The Last Unit

Unit 10

Educational Attitudes

Fires to Be Kindled

Why I Came to College

Educational Attitudes

Warm-up questions

Language study

Summary

Spotlight in grammar

Part A

1.In terms of educational attitudes, what do you think is the difference between the U.S. and China?

2. Are professors always the authority?

3. What and how are students expected to learn?

Manner of feeling and behaving; judgement, opinio

n

Student life at America universities is chaotic during the first week of each quarter or semester. Registering for classes, becoming familiar with the buildings on campus, buying books, adding and dropping classes, and paying fees are confusing for everyone. International students, accustomed to

their countries’ educational expectations,must adapt to new classroom norms in a foreign college or university. In some

Rules, disciplin

es

classrooms around the world, students must obey their teacher’s commands and remain silent during the class period. In others, students may talk, eat, and smokeduring lectures as well as criticize a teacher’s methods or contradict his or her state-ments. It is not always easy to understanda new educational system.

There is considerable variety in university classrooms in the United States. Because of

Diversity in Education

Which word is omitted after “in others”?

diverse teaching methods and non-standar-dized curricula, no two courses are identical.Nevertheless, there are shared features in American college and university classroomsdespite the diversity of educational institu-tions of higher learning.Active Participation

Participation in the classroom is not only accepted but also expected of the student in many courses. Some professors base part of the final grade on the student’s oral

participation. Although there are formal lectures during which the student has a passive role ( ie., listening and taking notes ), many courses are organized around classroom discussions, student questions, and informal lectures.

A professor’s teaching style is another factor that determines the degree and type of student participation. Some professors prefer to control discussion while others prefer to guide the class

What are the two different

teaching styles mentioned here?

1.Dominating

2.Simply guiding

without dominating it. Many professors encourage students to question and challenge their ideas.

In the teaching of science and mathe-matics, the dominant mode of instructionis generally traditional, with teachers presenting formal lectures and students taking notes. However, new educational trends have emerged in the humanities and social sciences in the past two decades. Students in education, sociology,

Absolute construction

独立结构

and psychology classes, for example, are often required to solve problems in groups, design projects, make presentations, and examine case studies. Since some college or university courses are “applied” rather than theoretical, they stress “doing”. The Teacher-Student Relationship

Many instructors believe that an informal, relaxed classroom environment is helpful to learning and innovation. It is not un-common for students to have friendly

relationships with their professors. The casual professor is not necessarily a poor one and is still respected by students. However, no matter how casual professorswould like to be, they still are in a position of authority. Professors may establish social relation-ships with students outside of the class-room but in the classroom they maintain the instructor’s role. A professor may havecoffee one day with students but the next

day expect them to meet a deadline for the submission of a paper or to be prepared for a discussion or an exam. The professor may give extra attention outside of a class to a student in need of help but probably will not treat him or her differently when it comes to evaluating school work. Professors have several roles in relation to students; they may be counselors and friends as well as teachers. Students must realize that when a teacher’s role changes, they must

顾问

appropriately adapt their behavior and attitudes. Independent Learning Many teachers believe that the

responsibility for learning lies with the student. If a long reading assignment is given, instructors expect students to be familiar with the information in the reading even if they do not discuss it in class or give an examination. The ideal student is considered to be one who is motivated to

learn for the sake of learning, not the one interested only in getting high grades. Sometimes homework is returned with brief written comments but without a grade. Even if a grade is not given, the student is responsible for learning the material assigned. When research is assigned, the professor expects the student to take the initiate and to complete the assignment with minimal guidance. It is the student’s

评语

Read the underlined

sentences and judge what are

students expected to do?

responsibility to find books, periodicals, and articles in the library. Professors expect students, particularly graduate students, to be able to exhaust the reference sources in the library. Professors will help students who need it, but prefer that their students not be overly dependent on them. (This differs from teacher-student relationships in other countries.) If a student has problems with classroom

work, the student should either approach a professor during office hours or make an appointment.

The university classroom in the United States manifests cultural values through professors’ and students’ expectations and attitudes. Educational practices such as student participation indicate a respect for individual responsibility and independence. Alternative teaching methods show a cultural preference for innovation. The

The other teaching methods

manner in which education is provided in any country reflects basic cultural and social beliefs of that country.

Reading the whole text , try to find out

what values are reflected by the U.S. university classrooms?

They are :Individual

responsibility;Independence;

innovation

chaotic adj. in a state of chaos; completely disorganized

After a series air raid, the traffic in thecapital was chaotic.

chaos: n. a state of complete disorder and confusion

The desk was a chaos of papers and unopened letters.

compare: quarter/ semester/ term

A school year consists of four quartersand they are Fall, Winter, Spring andSummer quarters. Ten weeks ofinstruction and final exams constituteeach quarter.

