|
UNIT 1
Ways of Learning
Part I Pre-Reading Task
Listen to the recording two or three times and then think over the following questions:
1. Who should teach whom? Is learning a one-way street?
2. Should we share our dreams for a better life with our parents or keep them to ourselves?
3. Can children ever understand their parents completely?
4. From the song can you guess what the theme of the unit, way of learning, chiefly refers to?
Part II
Text A
Howard Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard University, reflects on a visit to China and gives his thoughts on different approaches to learning in China and the West.
LEARNING, CHINESE-STYLE
Howard Gardner
For a month in the spring of 1987, my wife Ellen and I lived in the bustling eastern Chinese city of Nanjing with our 18-month-old son Benjamin while studying arts education in Chinese kindergartens and elementary schools. But one of the most telling lessons Ellen and I got in the difference between Chinese and American ideas of education came not in the classroom but in the lobby of the Jinling Hotel where we stayed in Nanjing.
The key to our room was attached to a large plastic block with the room number on it. When leaving the hotel, a guest was encouraged to turn in the key, either by handing it to an attendant or by dropping it through a slot into a box. Because the key slot was narrow, the key had to be positioned carefully to fit into it.
Benjamin loved to carry the key around, shaking it vigorously. He also liked to try to place it into the slot. Because of his tender age and incomplete understanding of the need to position the key just so, he would usually fail. Benjamin was not bothered in the least. He probably got as much pleasure out of the sounds the key made as he did those few times when the key actually found its way into the slot.
Now both Ellen and I were perfectly happy to allow Benjamin to bang the key near the key slot. His exploratory behavior seemed harmless enough. But I soon observed an interesting phenomenon. Any Chinese staff member nearby would come over to watch Benjamin and, noting his lack of initial success, attempt to assist. He or she would hold onto Benjamin's hand and, gently but firmly, guide it directly toward the slot, reposition it as necessary, and help him to insert it. The "teacher" would then smile somewhat expectantly at Ellen or me, as if awaiting a thank you — and on occasion would frown slightly, as if considering us to be neglecting our parental duties.
I soon realized that this incident was directly relevant to our assigned tasks in China: to investigate the ways of early childhood education (especially in the arts), and to throw light on Chinese attitudes toward creativity. And so before long I began to introduce the key-slot anecdote into my discussions with Chinese educators.
TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO LEARN
With a few exceptions my Chinese colleagues displayed the same attitude as the staff at the Jinling Hotel. Since adults know how to place the key in the key slot, which is the ultimate purpose of approaching the slot, and since the child is neither old enough nor clever enough to realize the desired action on his own, what possible gain is achieved by having him struggle? He may well get frustrated and angry — certainly not a desirable outcome. Why not show him what to do? He will be happy, he will learn how to accomplish the task sooner, and then he can proceed to more complex activities, like opening the door or asking for the key— both of which accomplishments can (and should) in due course be modeled for him as well.
We listened to such explanations sympathetically and explained that, first of all, we did not much care whether Benjamin succeeded in inserting the key into the slot. He was having a good time and was exploring, two activities that did matter to us. But the critical point was that, in the process, we were trying to teach Benjamin that one can solve a problem effectively by oneself. Such self-reliance is a principal value of child rearing in middle-class America. So long as the child is shown exactly how to do something — whether it be placing a key in a key slot, drawing a hen or making up for a misdeed — he is less likely to figure out himself how to accomplish such a task. And, more generally, he is less likely to view life — as Americans do — as a series of situations in which one has to learn to think for oneself, to solve problems on one's own and even to discover new problems for which creative solutions are wanted.
TEACHING BY HOLDING HIS HAND
In retrospect, it became clear to me that this incident was indeed key — and key in more than one sense. It pointed to important differences in the educational and artistic practices in our two countries.
When our well-intentioned Chinese observers came to Benjamin's rescue, they did not simply push his hand down clumsily or uncertainly, as I might have done. Instead, they guided him with extreme facility and gentleness in precisely the desired direction. I came to realize that these Chinese were not just molding and shaping Benjamin's performance in any old manner: In the best Chinese tradition, they were ba zhe shoujiao — "teaching by holding his hand" — so much so that he would happily come back for more.
