大学英语如何提高范文

时间:2024-03-13 17:16:46

大学英语如何提高

大学英语如何提高篇1

关键词:兴趣;互动性;教学方法;英语交际能力;课堂活动

中图分类号:G642.4 文献标志码:A 文章编号:1674-9324(2013)30-0047-02

一、大学英语教学与学习现状

随着我国加入WTO以及经济与世界的接轨,英语作为一门世界性语言,越来越发挥着更加重要的作用。英语被广泛应用于社会的各个领域、各个专业,在中国,学习英语的人也越来越多。作为学生,英语更是必须学习的一门课程,因此,把英语学好是至关重要的。作为大学生,要面临以后找工作的压力以及自身英语能力的要求,提高英语能力更加刻不容缓。但是,很多高校英语教学面临着这样一个问题:学生不重视英语,课堂老师仍然全堂灌输,学生反应不积极,对英语学校没有任何兴趣。根据教育部所颁发的《大学英语教学大纲》(修订版),大学英语教学对学生的要求是:要从培养使用英语获取信息的能力提高到了使用英语交流信息的能力上。这就要求改变教师为中心组织教学,学生始终处于一种被动接受的状态。要改变传统的教学模式,形成新的以学生为主的教学模式。因此,切实提高学生的英语交流能力就变得越来越重要。大学英语教学中,由于班容量大,授课多采用教师讲授、学生笔记的方式,这样就导致学生在课堂上只是被动地听,而并不主动参与老师课堂上的讲解。因此,如何有效提高学生上课的积极性,对英语学习产生兴趣,是目前广大英语教师所关注的热点话题。

二、通过多种教学方式和手段提高学生兴趣

从心理学的理论上来讲,英语教学就是要注重教师在教学中的主导地位,运用各种方法,有意识有目的地激发学生学习英语的兴趣,促进其学习英语的动机,发挥其学习主动性,变被动学习为主动学习,切实提高课堂效果,让学生主动参与课堂,增强学习英语的自信心,才能真正提高其学习英语的兴趣。

1.通过英语文化导入方法引起学生学习兴趣。长期以来,在英语教学中,对于英语文化背景的学习一直都未被重视,英语只是单纯的语言教学。在教学实践中,对学生进行最多的就是听说读写的训练,而实际上由于不了解语言的文化背景,不了解中西文化的差异,在与英美人交往时,经常会引起对方的误会,发生不必要的误解。对大学英语教师来讲,一方面,需要不断加强自身的知识素养,这里的知识素养,不仅指英语的听说读写译等综合能力,也要对英语文化、英语文学等等知识全面熟悉;另一方面,也要教会学生掌握英语这门工具的方法,提高跨文化交际能力。

2.电影在教学中的使用。在英语课堂上,教师要从英语的文化和背景下手,让学生不仅去学习英语,更要对英语所包含的历史、文化等因素进行了解。通过对英语国家的历史文化进行讲解,引起学生的兴趣去听、去思考。在这个方面的具体操作,根据笔者的教学发现,通过多媒体方式的使用,将原版电影适当引入课堂,加以利用,可以成为提高学生学习兴趣、提升学习效率的有效方式。英语原版电影,既有生活化的英语又有书面化的正式的英语表达,通过看电影学习英语,可以使学生们快速记忆英语各种表达方式和一些俚语,并能掌握很枯燥的一些句型以及语法点。英语原版电影教学寓教于乐,学生乐于接受也容易接受,英语单词和句型会在不知不觉中印入学生的脑海。比如在电影《花木兰》中,就能找出诸如strike a match,make a fool out of me,get the drift,the fate of family lies in your pows,sign in,heed my word等等多种表达,再加上好多词汇和经典句型,学生在看电影的时候,既可以放松自己,又可以快速记住这些词汇,而且还可以提高他们学习英语的兴趣,可谓一举多得。

3.任务型教学法提高学生兴趣。“任务型教学(task-based learning,简称TBL)是指以完成交际任务为教学目标的外语教学法,是把语言应用的基本理念转化为具有实践意义的课堂教学模式。”任务型教学要求在英语课堂教学上,要充分发挥大学英语教师的主导性地位以及学生作为个体的参与的紧密结合,既要老师与学生之间有效的交流与合作,又要把教学过程看做是教师与学生相互影响相互学习的动态过程。教师在课前要充分发挥其作用,充分准备一节英语课,要充分准备详尽的、能引起学生兴趣的课堂活动,比如学生感兴趣的励志美文背诵、相互交流学习经历等,以此来提高学生参与课堂的主动性,并提高其学习兴趣。

若能合理利用大学英语课堂活动,那将能为学生提供有效的互动以及交流机会,使大学课堂成为学生学习英语并且交流沟通的最佳场所。在互动的教学过程中,学生通过读、听、模仿、口语练习,逐渐形成语言习惯,而教师则是学生交流和沟通的主导中心,使所有学生积极参与,充分发挥其主动性。具体操作上,可在课堂导入上,把学生分成几个小组,可以安排学生做role play或者利用多媒体对英美文化的某一方面,比如西方婚姻与中国的不同、西方艺术、流行文化、西方礼仪等,做一个presentation,要求学生利用文字、图片、视频、音乐等等方式,把自己组的teamwork完成好。在这个任务的完成过程中,既发挥了学生的主动性,又促进了每组成员间的合作互助,不仅练习了英语,也了解了文化,还能提高英语的学习兴趣。在教学过程中,笔者根据课文的题材和体裁设计出丰富多彩的任务,常见的课堂活动有:(1)复述课文。讲完课文后,提问课文的topic,使学生加深印象,并且把课文重要的单词、短语、句子结构以及课文关键词语写在课件上,把学生分成几个小组,要求他们分别复述课文,进行比赛。(2)课文理解。讲完课文,关于课文主要意义理解的问题可显示在屏幕上,要求大家用快速问答的方式,回答出对于课文的理解,这一步骤主要加深对课文的理解。(3)角色扮演。根据具体课文,可以选取有意思的故事,把学生分成小组进行角色扮演,要求学生做成role-play的形式,这种课堂活动一般要求学生事先准备。

学生的学习兴趣是提高英语教学效率的关键。要创建一个和谐友好的师生关系、自在轻松的学习氛围,充分结合多媒体技术以及计算机技术,充分发挥教师的主导作用,建立生动活泼的英语课堂;促进学生学习英语的主观能动性,提高学生的英语学习兴趣,从而有效地提高学生的英语学习水平。

三、结语

爱因斯坦说过:“兴趣是最好的老师。”针对大学生学习英语的现状,一定要培养其学习英语的兴趣,充分认识英语作为交流工具的重要性,同时教师要采用多种教学方法激发学生的学习动机,培养学习英语的兴趣,努力营造一个教师与学生充分沟通的高效的英语学习课堂。

参考文献:

[1]王笃勤.英语教学策略论[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2002.

大学英语如何提高篇2

论文摘要:随着大学英语教学改革的深入,如何提高大学英语课堂教学质量,本文主要从提高教师素质、更新大学英语教学理念和优化课堂教学方法三个方面讨论如何提高大学英语课堂教学的质量。 

一、前言 

英语作为一门国际化的语言,在现代社会已经成为一种极其重要的交流工具。所以社会对于现今的英语教学提出了更高的要求。大学英语教师首先要善于从国际化、全球化的角度来审视我们的英语教学。本文主要针对目前英语教学现状提出提高英语教学的必要性。 

二、目前大学英语教学存在的问题 

(一)教师方面 

全面推进素质教育,是面向21世纪中国高等教育发展中的一个带根本性的重大战略方针。当前,高校广大外语教师都在教学实践中认真贯彻这个重大战略方针。但同时我们也看到有的教师把教学看作是单纯的传授知识,以学生为中心的教育理念淡薄,忽视素质教育和学生能力的培养。另一方面,课堂教学呆板落后。目前高校英语教学较多采用的依然是语法翻译法,主要是以教师为中心,学生基本上是听老师讲解,被动接受教师讲授的知识。加之一些教学内容与现实脱节,不能适应经济建设和科技发展的需要,学生学习兴趣索然。绝大多数学生词汇量少、知识面窄、应用语言能力差。学习结业时,既不能用英语进行一般性的日常会话,也写不出意义表达清楚准确的短文。 

(二)学生方面 

我国大学新生人学时的英语总体水平较低,尤其是来自农村、牧区、林区的大学生,英语基础普遍较差,特别是在听、说两项技能方面更差。还有一些学生说话带有浓厚的地方口音。这些因素对于贯彻以学生为中心的课堂教学都是很大的制约因素。 

三、大学英语教学改善措施 

(一)努力提高大学英语教师素质 

大学英语教学可以划分为两个主要的部分,这两部分分别是课堂教学与课外自主学习。教师作为教学的实施者,其在教学过程中起主导作用,而对于大学英语教学来说课堂教学是教师主导性的表现所在。而现在绝大部分的英语课堂教学都是在一个“封闭”的教室进行的,因此教师的素质的好坏对课堂教学的实效性的好坏起决定性的作用。但目前因为各高校扩招,英语作为一门公共课,使得英语教师的授课任务大幅度的增加,一般大学英语教师每周都有18个学时的课,再加上进修职称的压力迫使其在本身就很繁重的教学任务之余编教材、写论文,导致了大学英语教师很难有多余的时间进行进修学习,进而使得大学英语教师的素质有所降低。因此,各大高校在对学生减压增效的同时也必须加强对高校教师的减压促教。 