There are two semesters in one school year. The first semester and the second.

“Term” is general.

What’s called “adding and dropping classes”Students ask for their preferred schedules before the term begins. But sometimes they are not able to get exactly what they want, so they have to rearrange their schedules.Sometimes they change their minds after going to the first class. Sometimes requirements are changed, or new courses are offered. Then students must add or drop classes. This must be done during the first week before too much time has passed.

What information can you get from this first paragraph?

It describes student life at American universities during the first week.

accustomed : adj. usual and habitual to; make used to

(be accustomed to 习惯于，适应于 )

(antonym: unaccustomed )

accustom : v. addict, familiarize

accustom oneself to 使自己习惯于

I am accustomed to humble fare.

What’s the main idea of paragraph 2?

Foreign students’ adaptation to new classroom norms: obedient / free to anything

considerable / considerate/ consider/ consideration/ considered/ considering

considerable: fairly large, much more 相当数量的，或程度的

considerate : thoughtful of the rights or feelings of others. 为别人着想的consider : v. think about, take into account 考虑，熟思

considered: sth that has been considered; sb that is respected 经过考虑的，被尊重的considering : prep. Conj. in view of 就……而论

consideration : n. of consider . 考虑， 要考虑的事情

1. a writer of _________ influence. 2. He is really a ________ husband.

3. Her success is not surprising if you________ her excellent training.

4. We will give your proposal ________ .

5. a very highly ________ general

6. ________ his age, the little boy reads very well.

considerable

considerate

consider

consideration

considered

Considering

In this sentence, which word can take place of “shared”?Same or common

How to paraphrase?However, there are common characteristics in American college and university class-rooms though various colleges and universities exist.

What’s the main idea of this paragraph?

It represents diverse teaching methodsand shared features in American classrooms.

participate: v. to take part in ,attend ； share

e.g. I longed to have the opportunity of participating in the game.

participate in profits 分享利润

participate sb.'s sufferings 分担某人的痛苦 ; 与某人共患难

participatory : 提供参加机会的， 供人分享的

participation : n. of participate 参加 , 分享

participant/participator : 参加者

participancy : participance 参加，参与

participative : adj. 多人参加的， （股票持有人）共享利益的

“Although there are formal …… and informal lectures.”

passive role: cannot express themselves actively.

“are organized around” indicates lots of other teaching methods are offered.

Then, how to paraphrase this sentence?

Despite the fact that well-organized lectures are held at which students cannot express themselves actively ( they can only listen and take notes) , in many classes students are offered opportunities to discuss and ask questions and informal lectures are given.

dominate(1)to control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power: 支配，控制、统治：

A great man can dominate others by force of character.

(2) to overlook from a height: 俯视 The whole valley is dominated by this mountain.

dominant adj. 支配的， 占统治地位的

emerge

Sea mammals must emerge periodically to breathe.

(1) 浮现从或好象是从潜水下面升起：

(2) 从阴暗处显露：new leaders who may emerge.

(3) 显露变得明显：The truth emerged at the inquest. The sun emerged from behind the clouds.

(4) 自困境中摆脱He emerged from the accident unharmed.

Relative phrase: emerge from 在……中出现 emerge into 出现于……

同音词 immerge : put deep into a liquid be absorbed in

Since some college or university courses are “applied” rather than theoretical, they stress “doing”.

“applied” practical, concerned with application

From this sentence, what problems are students going to solve? Practical? Or theoretical?

As for the active participation, what aspects are discussed in the above three paragraphs?(4--6)

students’ oral participation; teachers’ guiding class; students’ applied/ practical ability

casual:(1)偶然的 , 碰巧的 a casual meeting 偶然的聚会

(2) 临时的 , 即席的 , 不定期的 casual expenses 临时费用casual remarks 即席发言

(3) 随便的 , 非正式的 dressed in casual clothes 穿着便服

(4) 轻易的 ; 草率的 a casual decisions 草率的决定

(5) 不小心的 , 疏忽的 , 漫不经心的 , a casual inspection. 漫不经心的调查 a casual air 满不在乎的态度a casual attitude 不负责任的态度

What does “casual” mean here?

“casual” in this sentence refers to the informalinformal professors.

Does “a poor one “ really mean a professor who is not rich?

No. It means unqualified teacher.

Find out the topic sentence in thisparagraph and tell the main idea.

The first sentence.

