【英语趣味课堂】测试学生-Testing Students

Peter: So we're both teaching¹ at university and I was curious, Jana, what do you think about giving students homework?

Jana: Ah, that's a tricky² one isn't it? Students usually don't like homework.

 

Peter: Yeah. Did you used to like homework as a student?

 

Jana: I can't remember but these days I kind of like homework as a student because it motivates me to study. I'm terrible at studying on my own so having homework helps me, makes me do something.

 

Peter: Right. No, I think I agree with you. I think homework is important in the sense that it prepares you for the next class or prepares you for the topic or the classes that are running so it also helps to, it prepares you, I think, and it actually can confirm stuff³ for you if you go over it again. So we call it homework but I think it's really just maybe preparation or...

 

Jana: Preparation or review or continuation of the class, isn't it?

 

Peter: Yeah. So maybe we agree that homework's important.

 

Jana: What about tests? Do you like tests?

 

Peter: Hmm, that's a big good question. I don't like tests as a learner and I don't like giving tests so much as a teacher but I think in some ways tests have some advantages that you can't get that informaton any other way. I'm not sure.

 

Jana: So why do we test? Is it to, why do we test, is it again to motivate students to study hard or to check their progress?

 

Peter: Yeah, I think we test because obviously⁴ there's a, we teach at an institution at university and they want grades for students so that students can say that they've passed or failed the course so I guess tests set, you know, sets some kind of standard there to make sure that everybody has more or less the same standard but in terms of actually learning⁵ stuff, does a test really make sure that you learn stuff? Do you think?

 

Jana: Don't know. When I was a student, I personally really hated big tests at the end of the semester⁶.

 

Peter: Me too.

 

Jana: And especially speaking tests. We had a lot of oral exams and I found that extremely stressful. I would have preferred to have more smaller tests throughout the semester but I think it really depends on the learner's style, right?

 

Peter: Mmm.

 

Jana: Different people like different things so.

 

Peter: Yeah, I think it's kind of hard because I think most schools and across the world, you know, they run on tests like we've been taught. I don't know about you but I have had tests since I was in elementary school and when you get to university, you just assume⁷ that you will have tests anyway, don't you think?

 

Jana: That's right so maybe students would complain if we don't have any tests.

 

Peter: Mmm, I've had students that really said that they learnt, that's the only way they really study if they're forced to study for a test because you put that kind of limit for them there but I'm not sure that it's a really good way to remember stuff because a lot of students just cram⁸ a lot of information in their heads before...

 

Jana: Right.

 

Peter: ...the test night and then they forget it after the test.

 

Jana: It's a tricky one.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

motivate

 

I like homework because it motivates me to study.

 

When you 'motivate' someone to do something, you give them a reason or incentive⁹ to do it. Notice the following:

 

The desire to move out of his parents' house will motivate him to save money.

My teacher tries to motivate us to speak by giving us real life situations.

pass or fail

 

 

Students can say that they've passed or failed the course.

 

Passing something means you successfully completed it.  In many places, a passing grade is above 60%. When you fail at something, the score you get does not show that you understand the material.  This is usually a score below 60%. Notice the following:

 

Once you pass this level on the game, you get to go to a bonus level.

He has never failed an exam before.

standard

 

 

The tests set a standard.

 

In this case, 'standard' refers to a set of guidelines¹⁰ or a basis for comparison¹¹. Notice the following:

 

The standards at this company are low, but the work they do is cheap.

We have very high standards, but we do want all of our students to achieve success.

extremely

 

 

I found that extremely stressful.

 

If something is 'extremely' stressful, it is very very stressful. Notice the following:

 

You will easily see him because he is extremely tall.

This is extremely warm weather for this time of year.

cram

 

 

A lot of students just cram a lot of information into their heads.

 

Generally, 'cram' means to force a lot of something into a small space. Notice the following:

 

Everything will fit in that closet, but you might have to cram it in a little bit.

All his office supplies are just crammed¹² in his desk.  There is no order to anything.

 

1 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

2 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

3 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。

4 obviously   

adv.显然；明白地

参考例句：

• Obviously they were putting him to a severe test.显然他们是在给他以严峻的考验。
• Obviously he was lying.显然他是在撒谎。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

6 semester   

n.一学期，半学年，六个月的时间

参考例句：

• A student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester.每个学生一学期可能要修四五门课程。
• I had an especially rough time during my first semester.我第一个学期的日子难受极了。

7 assume   

vt.假装；假定，设想；承担；呈现，采取

参考例句：

• I assume that he won't cheat you.想来他是不会骗你的。
• We can't assume anything in this case.在这种情况下我们不可能做出假设。

8 cram   

v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习

参考例句：

• There was such a cram in the church.教堂里拥挤得要命。
• The room's full,we can't cram any more people in.屋里满满的，再也挤不进去人了。

9 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

10 guidelines   

n.指导方针，准则

参考例句：

• The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill. 政府制订了对待精神病人的指导方针。
• Planners seem a little uncomfortable with the current government guidelines. 规划师似乎不太接受现行的政府指道方针。

11 comparison   

n.比较，对照；比拟，比喻

参考例句：

• They make a comparison of New York to a beehive.他们把纽约比作一个蜂巢。
• This dress is really cheaper by comparison.比较起来，这件衣服确实便宜。

12 crammed   

adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式)

参考例句：

• He crammed eight people into his car. 他往他的车里硬塞进八个人。
• All the shelves were crammed with books. 所有的架子上都堆满了书。