(二)更新大学英语教学理念 

目前,对于高校提高英语教学实效性最重要的一点就是转变观念,教学观念必须从原来的培养学生阅读能力为主转向提高学生综合应用能力为主上来。所以,大学英语教学必须将交流与听力放在重要的位置上来,在此基础上全面提高学生的综合应用能力。同时教学目标锁定在提高大学生的实践能力、社会适应能力、创新能力、交流能力与学习能力上,积极的推进因材施教,积极的探索多样化的人才培养的有效途径,从而建立适合国内经济、文化、科技发展所要的人才培养模式。 

    (三)优化课堂教学方法 

1、建立良好的师生关系 

构建和谐的师生关系,营造良好的学习氛围是保证学生愿意学、老师高兴教的关键。教无趣,必不乐学。学生的学习兴趣很大程度上来自教师的主观努力。因此,教师要在课堂教学过程中,以饱满的热情执教,激励学生积极学习;以多种教学手段创设语言学习的情境;扩大语言的输入量;以清晰准确到位的示范帮助学生理解模仿操练和活用语言;以教学活动的变化为依据,变换自身的角色;以紧凑合理、过渡自然的教学环节以及科学有序的训练,让学生在积极参与语言实践中扎实地掌握知识,形成技巧,发展能力,尝试成功,乐学会学,从而获得课堂教学的高效率。 

2、激发学生学习英语的兴趣 

“兴趣是最好的老师”这是我们经常听到的一句话;如果学生对学习英语拥有浓厚的兴趣,则这种兴趣就能激发学生强大的求知欲,从而促使学生将其全部精力投入到学习英语当中。在大学英语课堂教学过程中教师要想充分发挥学生主体作用,就应该从培养学生学习英语的兴趣入手。大学英语教师要怎样培养学生学习英语的兴趣呢?我们可以从以下几个方面着手:借助肢体语言,运用情景教学,在游戏中学习,创造良好的语言环境营造轻松愉快的课堂氛围,进行生动有趣的课前交际等等。 

3、通览教材并且要极其熟悉教材,上课前做好充分的备课 

要达到优化课堂教学目的,大学英语教师必须至少做到备第一堂课时应该从这一单元主题的哪一方面来培养学生的英语综合应用能力,也就是要明白什么是该单元的教学目标。在对文章内容进行讨论时,教师可以先让学生了解文章的展开方式和主题,这对学生养成良好的逻辑思维有很大的帮助;其次教师(或是让提前有所准备的学生,或英语水平较好的学生)用英语来讲述,其他同学以复述的形式达到对于这个单元的主题的熟悉;最后分析文章的句子,在分析过程中指明重点的短语与词汇。此部分主要通过教师指导由学生来完成。最后教师必须从实际角度分析课文,从而帮助学生从理解的角度真正的学好该文章师在教学过程中,要充分考虑各个教学环节,把知识性和趣味性溶为一体,教育思想和教育内容融为一体,尽量避免由教师单一呆板说教和大哄大闹忽略细节两种倾向,力争做到双向交流,活而不乱,环环相扣,直达主题的效果。 

四、结语 

提高英语教学的有效性,是教学的生命。这其中既要求教师踏踏实实,又要探索新方法新途径;既要有足够的基础知识,也要有较强的应用能力和创新能力;既有学也有术;在教学中既要发挥学生的主体性能,也要发挥老师、家长、学校等各方面协同促进……。在学习后实践,在实践后反思,在反思后改进,在改进后再学习。只有不断探索,才能切实优化英语教学,收到事半功倍的效果。 

参考文献: 

[1]李庭芗.英语教学法[m].北京:高等教育出版社,1983. 

大学英语如何提高篇3

论文摘要:大学英语课堂问题多多,挫伤了学生的学习积极性,影响学生英语水平的提高。应从激发兴趣、搞活气氛、注重参与和强化自主学习四个方面提高大学英语课堂效果。

大学课堂教学,是学生增长知识,学习科学,了解自然、社会,发展能力的学习场所,也是教师传授知识、教导学生的主要舞台,在学生增长知识、了解自然和社会中占有重要的地位。课堂教学的好与差直接影响到教学质量和学生的成绩,同时也间接影响到学生今后走向社会的角色。因此,英语作为一门必修课,如何提高大学英语课堂效果至关重要。

一、英语课堂存在的问题

(一)传统的大学英语教学模式

传统的大学英语教学模式一直遵循以教师为主的原则,教师授课方法雷同,教学模式单一。为了防止学社听不懂,教师反复讲解单词分析语法,不够了解学生的想法与爱好,设计课堂活动无法投学生所好。课堂气氛沉闷,缺少课堂活动。课堂教学内容或话题偏离实际,上课内容过时。教师给学生很少介绍西方文化和国外的趣事。课堂学习目标不明确,教师讲课重语法知识轻语言能力的提高。有的甚至翻译课文,不给学生提供充分思考和吸收的余地。而学生忙于机械记录,很少参与语言实践,造成整个课堂气氛枯燥。

(二)学生学习积极性不高

学生学习主动性较差,甚至有厌学情绪;学生的学习目标和态度不一致,希望提高英语水平,却不愿意多付出时间和努力。www.133229.COm当问及有趣的教学内容与学习目标不一致或矛盾时,学生让老师想办法解决这个问题。学生希望老师多给他们表现的机会,多些课堂互动,但当老师组织课堂讨论等活动时,学生不积极参与,往往保持沉默。理论上,学生明白要学好英语主要靠个人努力,加上科学有效的学习方法;学生们往往期待老师们有神奇的力量,能让他们高效地学习,而他们自己无需付出太多的努力。

(三)学生应试倾向明显

高考对学生的心理有很大影响,学生那时起就有一种错误认识:学习英语就是为了考试。到了大学,某些大学把大学英语四、六级和学生的学位挂钩,大学英语四、六级证书甚至关系到以后的求职问题,这样学生们就是为了考试而学习英语,学习英语对他们来说是一种负担。大学英语四、六级通过率的压力下老师进一步把注意力放在了教授语法和词汇上,加重了学生的厌恶情绪。有些老师想搞创新在课堂上开展一些英语活动,反而被学生视为浪费时间,没用。

二、提高大学英语课堂效果的策略

(一)激发英语学习动机,保持持久学习动力

教育学家乌申斯基说:”没有任何兴趣,被迫进行的学习,会扼杀学生掌握知识的意愿。”因此,老师必须关心爱护学生,以自己的爱心换取学生爱戴;教师还必须具有良好的教态,流利标准的口语,工整流畅的板书;当然教师的个人才能,如能唱、能画、能表演等,都将对激发学生的英语学习兴趣,对提高英语课堂教学效率起到积极的推动作用,爱因斯坦说过:”热爱是最好的老师。”爱好是一种潜在的素质,它能激发学生对学习活动产生心理上的爱好和追求倾向,它是克服困难、推动学习活动的内在动力。可见,学生的学习爱好不仅能转化为学习动力,而且也能促进学生智能的发展,达到提高学习效果的日的;反之,学生若失去了学习爱好,学习就不再是一件快乐的事情,而是一个沉重的包袱,学习效果可想而知。要帮助学生确立学习目标,制定学习计划,总结学习方法,建立认知结构。从学习知识、解决问题的过程中获得某种满足感,并以兴奋活跃的思维状态去面对英语语言知识和技能,在加强基础知识和基本练习的同时,使基础知识转移为语言技能,并发展成运用英语进行交际的能力。

(二)改变课堂教学模式,活跃课堂学习气氛

教学课程必须以学生为中心,强调学生对知识的主动探索、主动发现和对所学知识意义的主动建构(而不是像传统教学那样,只是把知识从教师头脑中传送到学生的笔记本上。通过声音、图像动画、音乐、色彩的优组合与运用,增强教学的直观性和形象性,提供生动逼真的交际情景,激发学生的学习兴趣,有利于学生对知识的获取和培养学习者的语言交际能力。

教师根据教学内容的需要,利用visualbasic等软件工具自己动手制作多媒体课件,丰富和完善教学内容,根据教学设计,适当运用多媒体教学课件,创设情境,使学生通过多个感觉器官来获取相关信息,提高教学信息传播效率,增强教学的生动性和创造性,提高教学效率。按照课程总要求自主学习,教师起到组织、指导和帮助的作用,引导学生开展各种形式的学习活动,指导和帮助学生有效地利用学习资源,检查他们的学习效果和学习进程。体验英语教学模式以训练学生的视听说为主,学习内容编排由浅人深,分成不同等级,学生的学习过程循序渐进,必须一关一关地过才能完成学习任务。这样,利用多媒体技术的交互性,教师和学生能够通过画面进行双向交流。交互式的教学模式可促进学生积极、主动地进行探索式或发现式的学习,促使他们通过自己的思考及在网上寻找信息、寻求答案,提高他们的思维能力和创造能力。

(三)注重学生参与

“以学生为中心”的理论认为,教师和学生是教学的两个最活跃的因素。教师是教授的主体,学生是学习的主体。外语学习归根到底是学生自身的学习。语言不可能教会,语言只能学会。语言的学习重在实践,只有提高了学生课堂参与能力,大学英语课堂的教学效果才能实现。这要求教师由知识的传授者转变为学生主动参与的帮助者,促进者。教师要鼓励学生去发现,去创造,去解决问题。”以学生为中心”理论的核心是:以学生为中心,强调学生对知识的主动探索、主动发现和对所学知识意义的主动建构。学生始终处于主动探索、主动思考、主动建构意义的认知主体位置。也就是说学习者与他人的联系,倘若学习者与他人的联系表现为被支配性,那么其自主性将荡然无存;倘若学习者与他人的联系表现为互动性,那么其自主性将得以发展。为此,自主学习应该是自主性的相互依存,学习者必须拥有一种良好的人际环境,及时得到教师的指点、同伴的帮助,才能真正地在学习过程中进行自我调控,发展自主学习的能力。所以在大学英语课堂教学中一定要注重学生的参与。

