Endangered Languages | Elementary ESL Reading Worksheet PDF

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There are about 7,000 languages in the world today. Sadly, many of them are in danger. Experts say that one language dies every two weeks. When the last speaker dies, the language is gone forever.

A language is 絶滅危惧種 when only a few people speak it. Some languages have just ten or twenty speakers left. Most of these speakers are old people. Young people often learn bigger languages like English or Chinese instead. They want better jobs and more friends.

When a language dies, we lose more than just words. We also lose stories, songs, and old knowledge. Many small languages have special words for plants, animals, and weather. This information is very important and hard to find in other languages.

Some people work hard to 保存 these languages. They make books, videos, and apps. Teachers go to small villages and talk with old people. They record their voices and write down their words. Children can then learn the language at school.

You can help too. Be kind to people who speak different languages. Learn a few words from a small language. Every language is special and beautiful. Together, we can keep these voices alive for the future. Small actions today can protect old languages for many years. We must all care about this big problem before it is too late.

1. languages ____
2. endangered ____
3. speakers ____
4. knowledge ____
5. save ____
6. special ____
7. record ____
8. village ____
9. voices ____
10. protect ____

• a. different and important in a good way
• b. keep something safe from harm
• c. keep something safe from being lost
• d. save sounds or pictures to listen or watch later
• e. people who use a language to talk
• f. sounds people make when they speak or sing
• g. systems of words people use to talk and write
• h. very small town in the countryside
• i. in danger of disappearing soon
• j. information and facts people know