Helpfulness of an informal relaxed classroom environment to learning and innovation.

maintain : (1)To keep up or carry on; continue: 维持或保持；maintain good relations. 维持良好的关

系maintain one's composure. 保持冷静(2) To keep in a condition of good repair 保养使…在良好的修缮和效率状态中：

The car has always been properly maintained.

(3) To provide for; support: 扶养；赡养；maintain a family. 供养家庭

(4) To defend or hold against criticism 主张；为…辩护

maintain that the theory is wrong

phrases: maintain oneself 自立 maintain...onto... 把 ... 固定在 ... 上

How to understand the underlined sentence?

Although students may be treated as friends, they should still hand in their papers or prepare for a discussion or an exam if that’s required the following day.

evaluate:

(1)To ascertain or fix the value or worth of. Sth. 评价，估价

The research project has only been under way for three months, so it's too early to evaluate its success.

(2) To calculate the numerical value of; express numerically. 计算…的值；以数目表示

相关用法：evaluation criterion 评价准则

evaluation report 鉴定报告

evaluated error 评定误差

evaluation group 评审小组 evaluation function 评价函数

After learning this paragraph, what can be defined asa professor’s role?

They are students’ counselors, friends, as well as instructors.

“lie “ phrases: lie aboutlie back

lie by

lie down

lie in

lie off

到处乱扔 ; 无所事事向后靠休息 , 中断活动

躺下 停止战斗在于暂时停止工作

lie on [upon]

lie under

lie up

lie with

Paraphrase:

取决于 随 ... 而定

蒙受 ; 遭受 (压迫 , 怀疑等 )

休养 , 退隐

属于 ..... 的职权

It’s up to the students to be responsible for their learning.

assign v. to appoint to a job or duty; to name

She assigned him to wash the plates.Experts are unable to assign a cause for her illness.

assignment n. job given to sbThe policeman’s assignment is to discover the murderer.

motivate: to impel or move to action 激发，促动

Examinations do not motivate a student to seek more

knowledge.

He is entirely motivated by his owndesire for power

His love for money motivated him to work hard.

for the sake of

(1)为了…好处；为…着想 for sb’s sakeYour sister is trying to read; please be quiet for her sake. 你妹妹正在努力读书，请让她安静。

(2) 为了…的缘故

Never do wrong for the sake of money. 绝不要为金钱而做坏事。

(3) （用来加强语气，表示迫切的请求或不耐烦）

for God's sake 看在上帝的份上for Christ's sake 看在基督面上，

for goodness pity‘s sake 请发发慈悲吧

They are expected to :

take the initiative ; complete the assignment;find books, periodicals, articles;exhaust the reference sources

Which word or phrase can substitute “exhaust” in the sentence?

to drain/ to use up 穷尽，用完

How to explain the meaning of “approach”?

It means to go to a professor with questions and requests.

at the approach of 在 ...快到的时候

be approaching (to) 与 ... 大致相等

be difficult of approach(指地方 ) 难到达的 ; (指人 ) 难于接近的

make approaches to sb. 设法接近某人 , 想博得某人的好感

Paraphrase this sentence?

In the U.S., what professors and students expect and feel is reflected in the university classroom as an expression of cultural values.

What’s the main idea of this part?(Para. 9---Para.12)

It illustrates students’ responsibility for learning. And, in the end, the author concludes that educational attitudes are reflections of cultural and social beliefs.

American classrooms, despite the diversity of educational institutions, have certain shared features. Active participation is expected of the students in many classes. The ideal student is one who is motivatedto learn for the sake of learning, not theone only interested in getting high grades.The classroom activities manifest Cultural values through teachers’ and students’ attitudes and expectations.

Summary:

Grammar Absolute construction

在分词作状语时，其逻辑主语一般应与句子的主语一致。如果不一致的话，分词前面可以带有自己的逻辑主语，这样就构成了分词的独立结构。按结构可以将独立结构分为：不定式“独立结构”； -ing 分词“独立结构”；-ed 分词“独立结构”； 无动词“独立结构”。可表示伴随情况、陪衬动作、附加说明以及表示时间、原因、条件等。

【例如】The moon has no light of its own, only sunlight shining on it.(附加说明 )

She rushed out the room, the little baby carried in her arms.

(伴随动作 )

They being blind men, how could theysee the elephants?

( 表示原因 )

Both bright side and dark side considered, you will have the confidence to overcome this difficulty.

( 表示条件 )

there be句型和 it也能引出分词独立结构，作状语修饰主句， there 和 it 相当于分词的逻辑主语。

There being nothing else to do, we went home.

It being a good day, we go out for a picnic.

The End