(四)加强课外自主学习

课外自主学习是课堂教学的必要补充,一方面要开展丰富多彩的英语学习活动,尽量满足学生的不同要求;另一方面老师必须给具体的课外学习任务,要有目的地指导、督促和检查学生参与课外英语学习活动,以此给学生学习的理由和动力,否则,将毫无结果。

调查结果显示,92.5%的学生都愿意参加课外英语学习活动,他们喜欢的课外英语活动依次如下:看英语电影、听西方文化讲座、参加英语角,与外国人聊天,学唱英文歌、参加英语晚会或英语沙龙。这些将成为我们今后开展课外英语活动的重要依据,只有满足学生的需要,开展学生喜欢的英语活动,学生才会积极参加,课外自主学习的效果才会产生。

三、结束语

大学英语如何提高篇4

关键词:翻译;英语;时态

中图分类号:G642 文献标识码:A 文章编号:1005-5312(2010)03-0073-02

大学生学习英语过程中,面对翻译往往无所适从,感觉无从下手,普遍存在畏惧心理。而英语翻译是大学生学好英语的基本要求,翻译好坏直接影响到学生的阅读能力的提高,因此,提高大学生英语翻译能力就显得十分紧迫。翻译,首先要讲到翻译的标准。关于这个问题,我们的翻译宗师严复在译《天演论》时提出了 “译事三难: 信、达、雅”的著名论断。另外,钱钟书也指出,翻译的最高境界是“化”。平时的英语考试中“翻译”题型是测试学生的主观能力,主要考查学生的理解能力和综合运用语言的能力。本文从以下几个方面帮助同学们从本质上了解翻译的过程,攻克翻译难关。

一、单词的翻译

我们知道学好英语的基础是掌握单词。在英语中,词具有灵活性及可塑性,词的涵义范围广,词义丰富多变,词义对上下文 (context)的依赖性大,独立性小。与此相对照,汉语的词涵义范围窄,语义基本上是固定的,伸缩差,对上下文的依赖性小,独立性大,在英语中常说:“ Words do not have meanings; people have meanings for words ”。(词本无义,义随人生)

首先要选择词义。英语词义的灵活性主要体现在一词多义 ( polysemy ), 比如:

(1) I want to apply(申请) for the job.

(2) The rule cannot be applied(适用) in every case.

另外在英译汉中有些词需要引伸, 也就是某些词不能直译, 需要意译。

Every life has its roses and thorns.每个人的生活中都有甜和苦。

在这里,词义的选择关键是要依赖上下文。

其次是词性状换。

(1) 英语中的名词, 形容词, 副词, 介词可转译成汉语的动词, 因为汉语多散句, 动词的使用频率非常高。

① Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment.

敷用这药膏后, 你的脚会感到舒服些。( 名词 动词 )

② I'm very jealous of your new job. 我很羡慕你的这个新工作。( 形 动 )

(2) 有时根据需要, 英语的动词, 分词, 形容词, 连词, 介词也常根据需要译成名词。

The party’s policies were popular among the unemployed.(失业者)

(3) 英语中有些抽象名词, 副词可以转换成汉语的形容词。

She is a success as an actress. 她是一名成功的演员。( 名 形 ).

再次是词的增减。

由于英语和汉语的表达方式和内部结构的不同, 英译汉时需要根据汉语的表达习惯, 增词或减词, 使译文通顺, 流畅, 达意。

(1) The premier was as usual, urbane, relaxed and alert.

总理和往常一样, 还是那样彬彬有礼, 从容不迫和精明机警。

(2) 汉语中动宾词组比较多, 英译汉时需要增加名词作宾语。

He began to see things and to understand.他开了眼界, 并懂得了一些名堂。

另外,英语和汉语的形成与发展都受到本国文化、历史、地理、风俗习惯等各方面的影响,英语中某些词的含义并不是字面上我们所想象到意义,比如英语中的“lover”,中国人大多认为是“爱人”(丈夫或妻子),其实在西方lover指的是情夫或情妇;又比如“intellectual”,其范围较小,只包括大学教授等具有较高学术地位的人,而中国人认为“intellectual”就是“知识分子”,可指范围很广,包括大学教师、工程师、以及一切受过大学教育的人。

二、长难句的翻译

英语是立体语言, 因此翻译英语长难句必须抓住它的主干, 弄清楚其它修饰成分与主干句之间的关系, 然后按照汉语的语言习惯进行翻译. 翻译的关键在于理解, 必须掌握长难句的 SV――SVO ――SVOO ( 主谓 / 主 ―― 谓 ―― 宾 / 主 ――谓 ――宾 ――宾补 )。

长难句的翻译方法主要有:(1)分切法:把句子一个意群一个意群分开, 按句子 的顺序译, 也就是顺序。(2)逆译法:由于英汉两种语言的差异有时翻译时, 必须从后面译起。(3)拆离法:长句中的某个短句翻译很难和其它句子译在一起, 这时就把这个短句拿出来单译。(4)综合法:也就是上述方法的综合使用。

(1) Then I remembered how often I, too, had been indifferent to the grandeur of each day, too preoccupied with petty and sometimes even mean concerns to respond to the splendor of it all.

这时我想到自己过去又何尝不是往往对每天的壮观景象视而不见,一头埋在细小的,有时甚至是卑

鄙、自私的事务中。而对日常的奇观麻木不仁呢?(顺译) (分切)

(2) After all those years of study I felt oddly unprepared for life.

说来奇怪,读了这么多年的书之后,我觉得自己对于生活毫无准备。(拆离).

三、固定句式的翻译

(一)否定句的翻译

(1) 转移否定,形式上否定主句, 但意义上是否定从句, 翻译时, 否定语气转到从句上。

①“ not + ―― + because 从句 ”.

I don’t teach because teaching is easy for me.

我选择教书并不是因为教书对我来说是一件轻而易举的事情。

②“ no + 名词 ” 句中, 否定意义转移到谓语。

No words can describe the scene that I saw then. 任何词语都无法描述我那时所见到的景色。

③“ not + 表示相信, 假设的动词 ” 句中, 如: think , suppose , believe , expect , fancy , fear , hope , imagine , trust等。

I don’t think that it will rain tomorrow.我看明天不会下雨。

(2) 双重否定 = 肯定.

There is no man that has no shortcoming.人人都有缺点。

(3) 形式否定, 意义肯定。如: can not help doing / can not help but do, can not ―― too (再――也不过分), nobody / none / nothing but( 只有 )

We can not love our motherland too much.我们无论怎样爱我们的祖国都不过分。

Nobody but the expert can solve the problem.只有专家能够解决这一问题。

(4) 部分否定。指“ not + both ( all ) , every , each 及其派生词 everybody , everything或both, every , all, everything + ――+ not ” 构成部分否定。

All are not friends that speak us fair.当面说好话的并不都是朋友。

(5) 形式肯定, 意义否定。比如:far from, free from, hardly, rather than, instead of, above, beyond, last

A great man is above flattery. 真正的伟人不受奉承。

Your work is far from satisfactory. 你的工作一点也不令人满意。

He would be the last man to say such things.他决不说这种话。

(二)被动式的译法

英语中被动式出现频率较高, 英语重物称,常常选择不能施行动作或无生命的词语作主语,在英译汉中能译成主动式的,尽量译成主动, 有时根据需要, 可把英语的被动句译成 “ 把,使,被,用,受,给 ” 等汉语被动句。在一般情况下, 最好把英语的被动式译成汉语的主动式。

e.g. They were given a hearty welcome.他们受到热烈欢迎。

四、时态的翻译

语言中存在着不同的时态,但有的语言很少或甚至没有时态。汉语中基本上就是借助词汇来表示各种时间和动作,除了有“着”、“了”、“过”等词汇可以和英语中的进行时、完成时或过去时相对应之外,没有其他具体的时态形式。然而,英语的显著特点之一就是具有丰富的时态,通过各种时态手段可以把动作的过程与状态描述得更加精确,有时还能表达说话人的感彩。

e.g. He should have been careful.他本应该仔细点。(should + 完成时,表示抱怨或诉苦)

You're always asking me such questions!你老是问我这样的问题!(用现在进行时表示厌烦)

总之,翻译不等同于复述,它是一种创造性的劳动,尽管翻译有很多方法可循,但在翻译的过程中,还应按照文章的内容与风格以及汉语的习惯,灵活地加以运用。只要学习者大量实践,并且灵活掌握一些常用的翻译方法,就会使自己的翻译水平迈上一个新台阶。

参考书目:

[1]陈廷佑.英文汉译技巧[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社.1989年版.

[2]俞云根.英汉对比语言学[M].北京:北京工业大学出版社.1994年版.

[3]刘宓庆.汉英对比研究与翻译[M].南昌:江西教育出版社.1991年版.

