Learning a Foreign Language: Phrasal Verbs

Read the following sentences and circle the phrasal verbs:

Some people pick up new vocabulary very quickly.

If someone speaks very fast, its difficult to make out individual words.

My partner goes on and on and never gives me a chance to speak.

If the teachers talks for too long I drift off.

I need to brush up on my English before I go to London.

I always note down new words so I can look at them later.

If the other students in the class arent very enthusiastic it can rub off on you.

You need to hand in your topic form before the Trinity exam.

Sometimes I need to look up words in the dictionary.

I studied a lot of grammar in school. Now I need to focus on my speaking.

I didnt turn up to class last week because I was ill.

If everyone in the class is better than you it can put you off.

Learning a Foreign Language: Phrasal Verbs

Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings:
Phrasal Verb
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

brush up on
hand in
pick up
note down
look up
rub off on
drift off
focus on
turn up
put off
go on
make out

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Meaning
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.

learn
understand/ distinguish
give something to the teacher
write / make a record
search for in a book
discourage
arrive
get distracted / lose concentration
influence
speak for a long time
revise or practice
concentrate on

Complete the opinions:

I love learning English. I _______ to class 10 minutes early so I can
get a seat at the front and I always _______my homework on time. My
best friend loves English too and I think her enthusiasm ______ on me.
She speaks much better than me but it doesnt put me off. I usually
_________ new words quickly but I have to________ the difficult
ones and look them up in a dictionary after class. Sometimes I find it

difficult to _________ what native speakers are saying so now I

suppose I need to _________ on my listening.

I dont know why I _______to my English class. I could ________ more
studying online. Its hard to make _______ what the teachers saying
because he speaks so fast. He goes on and on about grammar and I always
_______. Its easier to ________ more communicative activities because
theyre useful for real life. All the written exercises ____ me ____. I
should _________on the first conditional for the exam next week but Id
rather watch paint dry.
Discuss the following questions with your partner:
1.

Whats the best way to pick up new vocabulary?

2. When you watch English films do you find it difficult to make out what people are
saying?
3. Do you ever drift off in class? When?
4. What skills do you need to focus on? How will you do it?
5. What can put you off when youre learning a new language?
6. How often do you look up new words in the dictionary?
7. Have you handed in your Trinity topic yet?
8. Are your classmates enthusiastic? Have their attitudes rubbed off on you?

Key
brush up on = practice
pick up= learn
make out= understand/ distinguish
focus on= concentrate on
drift off = get distracted / lose concentration
hand in= give something to the teacher
note down= write / make a record
look up =search for in a book
rub off on= influence
go on = speak for a long time
put off= discourage
turn up = arrive

I love learning English. I turn up to class 10 minutes early so I can get a seat at the front and I always
hand in my homework on time. My best friend loves English too and I think her enthusiasm rubs off
on me. She speaks much better than me but it doesnt put me off. I usually pick up new words
quickly but I have to note down the difficult ones and look them up in a dictionary after class.
Sometimes I find it difficult to make out what native speakers are saying so now I need to focus on
my listening.
I dont know why I turn up to my English class. I could pick up more studying online. Its hard to
make out what the teachers saying because he speaks so quickly. He goes on and on about
grammar and I always drift off. Its easier to focus on more communicative activities because theyre
useful for real life. All the written exercises put me off. I should brush up on the first conditional for
the exam next week but Id rather watch paint dry.