EF p 31. Learning to Speak New Language Can Slow Biological Ageing. Word Formation

 

Learning to speak new language can slow biological ageing, TCD (1)___________ (RESEARCH) find
People from countries where multilingualism was common were 2.17 times less likely to experience accelerated ageing

Learning to speak one or more new languages can slow biological ageing and protect the brain against age-related (2)____________ (COGNITION) decline.

So says new research reported in Nature Ageing, by scientists at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the Basque Center On Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastian and the Latin American Brain Health Institute in Santiago, Chile.

“Our results provide strong evidence that multilingualism functions as a (3)_______________ (PROTECTION) factor for healthy ageing,” said Agustín Ibáñez, professor of global brain health at TCD, who co-led the research.

“The protective effect was cumulative – the more languages people spoke, the (4)______________ (GREAT) their protection against ageing-related decline,” said Prof Ibáñez.

The international team of scientists analysed data from 86,149 adults (5)___________ (AGE) 51 to 90 living in 27 European countries.

Ageing clock

A “bio-behavioural ageing clock” method was used to compare the participants’ (6)__________________ (PREDICTION) biological age, based on health, cognition, education and lifestyle factors, with their actual chronological age.

It was found that people from countries where multilingualism was common were 2.17 times less likely to experience (7)____________ (ACCELERATION) ageing compared with those living where monolingualism held sway.

This evidence indicates that language learning and its use activates and engages the brain networks related to attention, memory, decision-making and social (8)____________ (INTERACTIVE), said Prof Ibáñez.

This study improves on previous research investigating the link between multilingualism and ageing, which were limited by the use of smaller clinical samples, as well as patients that already had signs of cognitive (9)_______________ (IMPAIRED).

The analysis, in this study, of a far larger, healthy population (10)______________ (ABLE) the scientists to show the benefits of multilingualism went further than simply delaying dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

The scientists examined the (11)______________ (BEHAVIOUR) age gap – the difference between predicted biological age and actual age – between thousands of individual study participants.

They found that multilingual individuals (12)______________ (CONSISTENCY) exhibited slower ageing, even after the linguistic, social, physical and sociopolitical factors were taken into account.

“The more languages people speak, the greater their protection against ageing-related decline,” said Dr Lucia Amoruso of the Basque Centre On Cognition, Brain and Language.

“Multilingualism is an accessible, low-cost tool for promoting healthy ageing across populations, complementing other (13)______________ (MODIFY) factors such as creativity and education,” added Dr Hernán Hernández of the Latin American Brain Health Institute in Chile.

The study found no evidence that the protective effect of multilingualism depended on the language learned.

The researchers didn’t look at whether language learning by app, or its (14)______________ (CONVERSATION) use, were more protective against ageing, but they did note that social use of a new language was more likely to provide greater benefits than passive (15)____________________ (EXPOSE) or memory drills.

“Language is not just words, but a dynamic, cognitive and social activity,” said Prof Ibáñez. “Using multiple languages in daily communication requires constant switching, contextual adaptation and emotional (16)__________________ (ENGAGE) – all of which activate distributed brain systems that support attention, memory and emotion regulation.”

In light of this study’s findings, the scientists recommend that language learning be incorporated into public health plans to enhance cognitive (17)_______________ (RESILIENT) and reduce the burden of ageing.

In Ireland, it could lead to (18)______________ (NEW) efforts to promote the Irish language, not just for cultural reasons, but for its health benefits.

Adapted from The Irish Times  

 

 

KEY

 

 

 

1.  researchers

 

 

 

 

2. cognitive 

 

 

 

 

3. protective 

 

 

 

 

 

4. greater 

 

 

 

 

5. aged 

 

 

 

 

6. predicted 

 

 

 

 

7. accelerated 

 

 

 

 

 

8. interaction 

 

 

 

 

 

9. impairment 

 

 

 

 

10. enabled 

 

 

 

 

11. behavioural 

 

 

 

 

 

12. consistently 

 

 

 

 

 

13. modifiable 

 

 

 

 

14. conversational 

 

 

 

 

15. exposure 

 

 

 

 

16. engagement 

 

 

 

 

 

17. resilience 

 

 

 

 

18. renewed 

 

 Further information:

BBC Newshour  minute: 17' 50''

 

Ready for C1 p 23. Toys and Games. Speaking

 TOYS AND GAMES

1. Did you use to get many presents at Christmas when you were a child?

2. On what other occasions would you receive toys?

3. What are the three best toys you can remember getting?

4. Did you use to play games? How often? Which ones?

5. Do you think games and toys are very different nowadays from what they were some decades ago?

6. Do you think children play less than they used to?

7. What kind of games can you think of where nothing is needed apart from your imagination and your own self?

8. Have you ever collected toys?

9. What are the most popular toys and games these days?

10.  Can you mention a toy from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s?

11.  What is the oldest toy you have ever seen?

12. What would you tell a toymaker if you could talk to him?

13. Do you examine toys thoroughly before you give them to a child? Do you pay attention to age recommendations?

14. Do you think it is good for children to play with their parents? Why / Why not?

15. Do you think toys and games can be springboards to creativity and inventiveness?

VOCABULARY

Prison dodgeball: balón prisionero. Capture the flag: el pañuelo. Spinning top: peonza. Hoop: aro. Red light, green light: un, dos, tres, al escondite inglés. Hide-and-seek: escondite. To play tag: pilla-pilla. Blind man’s buff: la gallinita ciega

EF p 99. Social Media. Speaking Monologue. Cloze

 

The Influence of Social Media on Young People

Questions:

1. How has social media changed the way young people communicate?

2. What are some of the positive and negative effects of social media on mental health?

3. Do you think schools should play a role in educating students about responsible social media use?

Sample answer:

Right, so to kick things off, it’s fair to say that social media has become a central part of daily life for most young people. (1)______________ we like it or not, it’s transformed not (2)______________ the way they communicate but also the way they view the world and themselves. What I’ll do is address each of the questions (3)____________ turn, beginning with how communication has been affected.