大学英语如何提高篇5

关键词: 音变现象 英美音的差异 同音词与近音词 英语基本功 听力技巧

一、问题的提出

英语是世界上使用最广泛的语言。自中国加入世贸组织以来,对大学生英语交流能力的要求越来越高。而要提高英语交流能力首先要提高听力水平。如果学生在听上都存在较大困难,提高英语交流能力就是无稽之谈。与此同时,我们发现为了适应社会的发展,在不断改革的各种考试题型中,听力所占的分数越来越多,在大学四级考试中,听力占据了35%的比分,对考生顺利通过大学英语四级考试起着决定性的作用。但现实生活中大学生的听力能力十分薄弱。四、六级考试委员会一项内部阅卷统计也印证了这一点——考生听力部分平均得分不超过150(听力总分249分)。因此,提高学生的听力水平迫在眉睫。

二、影响学生听力水平提高的原因

笔者经过分析调查,发现考生认为听力难以驾驭,其主要原因包括以下几个方面。

1.音变现象。

英语中有很多音变现象,如连读、同化、弱读、失爆、不完全爆破等。这些知识学生很早就接触,但是真正掌握的学生寥寥无几,严重影响他们听力水平的提高。如:在hold up这个短语中,第一个单词以辅音结尾,下一个单词以元音开头,两个词要连读,而学生平时自己读的时候忽视了这一点,当听到收音机或磁带里面连读的语音时自然就很难听懂了。

2.英美音的差别。

中国学生的英语发音多倾向于英音或英美混杂音,而我们经常听到的听力,比如大学英语四级听力考试中既有英音又有美音,这就造成了学生对发音不太适应。英美音的差别主要包括:

①/r/音上的差异:在一个单词里,当/r/音位于一个元音的后面时,英式英语一般不将其发出,而美式英语则一般将其发出。

②元音上的差异:如英音中/?藜/的在美音中常发作/a:/音等。

③有些难于归类的特殊单词在英音和美音上发音有区别。

3.同音词与近音词。

英语中有不少同音或近音异形词。学生只能听到录音而见不到词形,不易分辨出这些同音或近音异形词,如学生很容易将pitch听成peach,将stuff听成staff,将rise听成rice等。

4.学生英语基本功差。

听力考试经常涉及转折、虚拟、比较、建议、请求、反问或否定等难以把握的特殊句式,理解这些句式往往是解题的关键。而学生通常对这些句式缺乏敏感度,因此,熟悉和掌握这些特殊句式,将有助于考生更加快速、准确地抓住关键信息。另外,学生词汇量不够在很大程度上影响他们对某些句子的理解。

5.听力技巧缺乏。

有的学生在做听力题目时,总是试图一字不漏地听下每一个词,生怕因为没听懂个别词而影响答题。而事实上这样做的结果是很难在听力考试中拿到高分。例如,下面一道听力题题目:

A)See a doctor.

B)Stay in bed for a few days.

C)Get treatment in a better hospital.

D)Make a phone call to the doctor.

听力原文:

W:Carol told us on the phone not to worry about her.Her left leg doesn’t hurt as much as it did yesterday.

M:She’d better have it examined by a doctor anyway.And I will call her about it this evening.

Q:What does the man think Carol should do?

在这个短对话里面,我们并不是什么都要听懂,had better是听力技巧里面的一个技巧词,暗示一个重要的建议即将出现,答案就将出现在技巧词后方。学生只要听懂关键词had better后面的信息,就能正确答题,所以答案为(A)。

6.学生存在心理障碍。

听力提高的关键是要有良好的心理素质。一个心理素质好的学生能够集中思想,积极主动地完成听力学习工作,心理素质不好的学生通常在听力播放时产生焦躁紧张的情绪,在这样的状态下进行听力是无效的。而且听力的提高是一个长期的过程。很多学生缺乏长期有效的努力,没有毅力,三天打鱼两天晒网,导致听力水平老是提高不上来,于是学生错误地认为听力是个不可跨越的横沟。久而久之,对听力形成了一种厌恶情绪,容易泄气。须知没有坚持不懈的精神和对听力的热爱,就失去了提高听力水平的前提,学生必须调整好自己的心态。

7.不良的学习习惯。

学生通常在做听力时会遇到听不懂的单词,总习惯于冥思苦想这个词,悬在一个词上,停顿了一段时间,反而影响了后方听力的内容,听到的是支离破碎的句子,使得学生不能从总体上把握句子的意思。还有的学生在听的时候喜欢边听边翻译,而听力的播放速度远远快于学生翻译的速度,所以翻译会导致大脑反应不过来,跟不上听力的速度。

三、如何提高听力水平

通过以上分析,笔者认为教师应充分发挥主观能动性,根据问题对症下药,可从以下几个方面解决学生听力当中遇到的问题。

1.纠正学生错误发音,加强学生英语基本功训练。

笔者建议对刚入校的大一新生进行发音纠正,帮助学生纠正48个国际音标中的错误发音,包括英语中元音,辅音,以及之前提到的音变现象等的学习与反复训练。对前面提到的表示转折、虚拟、比较、建议、请求、反问或否定等难以把握的特殊句式加以复习,加深学生的理解。听力词汇相对于阅读词汇难度较低,比较口语化,所以教师可总结出学生在听力当中经常出现,容易被听错或听不懂的词汇。之后,让学生对这些词汇进行背诵和默写。

2.传授听力技巧。

英语四级听力考试主要包括短对话,长对话,短问听力,复合式听写题型。每一种题目的解题都是有规律可循的。运用技巧做题总能事半功倍。如短对话,是一男一女组成的共两句话的对话。两句话到底哪一句更重要呢?题目做多了,我们自然而然发现题目的答案总是出现在第二句当中,因此,听短对话时重点要听的是第二句话。说到长对话和短文听力,这两种题型的共同点是听力原文较长,难以把握,很多学生的感受是播音一开始,自己就被牵着鼻子走,不知道该注意哪儿,记录哪儿,稀里糊涂听完了,一看题,脑子里一片空白。对这类题型教师应多传授学习方法,如转折关系考点,首末句考点(首末句是指文章前三句和后三句),逻辑词考点,情态动词考点,序数词考点,重点词(表示重要含义的词)考点,事实罗列词考点,上面提到的这些词后方的信息是考点,是要认真听的内容。另外,一些特定句型,如出现在实验表明,科学家发现等句子后方的信息或表建议的句子是我们要听的重中之重。又如所听即所得的原则(听到什么就在选项中选什么),视听基本一致的原则(答案出现的循序和原文被读的循序是一致的)等,都在这两种题型中大量运用。而复合式听力在做题前应先让学生学会判断空白处所填词的词性和单复数,并鼓励学生多听复合式听力,多训练速度,能听懂多少就写多少。当然方法远不止这些,老师应多用这些技巧对学生进行训练,让学生对之有一定的敏感度,提高自信。

3.通过观赏电影提高听力。

前面提到学生听力上有心理障碍,笔者认为主要是因为听力学习是一个长期的枯燥无味的过程,容易让学生缺乏兴趣并产生恐惧,影响学生对听力的热爱和心态。没有在较好的心态下进行听力训练必然使学生听力失败。因而,激发学生听力的兴趣能促使学生跨越心理障碍,增强自信心。笔者认为现代影视发展迅速,通过观赏电影学习听力是不错的选择。电影能让学生摆脱课本知识的无趣,迅速融入故事情节当中,最大限度地调动学生视听触动等器官,以生动性、趣味性动态效果吸引学生的注意力。学生不仅可以看到许多好莱坞的帅哥美女明星们及他们精彩的表演,而且可以欣赏美丽的景色,聆听美妙的音乐。随着情节的变化,学生时而欢喜时而悲伤,时而紧张时而放松,故事里面任何一个小小的转折都能牵动学生的心。这些当然都是引发学生学习兴趣的动力,有经验的老师都会发现电影课下课后,很多学生常常流连忘返,让他们在这样的环境下学习必定事倍功半。建议教师选出几部学生非常喜欢的电影(如《阿甘正传》,《西雅图不眠之夜》等),让学生去网上下载电影,用MP3反复视听,这比单纯地做几套听力题目效果好得多,学生亦不会觉得乏味。

四、结语

在教师的细心教导下,学生定会在听力上找到自我,且越战越勇,在听力考试上取得较好的成绩。

参考文献:

[1]王长喜.大学英语四级考试巅峰听力[M].北京:中国和平音像电子出版社,2009.

[2]俞丽芳,田翠花.如何增强大学生英语四、六级听力的应试能力[J].商场现代化,2005,(09):208.

大学英语如何提高篇6

关键词: 大学英语教学 听力问题 提高方法

听是人们交流的主要手段,据美国保尔兰金教授统计,“听”占人们日常言语活动的45%,“说”占30%,“读”占16%,“写”仅占9%。在英语学习过程当中,听力亦被认为是学习英语的基本技能之一,其重要性毋庸置疑。但对于大多中国大学生来讲,听力是很大的弱项。提高大学生的英语听力水平,对大学生综合英语水平的提高至关重要。本文首先调查分析了大学生英语听力薄弱的原因,并根据这些原因,提出了切实可行的措施。

一、当前大学生英语听力存在的问题

(一)只听不说,听、说分家。

听、说、读、写被认为是语言学习四个必不可少的组成部分,其中听力是我们开始学习一门语言首先必须通过的难关。但是关于怎样提高英语听力水平,很多大学生甚至包括老师陷入了一个误区:盲目去听各种听力材料,像VOA、BBC等,而不去开口说,听、说分家,认为听得材料越多,提高的速度越快,其实不然。

(二)材料选择不恰当,不注重完整性。

很多大学生在听听力材料时,往往没有根据自身的实际英语水平选择听力材料。要么偏难,要么太容易,无论是哪一种都对英语听力水平的提高不利。选择偏难的材料,内心容易产生挫败感,打击学习热情;选择太简单的听力材料,则很容易产生骄傲自满的情绪,对听力增强效果不大。另外,大学生在听听力时,没有把听力材料作为一个整体来听。听音时没有用心捕捉句子及语篇传递的信息,而是将注意力过于集中于单个词和词组,追求对听力材料每句话的完美理解。

(三)部分学生心理素质差。

有些听力欠佳的学生对听力课存在恐惧心理,总认为听力很难,再加上平时缺少训练,听的过程中紧张感有增无减,结果越紧张越难听懂,听力水平难以提高。[1]

(四)听力课时量分配较少。

现在高校精读课程一般是70课时,而听说课仅为30课时,即每周仅90分钟的听说授课时间,如此少的训练时间与听说课程的本质属性——实践性是相违背的。学生在有限的课堂时间里得不到应有的锻炼,一旦上课教师授课让学生感觉枯燥无味,学生就会有强烈的抵触情绪,就会对英语听力口语课的练习失去兴趣,更别提水平的提高了。