The idea that learning should take place by continual careful shaping and molding applies equally to the arts. Watching children at work in a classroom setting, we were astonished by their facility. Children as young as 5 or 6 were painting flowers, fish and animals with the skill and confidence of an adult; calligraphers 9 and 10 years old were producing works that could have been displayed in a museum. In a visit to the homes of two of the young artists, we learned from their parents that they worked on perfecting their craft for several hours a day.
CREATIVITY FIRST?
In terms of attitudes to creativity there seems to be a reversal of priorities: young Westerners making their boldest departures first and then gradually mastering the tradition; and young Chinese being almost inseparable from the tradition, but, over time, possibly evolving to a point equally original.
One way of summarizing the American position is to state that we value originality and independence more than the Chinese do. The contrast between our two cultures can also be seen in terms of the fears we both harbor. Chinese teachers are fearful that if skills are not acquired early, they may never be acquired; there is, on the other hand, no comparable hurry to promote creativity. American educators fear that unless creativity has been acquired early, it may never emerge; on the other hand, skills can be picked up later.
However, I do not want to overstate my case. There is enormous creativity to be found in Chinese scientific, technological and artistic innovations past and present. And there is a danger of exaggerating creative breakthroughs in the West. When any innovation is examined closely, its reliance on previous achievements is all too apparent (the "standing on the shoulders of giants" phenomenon ).
But assuming that the contrast I have developed is valid, and that the fostering of skills and creativity are both worthwhile goals, the important question becomes this: Can we gather, from the Chinese and American extremes, a superior way to approach education, perhaps striking a better balance between the poles of creativity and basic skills?
(1182 words)
New Words and Expressions
style
n. manner of doing things 行为方式，风格
bustling
a. full of busy activity 繁忙的，熙攘的
kindergarten
n. 幼儿园
elementary
a. 基本的，初级的，基础的
telling
a. impressive; effective 难忘的；有力的
lobby
n. （旅馆的）大堂，（公共场所入口处的）大厅
attach
vt. fasten or join (one thing to another) 系，贴，连接
attendant▲
n. 服务员；侍者，随从
slot▲
n. a narrow opening 狭缝，狭槽
vigorously
ad. energetically 用力地；精力充沛地
vigorous a.
tender
a. young; gentle and loving 年幼的；温柔的
not in the least
not at all
find one's way
reach a destination naturally; arrive at 到达；进入，流入
bang
v. (cause to) make a sudden loud noise, esp. by hitting two things together 猛敲，猛击
exploratory
a. done in order to find out sth. 探索的
phenomenon (pl phenomena or phenomenons)
n. 现象
staff
n. 全体职工，全体雇员
initial
a. of or at the beginning, first 开始的，最初的
assist
v. help 帮助
reposition
vt. 改变…的位置
insert
vt. put, fit, place (in, into, between) 插入，嵌入
somewhat
ad. to some degree, a little 有点，稍微
expectantly
ad. 期待地
await
vt. (fml) wait for 等待，等候
occasion
n. a particular time when sth. happens 时刻，场合
on occasion
now and then 有时，间或
frown
v., n. 皱眉
slightly
ad. 轻微地
slight a.
neglect
vt. give too little attention or care to 忽视
parental
a. of a parent or parents 父的，母的；父母的
relevant
a. directly connected with the subject 有关的，切题的
investigate
v. try to find out information about 调查；探究
creativity
n. the ability to make new things 创造力
anecdote▲
n. a short amusing story about a particular person or event 趣闻，轶事
exception
n. 例外
colleague
n. a person one works with 同事
action
n. 动作；行动
on one's own
without anyone's help; alone 独立地；独自地
desirable
a. worth wanting 值得向往的；称心的
accomplish
vt. manage to do (sth.) 完成（某事）
activity
n. 活动，行动
accomplishment
n. skill; successful completion 本领，技艺；完成，成就
in due course
at the proper time 在适当时机
sympathetically
ad. 同情地
sympathetic a.
critical
a. very important; very serious or dangerous 至关重要的；危急的
effectively
ad. 有效地
effective a.
