraid
c) To listen to sounds again - What does to make possible mean?
a) To remember something important
b) To stop something from happening
c) To help something happen.
Answer key (one line):
1a 2b 3c 4a 5c 6a 7b
8c 9a 10b 11a 12b 13c 14c
15a 16b 17b 18c 19a 20b 21c
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Answers:
- What is the brain? → a) The part inside the head that thinks
- What does to listen mean? → b) To pay attention with your ears
- What does important mean? → c) Something we really need
- What is a helper? → a) A person or thing that helps
- What does to work together mean? → c) To do something with another person or thing
- What does all the time mean? → a) Always, every moment
- What does to hear mean? → b) To get sounds with your ears
- What are sounds? → c) Noises we hear with our ears
- What does from outside mean? → a) In the world around us
- What is a voice? → b) The sound from a person when they speak
- What is a sentence? → a) A group of words that go together
- What is a meaning? → b) What a word or sentence tells us
- What does to listen again inside mean? → c) The brain hears the sounds one more time and thinks
- What does to look for meaning mean? → c) To try to find what the words want to say
- What does to remember mean? → a) To keep something in your mind
- What does to connect mean? → b) To join things together
- What is stress (pronunciation)? → b) The part of a word we say stronger or louder
- What is rhythm of a language? → c) The music or beat of how people speak
- What does to speak clearly mean? → a) To say words in a way people understand
- What is confidence? → b) To feel strong and sure, not afraid
- What does to make possible mean? → c) To help something happen
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Gap-fill exercise, one answer correct:
- The _____ is the part inside your head that thinks and remembers. (a) brain (b) helper (c) confidence
- Listening is very _____ when learning a new language. (a) rhythm (b) voice (c)important
- A _____ is a person or thing that helps. (a) helper (b) meaning (c) sentence
- The ears and the brain _____ to understand language. (a) stress (b) work together (c) connect
- They do this _____ , every moment. (a) to speak clearly (b) from outside (c) all the time
- The ears _____ sounds from the world around us. (a) hear (b) listen again inside (c) confidence
- Sounds are the _____ we hear with our ears. (a) sentences (b) stress (c) noises
- The ears hear sounds _____ the body. (a) helper (b) to look for meaning (c) from outside
- A _____ is the sound from a person when they speak. (a) brain (b) voice (c) rhythm
- A _____ is a group of words that go together. (a) sentence (b) helper (c) confidence
- The ears cannot understand the _____ by themselves. (a) to speak clearly (b) meaning (c) stress
- The brain _____ the sounds one more time and thinks. (a) listens again inside (b) remembers (c) connects
- The brain tries _____ what the words want to say. (a) to look for meaning (b) to speak clearly (c) from outside
- The brain _____ old words and joins them with new ones. (a) stress (b) remembers (c) confidence
- It also _____ words and ideas together. (a) rhythm of a language (b) helper (c) connects
- Listening many times teaches the correct _____ of words. (a) brain (b) stress (c) confidence
- It also helps us learn the _____ of a language. (a) rhythm of a language (b) to speak clearly (c) helper
- Later, this helps us _____ words in a way people understand. (a) to speak clearly (b) from outside (c) to remember
- It also builds our _____ , so we feel strong and sure. (a) helper (b) confidence (c) stress
- The ears bring sounds, and the brain builds meaning to _____ learning possible. (a) make (b) hear (c) stress
- Both the ears and the brain are _____ in learning a new language. (a) sentences (b) rhythm (c) helpers
Answers:
1a 2c 3a 4b 5c 6a 7c 8c 9b
10a 11b 12c 13a 14b 15c 16b
17a 18c 19b 20a 21c
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Full version:
The brain is the part inside your head that thinks and remembers.
Listening is very important when learning a new language.
A helper is a person or thing that helps.
The ears and the brain work together to understand language.
They do this all the time, every moment.
The ears hear sounds from the world around us.
Sounds are the noises we hear with our ears.
The ears hear sounds from outside the body.
A voice is the sound from a person when they speak.
A sentence is a group of words that go together.
The ears cannot understand the meaning by themselves.
The brain connects the sounds one more time and thinks.
The brain tries to look for meaning what the words want to say.
