TOEFL Task4 実践問題 1

Learning a foreign language means more than just acquiring a second language for communication purposes. Language and culture reflect one another. By studying a certain language, the learner also gets to grasp the culture where the language is spoken. Another advantage of learning a foreign language is understanding other people’s feelings. Understanding other people’s feelings is about identifying the speaker’s emotions to interpret the intended message accurately. It comes with understanding not only one’s message but also the intention behind it.

Today, English is the most common second language spoken in the world. Learning a foreign language can give two major benefits–first is learning about cultures, second is understanding people’s feelings.

Let me talk about the benefit of learning about cultures. When studying a foreign language, we also learn something about the culture behind it. Let’s have idioms as an example. Idioms are expressions that have another meaning aside from their original definition. Their origin is often based on the local customs where the language is spoken. For example, the idiom “know the ropes” means to know how to do a particular task. It began in the 19th century during the golden age of sailing where knowing how to handle the ropes is essential to operate a ship. This idiom is still in use even until now.

As for understanding other people’s feelings, it is said that people who can speak two or more languages have stronger intellectual abilities. Imagine that a foreigner in your country is asking for directions. As someone who understands other people’s feelings, you don’t only try to understand him through words. You also try to identify his emotions, so you understand him on a deeper level.

Studying a foreign language can widen a person’s perspective on various cultures. It also develops understanding of other people’s feelings which is essential when communicating in a foreign language.

The professor is talking about the benefits of learning a foreign language, the topic mentioned in the passage. According to the passage, learning a foreign language means more than just acquiring a second language for communication purposes. The professor gives two examples of the benefits of learning a foreign language. The first point in the passage is that language and culture reflect one another. The professor explains that the learner also gets to grasp the culture where the language is spoken because idioms are often based on local customs. The second idea in the passage is that learning a foreign language helps students develop an understanding of other people’s feelings. The professor states that people who can speak two or more languages have stronger intellectual abilities. He says that people who understand other people’s feelings don’t only try to understand others through words. They also try to identify others’ emotions, so they could understand them on a deeper level.

Laughing is essential to people as it is one of their ways to express their emotions. It also helps them feel better since it improves their mood. Another reason why people laugh is to communicate with others. It helps them build relationships. According to a study, laughing is associated with human interaction. In fact, people laugh for about 30 times more when they are with other people as compared to when they are alone.

In today’s lesson, we will be discussing the reasons why people laugh. Laughing has always been a huge part of people’s lives; they can’t go on a day without it. People laugh to express their emotions. They usually laugh when they hear funny jokes or when they are being tickled.

However, people do not only laugh because of funny jokes, but they also laugh to communicate. People laugh for about 30 times more during conversations with their family and friends. It is their reactions to statements and comments. In social interactions, people laugh to display some sense of belongingness. It is a way to show the people around them that they understand and agree with them. A study on human relationships reveals that families, couples, or friends who deal with problems through laughter feel less stressed. They feel it most especially when they are doing it together. When these problems turn into positive emotions, people feel a lot better both physically and mentally.

The professor is talking about the reasons why people laugh, the topic mentioned in the passage. According to the passage, people laugh to express their emotions. He also mentions that they laugh to communicate. The professor gives 2 examples to show the connection of laughter to human interaction by saying that people usually laugh during conversations with their family and friends. The first point in the passage explains that people laugh to express their emotions. The professor explains that they usually laugh when they hear funny jokes or when they are being tickled. The second point in the passage mentions that people also laugh to communicate. The professor mentions that it is their reactions to statements and comments during conversations.