self-reliance
n. acting without asking for support from others 依靠自己，自力更生
principal
a. (rather fml) main, chief 主要的，首要的
rear
vt. look after until fully grown up 养育，抚养
make up for
repay with sth. good, compensate for 补偿，弥补
misdeed
n. a wrong or wicked act 不端行为
view
vt. (fml) regard, consider 看待，考虑
creative
a. resulting from newness of thought 独创的
solution
n. (the act of finding) an answer to a problem 解决（问题的办法）；解答
in retrospect
回顾
artistic
a. relating to art 艺术的
well-intentioned
a. having good intentions 好意的
intention
n. purpose 意图
observer
n. 观察者，观察员
clumsily
ad. awkwardly and ungracefully 笨拙地
clumsy a.
extreme
a. very great 极度的，极端的
n. the furthest possible limit, an extreme degree 极端，过分
facility
n. (fml) ability to do sth. easily and well; (pl) equipment, aids, etc. which make it easy to do things 熟练，灵巧；设备，设施
mold
vt. make (sth.) into a particular shape or form 塑造
performance
n. 表现，行为；演出，表演
tradition
n. 传统
continual
a. happening again and again, repeated 不断的，一再重复的
apply
vi. 适用；申请
calligrapher
n. 书法家
work no/at
从事
craft
n. skill, esp. with one's hand 手艺；工艺
reversal
n. a complete change of order, direction, or position 颠倒
priority
n. sth. that one must do before anything else; sth. that holds a high place among competing claims 优先考虑的事；重点
bold
a. brave and confident 勇敢的，无畏的
departure
n. action different from (what is usual or expected); an act of leaving 背离；出发，离开
inseparable
a. impossible to separate from sth. else 不可分离的
evolve
v. (cause to) develop gradually （使）逐步发展
summarize
vt. make a short account of the main points (of sth.) 总结，概述
originality
n. 新颖；独创性
independence
n. the state of being free or not controlled by another person, country, etc. 独立；自主
contrast
v. 对比
culture
n. 文化
harbor
vt. keep (sth.) secretly in one's mind 怀有
fearful
a. (fml) afraid 害怕的，担心的
(on the one hand) … on the other hand
一方面…，另一方面…
comparable
a. that can be compared with sth. 比得上的；可比的
promote
vt. help to grow or develop 促进，推进
emerge
vi. come out 出现
pick up
gain; learn 获得；学会
overstate
vt. state too strongly 把…讲得过分，夸大
enormous
a. extremely large 巨大的；极大的
technological
a. 技术的，工艺的
innovation▲
n. (an example of) the introduction of sth. new 革新；新事物
exaggerate
v. make (sth.)seem larger, better, etc. than it really is 夸大，夸张
breakthrough▲
n. an important event or discovery 突破
reliance▲
n. dependence 依靠，依赖
achievement
n. 成就；成绩
valid
a. based on truth or sound reasoning 有根据的
foster▲
vt. help the growth and development of 培养
worthwhile
a. worth doing, worth the trouble taken 值得的
superior
a. better than average or than others of the same type 优良的；较好的
Proper Names
Howard Gardner
霍华德·加德纳
Ellen
埃伦（女子名）
Nanjing
南京
Jinling
金陵饭店
Language Sense Enhancement
1. Read aloud paragraphs 12-14 and learn them by heart.
2. Read aloud the following poem:
Working Class
Tanya Dlinn
What a mess said Miss Mawgan
One cold and rainy day
So I said we'd work together
As we can't go out to play
So I tidied up the book shelf
While Jack sorted out the pens
Charmain's drawer was very messy
But not as had as Ben's
Shaun tidied up the cardboard
Sophie sorted out the paper
Mr Goodhall put our pictures up
Using his big stapler
And when we all had finished
And the class looked very clean
We all were given merits
For working as a team
3. Read the following quotations. Learn them by heart if you can. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.
What one knows is, in youth, of little moment; they know enough who know how to learn.
—— Henry Adams
Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you; you must acquire it.
—— Sudie Back
The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
—— Eden Phillpotts
The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.
—— Anatole France
4. Read the following humorous story for fun. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.
While visiting my brother and sister-in-law, I was surprised to find Lee, my young nephew, helping them bake cupcakes. After they were done, my sister-in-law allowed him to put the icing on. When he had finished, he brought them to the table for our approval. "The cupcakes look beautiful, Lee," my brother said. "How did you get them iced so evenly?" My nephew replied, "I licked them!"
|