NEXT UP! 1 40 Excuse me, do you speak English? Babies cannot speak. They have to communicate in other ways. They smile, cry or wave their hands. They lift their eyebrows or make eye contact. We call this body language. Later they learn to speak. The first language we learn, we call our mother tongue. More than 400 million people speak English as their mother tongue. 1.4 billion people speak English as their second language. English is a world language. It makes it possible for people around the world to understand each other. How do you use this global language? You learn English in school. You use English in your spare time as well. Many of the films and TV-shows you watch are in English. Many of the songs you listen to are in English. You also learn English when you play online games. When you get older, you might travel to other countries. Maybe you will study or work in an English-speaking country? Learning a new language can be challenging. But through English, you can communicate with people who do not speak your mother tongue. You can make friends all over the world! easy read Before reading Read the title. Think about the following: In what situations might you need to ask that question? to speak – að tala to communicate – hafa samskipti to cry – gráta to wave – vinka eyebrows – augabrúnir body language – líkamstjáning to learn – læra mother tongue – móðurmál second language – annað mál world language – heimstungu- mál possible – mögulegt to understand – skilja spare time – frítími to watch – horfa á an online game – netleikur might – gæti to travel – ferðast challenging – ögrandi through – hér: með hjálp frá
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