(五)教学设备落后,教学方法落伍。

目前大学英语听力普遍还是采取录音机播放磁带或多媒体DVD播放的方式进行训练,但是部分高校基础设备差,其效果、音量、选择播放方式等方面都很落后,严重影响了课堂教学效果。学生在课堂上得不到应有的训练,听力方法难以得到正确指引,很难得到提高。同时,目前很多大学的英语听说课程基本上实行的是大班授课,每班授课人数都在80人以上。而听说课程的实践性要求使每位学生尽量能够参与到听与说活动中来,庞大的学生人数与人人参与的要求成为目前教师们比较困惑且难以解决的问题。同时,由于绝大部分高校教师目前还受制于教学任务和教学日历,教学方法往往采取听完录音材料再核对答案的传统授课程序。因此,这样的课堂让学生产生了乏味的感觉,很难提起兴趣真正融入课堂,进行英语听说训练。

二、提高大学生英语听力水平的策略

(一)加强大学生基础知识的学习,注重听说结合。

一是重视学生英语基础知识的学习与培养。在听力训练中,除了必须掌握一定的词汇量和词法、句法等语法知识及相关的文化背景知识外,还必须具备必要的语音基础知识:正确地发音、重读、停顿、连读、弱读、语调等。[2]为了让学生能拥有比较扎实的语言学习基础,教师必须从最基本的国际音标对学生进行训练。为此,教师需要准备相关语音学习资料,根据学生实际情况设计合理的语音学习计划,并督促学生按照标准语音进行学习发音,教师可根据其他课堂设计情况制订教学计划、教学目标、教学反馈等,确保学生能有标准的英语发音。

二是培养学生良好的学习习惯,强调听说结合。语言的学习是由听说开始的,因此要想学好一门语言,就必须把听说相结合,学习水平才能得到有效提高。在日常教学活动中,教师要对学生适时引导,培养学生良好的学习英语习惯,比如可以让学生尝试合理安排自己学习英语的时间,有效利用日常零散的时间,每天给自己制订确切的英语学习计划。同时,鼓励学生多参加英语角的口语训练,给学生多多提供听说英语的好机会;还要鼓励学生进行英语话剧表演、英语演讲、英语辩论会,建议学生坚持收听,学校有计划、有系统地利用学校广播系统等播放的各种听力材料,发展身边同学成为英语学习搭档,互相督促、鼓励,共同进步。

(二)指引学生正确选择听力材料。

学习不仅要有良好的耐力和持之以恒的毅力,还要有正确的合适的学习材料。学习是一个循序渐进的过程,特别是语言的学习,不是能立马见到成效的,需要我们一朝一夕的努力。因此,引导大学生选择真正适合自己学习的学习材料是学生开始学好英语的第一步。大学生在选取英语听力材料时要切实根据自身的英语听力水平进行适当选择,教师也要对学生进行正确引导,对学生英语水平进行正确评估,让学生对自己的英语水平有较为正确的认识,以便能找准出发点,进行有针对性的练习,得到有效的提高。

具体做法:教师要特别注重对学生的形成性评价,在平时的日常课堂教学中,通过提问、小组讨论、个人展示、小竞赛等方式进行对学生的形成性评价,并通过对学生的反馈,让学生对自己的水平有大致的评估,然后在老师的帮助和指引下,选择适合自己的听说教材,并持之以恒,直到学习水平得到提高。

(三)适当增加听说课时量,丰富练习英语听说方法。

大学课堂不同于中小学课堂,对大学生的要求主要靠自主学习,因此,大学生在课堂上接受知识的时间非常有限,如何让学生在有限的时间里高效率地得到提高,成为了广大高校教师努力的方向。因此,大学生英语听说能力的提高必须有足够的课时量做保证,这就需要从完善英语课程体系上下工夫。同时,可以丰富学生的听说方法,教师可以鼓励学生组成英语兴趣小组,让英语能力较强者参与组织,带动大家开展丰富多彩的英语学习活动,在学生中产生浓厚的学习英语的氛围,鼓励学生多听、多说、多练,教师定期参与其中,与学生进行互动交流,以帮助学生进步。

(四)教学设备更新,方法多样。

一是利用现代化多媒体教室与传统教学方法相结合方法进行教学。传统的英语授课方式是教师在讲台上不停讲,学生被动接收信息,这种传统的方式虽然存在很多弊端,但也有其优势。学生通过教师这种反复的讲解及黑板上板书的设计,印象更加深刻。但随着现代技术的飞速发展,知识变得更加丰富多样,特别是英语,作为一种国际化语言,在涉及听力内容时,往往设计到科技、经济、历史、地理、文化、风土人情等各个方面,需要学生有较为丰富的知识面。因此,教师可以利用多媒体进行辅助教学,通过各式各样的图片等更加直观的方式让学生在短时间内接收到丰富多彩的教学信息量,从而增强课堂教学效果。

二是课堂上引入影视教材。教师在上听说课程时,可以适当引入一些视听材料。研究表明,多媒体技术为英语课堂的整合提供了物质平台和理想的教学环境,基于多媒体的教学模式的确优于传统的单一课堂模式。在听力教学中使用视听材料可使声音和图像相结合、视觉和听觉相结合、语言和情景相结合,对视觉型、听觉型、感受型等各类学习风格的学生都是有益的。[3]视听课上的充分实践机会对提高学生的语言应用能力很有帮助。有效的方法是让学生欣赏完美妙的影视片断后,在其美好的印象还没有消失之前,让学生置身于影视角色中人物的语言,让学生模仿其英语发音,比鼓励他们进行角色扮演,还原电影片断,更可以丰富英语听说课堂,让学生充分锻炼听说能力,激发他们学习英语的兴趣。

总之,提高大学生听力水平的方法很多,教师们要从学生的实际出发,从基础抓起,要求学生多听、多讲,甚至多读。教师自己则应精心设计、组织好每一堂课,让学生以积极的态度面对学习,注重培养学生的能力,加强听说领先,读、写、译并重的综合训练,切实提高学生英语听力的水平。

参考文献:

[1]吴泽琼.提高大学生英语听力水平的有效对策[J].湘潭师范学院学报(社会科学版),2006(2).

[2]闫毓芳.浅谈大学生英语听力水平的提高[J].中北大学学报(社会科学版),2005(4).

大学英语如何提高篇7

【关键词】英语教学口语交际能力

【中图分类号】G642【文献标识码】A【文章编号】1674-4810(2012)11-0061-02

什么是大学英语教学的根本目的?是学习、研究英语语言本身,还是掌握英语语言这门工具?教育部在2007年9月颁布的《大学英语课程教学要求》中明确指出:“大学英语教学是以英语语言知识与运用技能,学习策略和跨文化交际为主要内容”,可以看出当前的英语教学的目的首先是培养学生实际运用英语的能力,其中口语交际有着不可替代的主体地位。但几十年来,由于种种原因,我国的英语教学偏重语言形式,如语音、语法、词汇的讲授,培养出一大批精通语法规则,但不会听说、不具备真正交际能力的学生。因此,如何提高学生的英语口语交际能力成为当今大学英语教学改革的主要目标。本文将分析当今大学生际能力欠缺的主要原因,并努力探索解决途径,提出可通过提高学生的心理素质、听力水平及文化背景知识等渠道来培养大学生的英语口语交际能力。

一 交际能力的含义

“交际能力”这一概念最初是由美国社会语言学家Dwell Hymes提出来的。他认为交际能力不仅包括对一种语言形式的理解和掌握,还包括理解和掌握在何时何地,以社会方式恰当使用语言形式进行交际的知识体系。交际能力是一个复杂的概念,涉及语言、修辞、社会、文化、心理等多种因素,还包括一个人运用语言手段(口语或书面语)和副语言手段(身体语言)来达到某一种特定交际目的的能力。语言学家Little Wood指出语言的交际能力首先是掌握语言知识,并能运用语言清楚地表达思想,学习者在使用语言时根据自己的社会地位及社会语境,能从听者的反应中判断所使用语言是否恰当,从而了解语言知识在交际中的作用,然后进一步了解语言的社会含义,使用英语本族人普通接受的语言。这可以看出,交际能力主要指的是达意及得体,即能够用目的语将所提的意思表达清楚并能判断什么人在什么场合下说什么话。英语口语教学应围绕交际能力所包含的几个内容,从课内和课外两方面着重培养学生运用英语进行口语交际的能力。

二 大学生英语口语交际水平状况

传统的英语教学以语法教学为主,强调对学生读、写能力的培养,而忽略了听、说技能的培养。教师在教学中处于主导地位,学生处于从属位置。在传统教学模式下,尽管许多学生具备较高的语言知识,但却无法流畅地表达自己,与他人交流。这种“哑巴英语”的现象,其主要原因在于大学英语忽视了英语实际应用能力的培养,学生普遍欠缺英语口语交际能力。主要原因有以下几方面:首先就学生自身而言,心理素质是许多学生普遍开口难的一大因素,这种困难来自自己内心的紧张情绪,害怕和人交流或者害怕被人嘲笑,而与其所掌握的语法和词汇量的多少及语音标准无关。其次,听力和词汇限制也是许多学生开口难的另一大因素,学生缺乏对词汇的熟练运用,听力水平不高,听力理解能力不强,即便掌握再多的词汇量,很多时候也因无法理解对方的意思而导致交流障碍,无法与别人正常地交流。就教师而言,课堂设计缺乏创新,在课堂上,师生关系往往过于僵硬,这种僵硬并不是说师生间有矛盾,而是指授课者与听课者间的定位过于固化。一堂课,气氛是关键。若教师的定位只在传授书面知识,并且课堂上绝大部分时间都在进行传授这项活动,那么就会使课堂变成独角戏,剥夺了学生练习口语交际的权利。此外,对英美国家背景知识的欠缺必然导致中国式英语的产生,中英文化本身的差异使学生使用英语时难以组织语言。

