I’m a strong believer that learning different languages makes you look incredibly good when you’re in a foreign country and can understand and speak the language. The list below is 4 apps that will help you learn a foreign language! You can download them for free.
Babbel – Learn Languages
Babbel is an excellent language tool to help you progress step by step with learning a new language. It helps you learn grammar along the way as you work your way through the tasks and assignments. You need to pay a monthly subscription(定金), but this will still be cheaper than taking physical lessons with a tutor!
Duolingo: Learn Languages Free
The app has many languages to choose from and will work through the basics all the way to advanced words and sentences. It’s all completely free too! It’s incredibly well designed, looks great and will help you learn, remember and progress with just a little bit of time every day.
Tandem: Language Exchange
Rather than have you work through tasks and memorize different things, the app lets you match with people who share your interests but speak the language you want to learn. You can then have text, voice and video conversations with people who want to learn your native language, and in return you learn theirs, all by simply communicating with each other. It’s a great way to learn with only $1 a day.
Learn English – busuu
This app is perfect if you want to learn English. There are all sorts of audio and visual learning aids. You’ll find yourself working through interactive tests and learning tools for vocabulary and dialogue.
1.What is the purpose of the passage?
A.Sell apps to language learners. B.Introduce language learning apps.
C.Teach language learners to use apps. D.Teach languages through apps.
2.Which app suits best if you want to learn through communication?
A.Babbel – Learn Languages B.Tandem: Language Exchange
C.Duolingo: Learn Languages Free D.Learn English – busuu
3.What is Duolingo different from the other three apps?
A.It is completely free to use. B.It is specially for English learning.
C.It is unsuitable for beginners. D.It is the most effective（有效的）app.
4.What do the apps have in common?
A.They cover all languages. B.They focus on grammar.
C.They contain many tests. D.They are free to download.
What I wish I had known at 18
As this year’s new intake of students begin university life, we asked speakers at the FT’s Weekend Festival — authors, comedians, academics and FT columnists — to tell us what they wish they had known when they were 18, and for their tips on getting the most out of university.
Martin Wolf, FT chief economics commentator
The answer to that question ‘what do you wish you had known at 18?’ is nothing. I already knew that university was going to be very exciting, intellectually rewarding as it turned out to be for me — I was at Oxford for six years. It changed me very profoundly intellectually. I’m sure I didn’t know what was going to happen to me and if I look back on my life now — this is more than 50 years ago — all pleasure and excitement comes out of the things you never expected.
Jamie Susskind, barrister and author of ‘Future Politics’
The first people you meet are not necessarily going to be your best friends - don’t worry about it. Don’t get caught up in trying to go to the parties everyone’s expected to go to, rather, try to find people with whom you can forge close connections and who will be with you decades afterwards. You may identify them by doing more listening than speaking. When a lot of people get to university, understandably, they want to tell their new friends who they are and where they are from — but it’s as important to listen, and drink in all these incredibly different people from backgrounds that are completely unlike your own.
Phil Wang, comedian
Break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend, don’t stay together. Leave everyone behind. Your love is not special, there’s a wider world out there and you should take advantage of it. Also, join some societies. I didn’t do that, and I wish I had. It’s possible to feel that you don’t deserve to be there. You should be aware that everybody feels that way. Either have a balanced experience or excel at something, but don’t be mediocre at one thing. If you’re going to be average, at least be average at a bunch of things so you have a full experience.
1.We can learn from the second paragraph that Martin thinks his university life was _____.
A.Nothing special. B.Totally unexpected.
C.Interesting and rewarding. D.Confusing.
2.According to Jamie, how can we make friends in a university?
A.Develop close relationship with the first people we meet.
B.Go to parties as more as possible.
C.Tell others our personal stories.
D.Listen to others and be friends with people different from us.
3.What does the underlined word “mediocre” mean in the fourth paragraph?
A.common B.normal C.content D.bored
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.When was the building built?
A.In 1718. B.In 1782. C.In 1930.
2.What was the building used as at the time of the fire?
A.A hotel. B.An old people’s home. C.A history museum.
3.Who is Andrew Bond?
A.A newspaper reporter.
B.The owner of the building.
C.The head of the fire department.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Which film of the following DIDN’T the woman see?
A.Raising Arizona. B.Wild at heart. C.Neither.
2.How does the woman like the black humor film?
A.Very much. B.Not a bit. C.So-So.
3.What kind of actor does the man think Nicolas Cage should be?
A.A tragic actor. B.A classical actor. C.A comic actor.
4.What films make Nicolas Cage more popular?
A.Action movies. B.Comic movies. C.Tragic movies.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where can you possibly hear the talk?
A.In a laundry. B.In a shop. C.In the street.
2.What are the big machines over there?
A.Washing machines. B.Dryers. C.Vending machines (自动售货机).
3.Where can the man buy soap?
A.In the shop nearby.
B.From the vending machines.
C.In the laundry.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.In which way did Linda learn about the apartment?
A.From the ad. B.By telephone. C.Through an agency.
2.What requires extra charge besides the rent?
A.Gas and water. B.Electricity. C.Parking space.
3.What is Linda going to do tomorrow morning?
A.Have a look at the apartment.
B.Move into the apartment.
C.Pay the rent of the apartment.
