|
考点规范练25(必修5 Module 1) .阅读理解 Dear Sirs, I am planning to attend a language course in order to improve my English. I would like to know whether to learn British or American English. Which is better? Must I have a British teacher if I wish to learn British English? Yours truly, Manuel Gonzales Paris The editor’s reply: English is a global language with many varieties.American and British English are the two main varieties. Each has many accents:the English of a Bostonian,for example,sounds very different from that of a Texan. The major differences between American and British English are essentially differences of accent,inflection(词尾变化),spelling and,above all,vocabulary.Variations in tense usage exist but are not a big problem for learners of English.Some people claim that British English is superior to American English but really it is a matter of one’s own preference and needs as to which variety is learnt.So,“useful” is probably a more appropriate word than “better”. If you need to use English only with British people(for example,if you are going to live in the United Kingdom),then it will probably be a good idea to have at least one British teacher on your program. However,in a lot of cases,learners of English as a foreign language need to use it to communicate with native speakers from all over the world.Many will need to speak English with other non-native speakers(for example,a Swede with an Italian).In such cases,it doesn’t matter whether your teacher is American or British. | 