The brain remembers old words and joins them with new ones.
It also connects words and ideas together.
Listening many times teaches the correct stress of words.
It also helps us learn the rhythm of a language.
Later, this helps us to remember words in a way people understand.
It also builds our confidence, so we feel strong and sure.
The ears bring sounds, and the brain builds meaning to make learning possible.
Both the ears and the brain are helpers in learning a new language.
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True or false:
- The ears can hear words, voices, and sentences.
- The ears and the brain do not need to work together for language learning.
- Listening many times improves (make better) understanding and speaking confidently.
- Without the ears, no sounds come into the brain.
- The brain listens again inside and looks for meaning.
- The ears understand the meaning of the words they hear.
- Repeated listening helps the brain learn the correct sounds, stress, and rhythm.
- Listening does not help with speaking clearly.
- The brain and the ears work together in language learning.
- Without the brain, the sounds from the ears have no meaning.
- The ears can connect old words with new words by themselves.
- Language learning is only possible when the ears bring sounds and the brain builds meaning.
- The brain remembers old words and connects them with new ones through repeated listening.
- Repeated listening does not help the brain remember old words.
Answers:
1T 2F 3T 4T 5T 6F 7T
8F 9T 10T 11F 12T 13T 14F
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Full version:
- The ears can hear words, voices, and sentences. T
- The ears and the brain do not need to work together for language learning.
F True is: The ears and the brain do need to work together for language learning. - Listening many times improves understanding and speaking confidently. T
- Without the ears, no sounds come into the brain. T
- The brain listens again inside and looks for meaning. T
- The ears understand the meaning of the words they hear.
F True is: The ears do not understand meaning; the brain finds the meaning. - Repeated listening helps the brain learn the correct sounds, stress, and rhythm. T
- Listening does not help with speaking clearly.
F True is: Listening does help with speaking clearly. - The brain and the ears work together in language learning. T
- Without the brain, the sounds from the ears have no meaning. T
- The ears can connect old words with new words by themselves.
F True is: The brain connects old words with new words, not the ears. - Language learning is only possible when the ears bring sounds and the brain builds meaning. T
- The brain remembers old words and connects them with new ones through repeated listening. T
- Repeated listening does not help the brain remember old words.
F True is: Repeated listening does help the brain remember old words.
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Gap-fill exercise, one answer correct:
- The ears _____ sounds from the outside world.
(a) hear (b) ignore (c) confuse - Listening many times helps the brain _____ old words with new ones.
(a) connect (b) forget (c) ignore - The brain listens again inside and tries to _____ the meaning.
(a) find (b) hide (c) repeat - Without the ears, no _____ would reach the brain.
(a) words (b) sounds (c) meaning - The ears and the brain work together _____ learning a language_____.
(a) to make possible (b) to confuse (c) to avoid - Repeated listening helps improve the correct _____ and rhythm of words.
(a) stress (b) voice (c) noise - The ears alone cannot _____ the meaning of the words.
(a) understand (b) hear (c) connect - The brain helps us speak more clearly and with more _____.
(a) fear (b) confidence (c) mistakes - Sounds enter through the ears, but the brain gives them _____.
(a) rhythm (b) stress (c) meaning - The ears do not _____ words; they only bring sounds to the brain.
(a) connect (b) understand (c) remember - The brain becomes faster at processing sounds after _____ listening sessions.
(a) little (b) many (c) no - Without the brain, sounds from the ears have no _____.
(a) voice (b) meaning (c) noise - Listening helps the brain remember words and _____ them with others.
(a) ignore (b) connect (c) confuse - Both the ears and the brain are _____ in making language learning possible.
(a) helpers (b) obstacles (c) noise
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Answers:
1a 2a 3a 4b 5a 6a 7a 8b
9c 10b 11b 12b 13b 14a
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Full version:
- The ears hear sounds from the outside world.
- Listening many times helps the brain connect old words with new ones.
- The brain listens again inside and tries to find the meaning.
- Without the ears, no sounds would reach the brain.
- The ears and the brain work together to make possible learning a language.
- Repeated listening helps improve the correct stress and rhythm of words.
- The ears alone cannot understand the meaning of the words.
- The brain helps us speak more clearly and with more confidence.
