Years after graduation, I tried to maintain the little bit of French I learned in school, but eventually I was __   that new languages are best learned when young and our ability to learn   __ with age.

However, before my 50th birthday, I signed up for French classes and was __ in the class for basic level. Contrary to my __ that learning a new language was tough, I was __ by the number of students learning French as a third, or even fourth language when I first   __ my class.

Still, I found it was really   __ that certain linguistic（语言学的）abilities decline with age.   __ I’d always regarded myself as a quick learner, that was no longer the   __.

I absorbed new vocabulary very ___. What I learned one week before seemed to   __ away   as soon as I learned the next skill. I __ the same   words and language structures in the dictionary again and again.

Despite the __, I make it and can listen to the news in French and catch 90 percent of it on the first __. I can catch up a conversation that doesn’t go too fast.

Who knows what I might still __? I’ve learned so much beyond grammar and vocabulary. I meet people from around the world and all walks of life（各行各业的）who have the __to make fools of themselves   to learn   something   new.   I’ve   been taught by inspirational teachers from many corners of the world. Listening to the news as it is __ to the people of France, I have a newer understanding of how something can look __ different from another perspective. I’ve learned a language is not just a set of   __, but a way of thinking. But above all, I’ve learned it is never too __ to learn something.

If you want to learn a new language，the very first thing to think about is why.Do you need it for a _______ reason，such as your job or your studies？ _______ perhaps you're interested in the _______，films or music of a different country and you know how much it will help to have a _________ of the language.

Most people learn best using a variety of _______，but traditional classes are an ideal start for many people.They _______ an environment where you can practice under the _________ of someone who's good at the language.We all lead   _______ lives and learning a language takes _______.You will have more success if you study regularly，so try to develop a _______.It doesn't matter if you haven't got long.Becoming fluent in a language will take years，but learning to get by takes   _______.

Many people start learning a language and soon give up.“ I'm too _______，”they say.Yes，children do learn languages more _______ than adults，but research has shown that you can learn a language at any _______.And learning is good for the health of your brain，too.I've also heard people _______   about the mistakes they make when __________.Well，relax and laugh about your mistakes _______ you're much less likely to make them again.

Learning a new language is never _______.But with some work and devotion，you'll make progress.And you'll be _______ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in _______ own language.Good luck!

One year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher told me about them again and again. But soon, the ________ of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

One day, I ________ to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the ________ seemed to be surprised.

Gently shaking his ________, and shrugging (耸) his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” I was ________. I thought perhaps this was not a proper ________. I had better change it. So I said to him, “Have you ever been to the Great Wall?” “Certainly, everyone back home will ________ me if I leave China without seeing it. It was amazing.” I continued, “The Great Wall is one of the ________ in the world. We are very proud of it.” But soon “You don’t say!” came to my ears again. I couldn’t ________ asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, ________ surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘You don’t say!’?” ________ this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to ________, “‘You don’t say!’ actually means ‘Really!’ It is a(n) ________ of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know I had made a ________ of myself. Since then I have been more ________ with idiomatic expressions.