To begin with, it’s clear that social media has drastically altered the way young people interact. Communication nowadays is often instantaneous, highly visual, and heavily mediated through apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. While this enables people to stay in touch effortlessly, it has also contributed (4)______________ a decline in face-to-face interaction and arguably, in the depth of conversations. One could even argue that communication has become more performative than personal, with many prioritising image over authenticity.

Turning now to the issue of mental health, there’s no denying that social media is something of a double-edged (5)______________. On the positive side, it provides a sense of community, enables self-expression, and can be empowering, particularly for individuals who feel marginalised. (6)______________, these benefits often come at a cost. It’s well documented that excessive use of social media can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and low self-worth, particularly when young users become caught up in unrealistic comparisons and the pursuit of validation through likes and shares. (7)______________, being constantly 'online' can lead to digital fatigue and a sense of emotional burnout.

(8)_______________ for whether schools should get involved, I’d argue that they most definitely should. Given the pervasive nature of social media, it’s no longer enough to leave these conversations to families or expect young people to figure it out on their own. Schools have a duty to equip students with the tools they need to navigate the digital world responsibly. This could include lessons on online safety, critical thinking, recognising misinformation, and managing their digital footprint. (9)______________ we want students to thrive both online and offline, then digital literacy should be embedded into the curriculum just as firmly as traditional academic subjects.

All things (10)________________, social media isn’t inherently negative—it’s a tool, and like (11)_______________ tool, its impact depends on how it's used. With the right guidance, particularly from schools, young people can learn to harness its benefits while avoiding some of its more harmful effects. In the end, the aim shouldn’t be to discourage social media altogether, but (12)_____________ to encourage more thoughtful, balanced, and responsible use.

KEY

1. Whether 

2. only

3. in

in turn ​  

1. one after the other in a particular order.

E.g. The children called out their names in turn. 

2. ​as a result of something in a series of events. 

E.g. Increased production will, in turn, lead to increased profits

4. to

5. sword

6. However

7. Furthermore

8. As

9. If

10. considered

11. any

12. rather

EF p 162. The Impact Of Food and Exercise On Our Health. Speaking Interaction Sample. Cloze

 

Tom: Hi, Emily! Lovely to see you—how have you been?

Emily: Hi, Tom! I’m doing really well, thanks. Just wrapped up a session at the gym, actually.

Tom: Oh really? Good for you! I must admit, I’ve been meaning to get back into exercising, but somehow I keep putting it (1)__________________. Has it made much of a difference for you?

Emily: Absolutely! It’s been transformative, both physically and mentally. Not only (2)_____________ I feel fitter, butI’ve also noticed a boost in my mood and energy levels. To be honest, I never expected it to have such a wide-ranging impact.

Tom: Wow, that’s impressive. I’ve been feeling sluggish lately, and frankly, a bit out of shape. If I’d known it would make such a difference, I might (3)_____________ started sooner! Any suggestions for getting back into it?

Emily: Definitely. First and foremost, start small—setting unrealistic goals only leads to frustration. For instance, even going for a brisk walk every (4)_____________ day can be a great place to begin.

Tom: That seems doable. I always thought I needed to go all in from the start, but your way sounds more sustainable.

Emily: Exactly. And another thing—choose activities you actually enjoy. Were you to pick something dull just for the sake of fitness, chances (5)_____________ you won’t stick with it. Dancing, swimming, football—whatever keeps you moving and smiling.

Tom: That’s a good point. I’ve always loved playing football, so perhaps I should join a casual team or have a kickabout with some friends.

Emily: That’s the spirit! And finally, consistency is key. (6)_______________ missing a session now and then is no disaster, making exercise a habit is what really brings results.

Tom: Thanks for the encouragement, Emily. I genuinely feel more motivated now. Speaking of health, I suppose food plays an equally important role, doesn’t it?

Emily: It certainly does! In fact, even if you exercise regularly, a poor diet can seriously undermine your efforts. You know what they say— you are (7)______________ you eat!

Tom: I’ve heard that one before. I must confess, though, my diet’s been rather dreadful lately—too much fast food and not enough greens.

Emily: Don’t beat yourself up—we all fall into bad habits sometimes. The good news is, making even a few changes can have a big impact. For starters, try to prioritise whole, unprocessed foods—think fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Tom: Right, makes sense. And I suppose cutting back (8)______________ snacks is part of the plan too?

Emily: Spot on. Portion control is another game-changer. All (9)____________ often, we eat mindlessly, especially when we’re stressed or distracted. Smaller plates, conscious eating—it all helps.

Tom: Guilty as charged! I definitely snack more when I’m anxious or bored.

Emily: You’re not alone. Being aware of that is already a step in the right direction. Oh, and one more thing—stay hydrated. People often underestimate how vital water is for everything from digestion to concentration.

Tom: I always forget that! I’ll start keeping a bottle of water on me more often.

Emily: That’s a great idea. Remember, making lasting changes isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being consistent. Small, manageable steps will get you there.

Tom: Thanks, Emily. I really appreciate all the advice—you’ve given me a lot to think about!

Emily: Anytime, Tom. I’m rooting (10)_______________ you! Let me know how it goes—I’d love to hear about your progress.

 

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

 

1. off 

2. do

 

 

 

 

3. have 

4. other

 

 

 

 

 

5. are 

6. Although

 

 

 

 

7. what 

8. on

 

 

 

 

9. too 

10. for