- Sounds enter through the ears, but the brain gives them meaning.
- The ears do not understand words; they only bring sounds to the brain.
- The brain becomes faster at processing sounds after many listening sessions.
- Without the brain, sounds from the ears have no meaning.
- Listening helps the brain remember words and connect them with others.
- Both the ears and the brain are helpers in making language learning possible.
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Interview with an expert on learning a language, ears, and brain, fill in, words below:
meaning – remembers – words – sounds – brain –
stress – important – hear – understand – speak –
confidence – many times – word
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1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening helps us hear __________ and understand meaning.
2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears hear sounds and send them to the __________ .
3. Q: Can the ears __________ words alone?
A: No, the ears only hear sounds. The brain finds the meaning.
4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again and looks for __________.
5. Q: Why should we listen many times?
A: Listening many times helps us learn correct sounds and __________.
6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening helps us speak clearly and with __________.
7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We can read words but cannot __________ well or understand spoken words.
8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain __________ old words and joins them with new words.
9. Q: Does the brain work faster with practice?
A: Yes, listening __________ makes the brain faster.
10. Q: Can we learn language without listening?
A: No, listening is very __________.
11. Q: What is stress in a __________?
A: Stress is the strong part of the word we say louder.
12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring __________ and the brain finds meaning.
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Full version in A1:
1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening helps us hear words and understand meaning.
2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears hear sounds and send them to the brain.
3. Q: Can the ears understand words alone?
A: No, the ears only hear sounds. The brain finds the meaning.
4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again and looks for meaning.
5. Q: Why should we listen many times?
A: Listening many times helps us learn correct sounds and stress.
6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening helps us speak clearly and with confidence.
7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We can read words but cannot speak well or understand spoken words.
8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain remembers old words and joins them with new words.
9. Q: Does the brain work faster with practice?
A: Yes, listening many times makes the brain faster.
10. Q: Can we learn language without listening?
A: No, listening is very important.
11. Q: What is stress in a word?
A: Stress is the strong part of the word we say louder.
12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring sounds and the brain finds meaning.
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The same dialogue in A2:
1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening is very important because it helps us understand words, sentences, and meaning.
2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears hear sounds, words, and sentences, and send them to the brain.
3. Q: Can the ears understand words alone?
A: No, ears cannot understand meaning. The brain finds the meaning of the sounds.
4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again inside, remembers old words, and looks for meaning.
5. Q: Why should we listen many times?
A: Listening many times helps the brain learn the correct sounds, stress, and rhythm.
6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening helps us speak clearly and with confidence.
7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We can read and write, but we cannot speak well or understand spoken language.
8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain remembers old words and joins them with new words.
9. Q: Does the brain work faster with practice?
A: Yes, listening many times makes the brain faster and stronger.
10. Q: Can we learn a language without listening?
A: No, listening is necessary for learning a language.
11. Q: What is stress in a word?
A: Stress is the part of the word we say stronger or louder.
12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring sounds and the brain gives them meaning.
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The same dialogue in B1:
1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening is very important because it helps us understand not only words but also sentences and overall meaning.
2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears receive sounds, words, and sentences from the environment and pass them to the brain.
3. Q: Can the ears understand words on their own?
A: No, ears cannot understand the meaning by themselves; the brain interprets the sounds.
4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again internally, connects new words with words you already know, and searches for meaning.
5. Q: Why should we listen repeatedly?
A: Listening repeatedly helps the brain learn correct pronunciation, stress, and the rhythm of the language.
6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening trains the brain to recognize language patterns, which improves clarity and confidence when speaking.
7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We may understand written words, but we will have difficulties pronouncing them correctly and understanding spoken language.
8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain remembers old words and links them with new words to build understanding.
9. Q: Does the brain become faster at processing language with practice?
A: Yes, repeated listening strengthens neural connections, allowing the brain to process language more quickly.
10. Q: Can someone learn a language without listening?
A: No, listening is essential for acquiring proper pronunciation, rhythm, and comprehension.
11. Q: What is stress in a word?
A: Stress is the part of the word we pronounce more strongly or louder than the other parts.
12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring in sounds, and the brain interprets them to create understanding and meaning.
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