4. Listen to the interview and name the languages Mark speaks.
Listen again and write down the missing words. Transcribe these words. Comment on the intonation of the interviewer’s questions.
M = Mark, I = Interviewer
I: Mark, you speak languages.
M: That’s right.
I: Can you tell us a little about your level of in the languages?
M: Well, is probably my best language. I speak it pretty well because I spent a lot of time in the country, but it’s a little rusty. I have , which is a good thing and a bad thing because suggests that I know more than I really do! The other languages are mainly Latin-based: , , , but also and .
I: You learned the languages through a combination of techniques.
M: That’s right. In different ways like , , .
I: Did you use any special techniques? Any magic secrets?
M: Magic secrets? No! But I did do some interesting things, like . I watched films in their and at some point I tried sticking around the house. But I think with me it was more a case of being , and the biggest motivator was a love of languages and pleasure with people from other countries.
I: Would you say it’s easier to if you already know languages in that family? For example you speak and , so maybe it was fairly easy to pick up .
M: I wouldn’t say it was easy, but yeah, I would definitely say it’s a help, although occasionally it . You might be speaking in one language and suddenly from another language slips out, causing .
I: Is there any little word of encouragement you could offer those poor souls who are trying to ?
M: Er ... that’s a tricky one. What I would say is that knowing how and a language doesn’t mean you . You really have to get out there and try to speak at . Take risks. Don’t be afraid to look stupid, because that’s the only way you’re going . And y’know, everyone has to start somewhere. As a young man, I went to France after years of studying French to , and, to my complete embarrassment, I couldn’t or . All I could do was order breakfast in my hotel!