三 改进英语教学的措施

针对学生口语交际能力障碍原因,教师需时时调整教学,帮助学生提高口语交际能力。首先要帮助学生排除不利的心理因素。大多数学生都会在当众发言时产生焦虑和紧张,而实际上不仅是学生,大多数人都存在这样的问题,只有正确认识并克服紧张心理的人才能获得成功。其实紧张是一种健康的心理迹象,换句话说紧张情绪是完全正常并被需要的,关键在于学生如何控制这种情绪,不但不因紧张使交流受阻,反而能够充分利用它,因此,教师要帮助学生分析在何时何地何种情况下会产生紧张焦虑情绪。教学中不难发现大多数学生在第一次应对各种情况,如课堂上的发言、值日报告、复述文章、课外演讲、与人交谈甚至约会时都易产生紧张情绪,而一旦学生适应以上情况,那么这种不利的情绪就不会再影响他的交际能力的发挥,这就需要不断地反复应对此类情景。再有对大多数学生来说怯场的最大原因是对未知的恐惧,或者是缺乏自信。因此,教师有必要帮助学生树立起相应的自信,可以选择学生们所熟知的话题作为切入点,注意循序渐进和对话题难易的把握,使学生觉得自己有话说、想要说。发言时需提醒学生保持最佳的生理和心理状态,将注意力集中在听众和交谈者身上,而不是一直为自己的紧张担心,并同时注意与听众或交谈者的眼神交流,利用恰当的肢体语言、适当的手势和肢体动作来放松自己,轻松地畅谈自己的想法、感受和见闻。

提高口语交际能力,加强听力训练不容忽视。其实教师的问候、提问、指示、解答等有可能是教师在课堂上能提供的最自然、最有效地听力理解练习。当教师不断地使用这些课堂语言时,实际上是在给学生有意义的、真正的听力练习。但课堂上的这类听力练习是有限的,因此在课堂中播放语音和语调多样化的录音材料和影视资料是非常有必要的。听力材料的训练可分为三个阶段来进行:首先是听前准备。听前准备是为学习者即将听到的内容做准备的,正如我们在真实生活中就某个话题有所预期和准备一样,而不是告诉学生准备听,然后直接打开录音机。其次在听力练习中帮助学生理解所听内容。教师不要期望学生能听懂理解每一个词。教师可以在学生听完第一遍后问几个相关的信息,在听完第二遍之后让学生说出录音中说话者的态度。总之,教师应该帮助学生理解,而不是测试他们的理解能力。最后,听后练习也很重要。这一阶段是帮助学生把他们所听到的内容与其生活经验和个人思想结合起来进行讨论。这样很容易让学生从听的能力转向说的能力。

改善课堂中的师生关系也是提高学生口语交际能力的重要环节。怎样才能在有限的课堂上有效地练习口语呢?这就需要教师在授课方式上进行调整,尽可能创造更多的练习口语的时间和机会。首先可以利用例句的讲解来提高学生的注意力及英语思维,没有必要板书整个句子,这样只会使学生产生懒惰和依赖思想,并在一定程度上影响其英语思维的培养。兴趣是最好的老师,教师应选择能够引起学生兴趣的话题,加强互动,让学生积极参与互动,同时耐心引导他们踊跃发言。

在教学中重视文化背景教育尤为重要。语言是文化的载体,不了解一门语言所承载的文化,想学好一门语言是不可能的。由于学生不了解对方的文化而犯错误的情况并不少见,因此教师要做好相关的英美文化知识的介绍,鼓励学生进行广泛的阅读,了解英语中的习语和典故,了解英美文化的差异,帮助学生拓宽视野,扩大知识面,培养英语思维的能力,从而提高跨文化交际能力。虽然学生在课堂上少有和外国人接触的机会,但学习英语的最终目的就是和他们进行交流。如果缺乏一定文化背景或语言文化习惯的了解,学生们的发言有时就会显得有冒犯性和不地道。例如,中国人习惯通过提问的方式来问候他人。这些问题包括:“你去哪儿?”“你吃了吗?”而这些在英美国家人心目中属于个人隐私问题,和年龄及收入一样,是不愿意让人知道的。如在交流中被问及这些问题,他们往往会认为提问者不够礼貌。

四 结束语

总之,大学生英语教学应注重学生交际能力的培养,在帮助学生系统学习英语的同时,培养其语感和对语言文化习惯的了解。而在教学中要提高学生的口语交际能力,不仅要重视语音和词汇,还要注意提高他们的心理素质、听力和跨文化交际能力,加强教学环节的设计,这样才能有效地提高大学生的英语口语交际能力,并引导他们成为新时代所需要的应用型人才。

参考文献

[1]戴维斯、皮尔斯. Success in English Teaching[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,2002

[2]张克福.大学英语口语教学现状及对策研究[J].黑龙江高教研究,2004(11)

大学英语如何提高篇8

[Key Words] college students; reading abilities; reading comprehension; obstacles

【摘 要】 本文旨在如何提高大学生的英语阅读能力。阅读是学习英语的一种基本能力。通过调查,笔者发现学生在阅读过程中存在一些阻碍他们提高英语阅读能力的障碍。针对这一问题,本文首先谈论提高大学生阅读能力的两个原因:一方面,学生处于不同的目的采用不同的方式进行阅读;另一方面,学生在进行阅读是能够读懂文章的意思;其次,文章结合着两方面的原因和阅读的心理机制和认知过程,分析了阻碍大学生英语阅读能力提高的因素:教师的教学方法和学生自身的特点;接着根据这些因素,文章提出克服这些障碍的解决方法,比如,重视文化背景知识,重视语篇的影响,重视词汇的习得等等;最后文章提到老师应该注意阅读技巧的训练,帮助学生掌握阅读技巧,提高英语阅读能力.

【关键词】 大学生;阅读能力;阅读理解;障碍

1 Introduction

Reading is a basic ability in learning English. Without reading, our society couldn’t make progress .Nowadays, we are in the process of economic integration and globalization. Globalization strengthens global economy, politics, culture, society, science and technology linkages. In such a macro-background, people pay more and more attention to English learning and have higher and higher requirements of reading comprehension.

The aim of English teaching in college is to develop college students` ability of reading professional and original books. Therefore, besides listening, speaking, writing, translating and other aspects of skills, we should also focus on developing students` abilities in reading comprehension .Such kind of abilities mean that inpiduals understand the meaning that the author wants to express. And it is also a complicated thinking activity in the core of understanding.

“Current models of the reading process focus on the interactive relation of reader and text. From this perspective, reading is understood to be a complex cognitive process in which reader and text interact to (re)create meaningful discourse.”[1]Px Reading is valued not only as an educational tool, but as a source of enjoyment.

Therefore, this paper proposes to analyze the factors that influence the improvement of college students` abilities in reading comprehension, and help students to overcome obstacles in the process of reading and master some reading skills to improve their reading abilities.

2 Reasons for improving their reading abilities

There are two reasons for improving their reading abilities.

First, students read in different ways for different purposes. Christine Nuttall has pointed out that college students couldn’t just read text books in their daily life. They will read various materials, such as novel, fiction, poetry, telephone directory, statistics, label on medicine leaflet, notice, and application form. They should know why they read each one, what they want to get from it, and how they read it. When they read each item, they need to use different kinds of reading skills. Do they read a telephone directory the same way as a poem? How about a timetable or a notice? Reading these is very different from reading a book. The way they deal with each text is strongly influenced by the purpose in reading. Quickly scanning a street map to find a place where they want to go is very different from reading a legal document. They will soon realize big differences in the reading speed they use.

Second, students read for meanings. Whatever their reasons for reading (excluding any reading for language learning), it is not very likely that they read just for pronunciations, grammatical structures, syntax, words. They read because they want to get something from the writing. They want to understand what the writer wants to tell them. An article can not only give us some facts, but also be enjoyment, ideas and feelings. No matter what it is, while they read, they want to get messages that the writer intended. They are interested in what the writing meant.

It is obvious that improving reading ability is very important if they want to be proficient readers.

3 Psychological mechanisms and cognitive process in English reading

Reading is a complex intellectual activity which is affected by many factors. In Psycholinguistics (New Edition), Gui Shichun has pointed out that reading comprehension which is consistent with language comprehension that is a complicated and general comprehension is a complicated psycholinguistic process. It is an interactive process between the reader and the text. He believes that the relation between reading and intellect are extremely close. Foreign language learners with good intellect can obtain more information in the process of reading. For reading is a very important way to acquire knowledge and develop intellectual emotion and it is a psychological activity. [2]P91-116

When students are reading, many body organs, such as brain, eyes, nose, participate in the activity. In particular, the brain directly controls eye movement, lets readers identify language and reprocesses the acquired information. Chen Meimei, Rao Hui, Zhang Xicheng, Zhang Jun has pointed out that the research and development of reading psychology shows that it is unnecessary to speak or hear every word if students want to understand the meaning of a text. It is completely possible that they can directly understand its meaning while they read a text. [3]P72 Efficient reading can achieve understanding. It means that students don’t need to understand a text through words to sound and even don’t need to read a text word by word to understand it. Therefore, those students can directly understand a text meaning through silent reading which is very important in English reading ability.

Moreover, in the process of reading comprehension, not only the linguistic knowledge which is generated through reading words plays an important role, but also the background knowledge which is provided by the brain also plays a great potential role. Background knowledge includes students` background knowledge of English speaking countries` society and culture, inpidual experiences, logical knowledge and the self-cultivation of language knowledge and so on. Experiments have shown that if some letters which are not associated with each other, are put together; the brain can only identify about four or five words immediately, or even a meaningful sentence. Thus, we can know that the more background knowledge, the better and faster one comprehends. And then there will be less difficult in reading, and the reading speed will be faster.

Christine Nuttall has pointed out that English reading comprehension is regarded as a cognitive activity which process information from written words. In general, there are two ways: one is the bottom-up processing; the other is the top-down processing. “In bottom-up processing, the readers build up a meaning from the black marks on the page recognizing letters and words, working out sentence structure. We can make conscious use of it when an initial reading leaves us confused. Perhaps we cannot believe that the apparent message was really what the writer intended; this can happen if our world knowledge is inadequate, or if the writer’s point of view is very different from our own. In that case, we must scrutinize the vocabulary and syntax to make sure we have grasped the plain sense correctly. Thus bottom-up processing can be used as a corrective to ‘tunnel vision’(seeing things from our own limited point of view).In top-down processing, we draw on our own intelligence and experience---the predictions we can make, based on the schemata we have acquired---to understand the text. As we saw, this kind of processing is used when we interpret assumptions and draw inferences. We make conscious use of it when we try to see the overall purpose of the text, or get a rough idea of the pattern of the writer’s argument, in order to make a reasoned guess at the next step (on the grounds that having an idea of what sth might mean can be a great help in interpreting it)” [4]P16-17

Actually, in the process of reading comprehension, both of them are always used at the same time or staggered. And they are become known as interaction. Although, logically, we might expect that we ought to understand the plain sense if we are to understand anything else, in fact a student continually shifts from one focus to another, now adopting a top-down approach to predict the probable meaning, then moving to the bottom-up approach to check whether that is really what the writer want to tell. Christine Nuttall calls it interactive reading. [4]P11 Both are important strategies for students. No matter what kind of activities, they have common requirements. In reading, students need not only solid language knowledge of vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, but also abundant social and cultural background knowledge and certain logical analysis ability. This is an important principal to cultivate students` abilities in English reading.

4 Factors of hindering the improvement of college students` reading abilities

Based on the above statements, it is not very difficult to find that English reading comprehension is a highly active and creative act. Christine Nuttall says reading is a process in which readers select, classify and interpret information according to experience, information and knowledge they have in their minds .Reading is a communicative activity between writer and reader in written form. (So, according to this view, we can make a conclusion that reading is an interactive process—as conversation is—because both reader and writer depend on one another.) [4]P11In the past, in English reading teaching classes, teachers only emphasized on the training of language skills to enable students to understand the language structure units which is only limited to words` or sentences` understanding. They completely neglected cultivating students` abilities in reading comprehension.

From the book written by Chen Meimei and the other three people, some conclusions can be drawn that there are several obvious characteristics in college students` learning in English reading: first, their purposes of learning are clear. Their learning motivation is greater. They have plenty of social and life experience and a certain cultural knowledge; second, the acquisitions of native language have for a long time. Their thinking is basically mature. And they have stronger understanding abilities, thinking abilities, logical judgments and reasoning abilities; third, they learn foreign language in the environment of native language, not in the environment of target language. They acquire English and develop their abilities just depending on limited time in teaching class; fourth, their study methods are not correct enough, and levels of their knowledge of English are different; fifth, as they grow, their language acquisition device in their brains gradually decline. All these characteristics affect college students` reading comprehension.

Therefore, some research has been done through interview and questionnaires with 30 junior students from English department and a certain number of students in other departments. The main contents are about problems and obstacles they meet in the process of reading and how they deal with new words that they really stand in the way of comprehension.73.3%of students reflect the breadth of vocabulary knowledge affects their reading comprehension, such as small breadth of vocabulary knowledge, different understanding of polysemy.46.7% of them reflect that they will lose patient when they meet some difficult and complicated problems.46.7% of them reflect that background knowledge affects the percentage of the right answers.23.3% of them feel that there is not enough time to think because of reading speed.

According to the above research results and Chen Meimei and the other three people` ideas, I find that there are some obstacles which affect the improvement of college students` reading abilities:

(1)Native language interference causes negative transfer, including phonetics interference, lexicon interference, grammar interference and pragmatics interference and so on;

(2)Intralingual interference causes the confusion of the text structure, including overgeneralization, incomplete application of rules and cross-association, etc.

(3)Non-linguistic interference causes the behavior error, including the attitudes toward errors and awareness of self-amendment and so on. [3]P74-75

5 Solutions to getting rid of obstacles in English reading

Based on what have been discussed, it is impossible to improve college students` reading abilities unless they overcome obstacles mentioned above according to college students` own characteristics.

5.1 Emphasis on the cultural background knowledge

For a long time, people have been working on how the cultural element affects learning of English. Anthropologists and linguists regard knowledge of cultural background and language structure as the key items. Students often ignore English culture and lack background knowledge. They have very little or even no knowledge about English speaking countries` culture. “Therefore, they could not understand or they could misunderstand some idioms. At last it will hinder them from improving reading comprehension and reading abilities.” [5]P84 “The background knowledge is a vital factor to affect college students` abilities in reading comprehension.” [6]P93

The studies of languages and culture indicate that language is formed and keeps developing and getting nourished gradually in the long-term social practices and real life. Language and culture are inseparable. Culture is generally defined as the total-material riches and spiritual wealth created in the process of social development. [7]P101

So language and culture are interdependent and interacted. Language is the medium of culture transmitting. Without language, culture would not be possible. In the process of English reading, even though students master basic knowledge, they will inevitably make some mistake and meet some difficulties in understanding if they lack understanding of English cultural features and ignore the cultural differences between native language and target language. So, when college students learn foreign language, they should remember that learning its culture; background is not only helpful to our understanding of it but also inevitable to master it. “For instance, when we know the origin of Thanksgiving Day, we`ll have no difficulty in understanding their way of celebration with a turkey, and if we know the earlier settlers from Europe on American Continent, we’ll find no problem of understanding the common American characteristics---seeking for freedom and inpiduality, etc.” [7]P101

In addition, it is necessary to pay special attention to college students mastering cultural meanings of lexicon connotation and denotation. Even though some words in different languages have the same concept, their social and cultural meanings are with strong ethnic features because of different culture in different countries. For example:

They were carrying sandwiches and wine in paper bags, dreaming of golden beaches and sea tides as the pray, cold spring of New York vanished behind them.

If students can not understand the climate in New York and Florida and their geographical location and so on, it is impossible for them to understand why the spring in New York is grey and cold, why they dream golden beaches and sea tides. And, of course, they can not comprehend their good mood and the hero`s gloomy mood, which will help students to understand the rest of the passage.

In a word, culture and language are closely related to each other. In teaching, teachers should emphasize both of them, teach both and mix both. “As one way of communication, reading materials reflect cultural differences through the language in written form.” [8]P62 Therefore, students must realize the importance of cultural background knowledge. Only in this way can college students improve their language competence and achieve effective reading.

5.2 Emphasis on the influence of discourse

Strictly speaking, a text could consist of a single sentence, but we are more interested in texts composed of a number of sentences organized to carry a coherently structured message. “The message may be a story, a body of information, an argument and so on; and the way the meanings in a text are organized to convey the message is discourse.” [9]P80 So, to break through the traditional modes of teaching reading, college students should pay more attention to the understanding of the discourse as well as the understanding of words and sentences. They should use discourse analysis to analyze the communicative function of a discourse, the contexture and the logical relation between paragraphs to grasp writer’s meanings.

What does discourse analysis mean? It is the study of how discourse is produced and organized. Discourse analysis can help readers to obtain and master lots of information which is conveyed by a discourse, and scientifically and systematically analyze the contexture, passage meanings and the relation between sentence and sentence and paragraph and paragraph. Take argumentation as an example. Chen Meimei, Rao Hui, Zhang Xicheng, Zhang Jun has pointed out that about 80% to 95% of paragraphs in an argumentation contain topic sentences to express their main ideas according to statistical data. It usually appears in the first sentence or the last sentence of a paragraph. Of course, sometimes, it may be in the middle of a paragraph.

In the whole passage, the first paragraph and the last paragraph are utmost important. Take the following paragraph for example:

“Life in 1999 will be much different from what it is today. For one thing, you will sleep later because your job will start later in the morning. Two machines will do most of your routine work for you. Also you will travel to work on a moving sidewalk. Furthermore, you will take to friends on a picture telephone. Finally, you will take longer vocation in more distant places since transportation will be so much faster and cheaper.” [10]P27

The first sentence “Life in 1999 will be much different from what it is today.” is the topic sentence. It gives students the main idea of the paragraph. And the following sentences support the topic sentence.

In addition, if college students can make full use of discourse markers, it will be helpful for them to improve their reading speed and their abilities to correctly understand the theme, structure of a discourse and writer`s writing methods. Christine Nuttall has pointed out that, from the reader’s point of view, the markers fall into three main classes:

(1)Markers which signals the sequence in which reported events occurred, such as then, first, at once, next, the following day. For example, the gusts arrived. Then the sports took place.

(2)Markers which signal the writer`s manner of organizing the discourse, such as in conclusion, that is to say, for example, to resume, in short, we must now turn to.

(3)Markers which indicate the writer`s view of the facts, etc. written about, such as moreover, incidentally, similarly, however, as a matter of fact, in any case, therefore, in order to, more importantly. [4]P94

Therefore, mastering the discourse knowledge will help students to understand the main idea and the structure of an article and the writer`s intention, which will improve their reading abilities. 5.3 Emphasis on the acquisition of lexicon

In Basic Reading Skills Handbook, Harvey S. Wiener and Charles Bazerman have pointed out that lexicon is a very important factor in English reading. Reading in fast speed and efficient understanding should depend on the breadth of vocabulary knowledge. Many things, such as thinking and opinions, can be formed through lexicon. It directly affects students` correct understanding in the process of reading. So the ability to determine the meaning of vocabulary items from context is one of the most important aspects of successful reading. Through reading, college students can enlarge their breadth of vocabulary knowledge, and enhance their understanding of words and remember them firmly. [11]P5-53

In An Introduction to English Lexicology, Lin Chengzhang has pointed out that college students can enlarge their breadth of vocabulary knowledge through phonetics, word formation and semantics and so on in the process of lexical learning. But because of polysemy, homonymy and some other features of words, a very simple word may have different meanings in different contexts. [12]P7-283Take the following sentences for example:

(1) He didn`t express himself very clearly, but he means that he wants your help.

(2) In running a company, strict financial management means everything.

In the first sentence, the word “mean” refers to “intend to convey sth, or signify sth”; in the second sentence, the word “mean” refers to “be of importance”.

In the process of reading comprehension, college students always reflect that they can not understand a sentence meaning even though the sentence structure is not complex and words are simple. For example:

(1) They were not a little surprised at the news.

Once reading the sentence, they may think that the sentence means that they were not surprised at the news at all. But, actually, it is on the opposite. It means that they were very surprised at the news. Since the phrase “not a little” means “very”.

(2) You can`t be too careful when you drive a car.

The phrase “can`t be too careful” may be understood as “should not be too careful”. In fact, it means that “the more careful, the better”

What`s more, students can learn words through contexts. It is very difficult for students to confirm lexical meanings if they don`t try to understand the words or phrases in the content of the whole article in the process of reading. Christine Nuttall has pointed out that an article is encoded according to two rules: grammar and meaning. [4]P4-5 Thus, college students can guess lexical meanings with the following rules. For example:

(1) He has gone to football practice;

(2) He has a large practice in London.

The word “practice” in these two sentences has different meanings. The former means “exercise”. The latter means “work of a doctor or lawyer”

When we read an article, we will find that a writer always use the following methods to help readers to figure out lexical meanings:

Definition: e.g. Jane is indecisive, that is, she can’t make up her mind.

Restatement: e.g. It must be lasting and easy to recognize, to pide, and to carry about. In other words it must be ‘durable, distinct, pisible and portable [13]P30

Example: e.g. After a day of hunting, Harold is ravenous. Yesterday, for example, he ate two bowls of soup, salad, a large chicken, and a piece of chocolate cake before he was finally satisfied. [14]P25

Comparison: e.g. Peter was not frugal since he spent money so freely.

Contrast: e.g. Some people like to walk quickly home after work, but I prefer to stroll home and look at the store windows along the way. [13]P31

Related information: e.g. Timken was now angry…Once again he flew into a rage.

In addition to figuring out lexical meanings according to the context, word formation is another method. Remembering some major rules of word formation is helpful. For example:

(1) If students know affix “ped” which means “child”, and “agog” which means “leader”, it is not difficult to figure out “pedagogue” which means “leader of children”, that is “teacher”. [14]P25

(2) The prefix “anti-” means “opposed to, against”. [15]P51

Lexicon is a very important factor of successful reading. Therefore, college students should pay much attention to it. So there are some words, such as antiaircraft (designed to destroy enemy aircraft), antiballistic missile (rocket designed to destroy another in the air), antibiotic (that can destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria). [15]P51

5.4 Reinforcement of learning motivation

Findings of researches show that many college students` intensive motivation in English learning can obviously improve their reading abilities and raise the efficiency of learning. Such kind of motivation reflects their strong desires to master English .And the motivation includes learning goals, attitudes, efforts and a desire to attain the goal. A lot of researches prove that motivation and attitude is inseparable. They play a very important role in English reading. An active and strong leaning motivation and correct learning attitude will pave the way for English reading.

As long as college students` learning motivation is positive, they will learn autonomously. They will do their best to improve their abilities in reading comprehension in many ways. In the process of reading, they will select different reading skills and strategies to achieve understanding according to their own needs. What`s more, if their learning motivation is strong, they will make full use of their advantage, such as understanding, memory, background knowledge and abundant experiences to fully develop their analysis, judgments, inducing and reasoning abilities to raise their own reading comprehension level.

5.5 Cultivation of good reading habit

Dai Lin has pointed out clearly that good learning habits are the necessary premise of successful study. [6]P93 Lots of college students complain that reading is a difficult task. It can`t give them any benefits and useful information. After an examination in reading, they often say that their reading speed is too slow; they can`t understand what the meaning of the materials is; their reading abilities are poor. If they have good reading habits, they can flexibly use various reading skills in a test to get high marks, and they can improve their reading abilities.

From Christine Nuttall` ideas in Teaching Reading Skills in a Foreign Language, some conclusions can be drawn that there are several reading habits which hinder students` reading comprehension: (1).sub vocalizing (forming the sounds of the words you are reading, and even murmuring them aloud); (2).finger-pointing; (3).head movements; (4).regressions and so on. All of these are bad for them in reading. College students should aware that efficient readers do not have these habits. These habits are harmful.

Therefore, it is necessary for students to cultivate their good reading habits, such as skimming, scanning, silent reading.

6 Training of English reading ability and skills

The improvement of college students` abilities in reading comprehension can’t be isolated from the cultivation and training of reading skills and comprehension skills. In Basic Reading Skills Handbook, Harvey S. Wiener and Charles Bazerman have provided us with good advice for training of English reading ability and skills: building vocabulary, using aids to reading, understanding main ideas, finding information, interpreting what you read, writing to read. [11]Pv-vii And Chen Meimei and the other three people also have provided us some reading skills: grasping main ideas through looking through the whole passage, generalizing the theme after quickly extracting information, drawing inferences and comprehending details, learning to deducing lexical meanings. [3]P83-88 In order to help college students to improve their reading abilities and master some reading skills, teachers should pay attention to the training of the following reading skills in reading teaching.

6.1 Understanding the main ideas

“A piece of writing often presents many ideas, but these ideas usually relate to one important idea. In order to understand how these ideas fit together, you need to spot the main idea, which gives you an overall meaning to the reading.” [11]P143 In the process of reading, students can look through the passage and don’t need to read it word by word .They just grasp some basic knowledge. After reading and thinking, they can understand the passage. That is to say, they can generalize the main idea of the passage in their own words. If they can’t grasp the main idea, they will always neglect the important part of the passage. Thus they won’t achieve the reading goal. For example:

“Too often young women use work as a stopgap between high school and marriage. The idea is to keep themselves afloat until Mr. Right comes along. Then they can marry and have children. Being a wife and mother is a perfectly valid occupation, but no women should allow it to cancel out her ability to be self-supporting. Life plays too many tricks. Mr. Right doesn`t come along. Mr. Right doesn`t earn enough to support the family and you have to work. You find housewifery boring and you want to work but you have no skills. The marriage doesn`t last and you have to go back to work. Your children grow up and don`t need you so much. You must be prepared” [11]P172

After reading, students will know that the main idea is that life does not always turn out as we hope.

6.2 Generalizing the theme after quickly extracting information

The theme is the soul of a passage. All the details and facts serve the theme. Thus, students can scan or skim the whole passage to extract specific information to understand the main idea. If students can concentrate on the topic sentence of every paragraph, they will grasp the main idea. Of course, sometimes the topic sentence is implied in a paragraph. And students should generalize the paragraph’s main idea by themselves. For example:

“One hundred years ago, school teachers were expected to provide a variety of services in addition to their teaching duties and to behave themselves in an exemplary (serving as an example manner).They cared for the oil lamps, tended the fire, and supplied their students with sharp pencil .After a long day in the classroom, they were expected to spend some time every evening reading the Bible. For Women teachers, Of course, alcohol and tobacco were forbidden.

Which statement best expresses the main idea?

A、Teachers performed domestic tasks.

B、The teaching profession demanded total dedication.

C、Teachers needed the guidance of religion.

D、Teachers get good examples by not using tobacco and alcohol.” [3]P85

After reading, students can know that there is no obvious topic sentence in the paragraph. Looking through the four choices, students will find that the choices A, C and D are details in the passage. All these details support the passage’s main ideas that the teaching profession demanded total dedication one hundred years ago. So the correct choice is B.

6.3 Drawing inferences and comprehending details

In the process of reading, college students must be good at analyzing, thinking, judging and reasoning according to the related information implied in a passage. That is to say, students are able to understand a passage’s implied meaning through the plain sense. At the same time, students should grasp and recognize important details, namely finding out those major facts which can express the main idea, to achieve understanding. For example:

John Henderson was driving home late last night from an exhausting business trip.

The sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. It tells students the hero of the article, and the time “late last night”. If students carefully read it and think about it, they will infer: 1.John Henderson is a businessman, because he just finished a business trip; 2.John Henderson must be very tired since the trip was exhausting trip.

Therefore, reasonable inference can help students to understand an article much better. And students must remember that they should make full use of facts, analyze the given information and read between the lines to drawing reasonable inferences.

7 Conclusion

Reading is very important in learning foreign language. Efficient reading is affected by many factors. They have their own features in developing reading skills. Even though they have learned English for more than nine years, their reading abilities need to be improved. Since there are still some obstacles to hinder them from improving their abilities in reading comprehension, college students should do their best to overcome obstacles, and master and flexibly make use of reading skills. In teaching reading, teachers still play an important role to improve students` reading abilities. They should train their basic skills in reading comprehension, arouse students` studying enthusiasm, and help students to master some effective studying strategies. Reading comprehension is not an inactive activity. Language is complicated and changeable. Moreover, it is not easy to cultivate language tuition in a short time. Thus, in order to improve college students` abilities in reading comprehension, they should spare no efforts.

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