實戰(zhàn)口語情景對話：Testing Students 測試學生

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

彼得：我們兩個人都在大學教書，嘉娜，我很好奇你怎么看給學生留家庭作業(yè)這件事?

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

嘉娜：啊，這是個棘手的問題，不是嗎?學生們不喜歡家庭作業(yè)。

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

彼得：對。你上學時喜歡家庭作業(yè)嗎?

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.

嘉娜：我不太記得了，不過最近，作為學生，我有點喜歡上家庭作業(yè)了，因為作業(yè)能激勵我學習。我不擅長自學，所以寫作業(yè)可以幫助我學習。

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 stuff for you if you go over it again. So we call it homework but I think it's really just maybe preparation or...

彼得：好。我同意你的觀點。我認為作業(yè)很重要，它可以幫助你為下一堂課做準備，為課堂內(nèi)容做準備，如果你再復習一遍，你可以再確定一遍。雖然我們稱之為作業(yè)，但其實我認為那更像是一種準備工作……

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

嘉娜：準備、復習或者說是課堂學習的后續(xù)，對吧?

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

彼得：對。看來我們在作業(yè)很重要這點上達成了一致。

Jana: What about tests? Do you like tests?

嘉娜：考試呢?你喜歡考試嗎?

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.彼得：嗯，這是個很好的問題。作為學習者來說，我不喜歡考試，作為老師來說，我也不喜歡給學生考試，不過我認為從某種方面來說，考試也有優(yōu)點，可以得到其他方式得不到的信息。我也不太確定。

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?

嘉娜：那我們?yōu)槭裁匆M行考試?我們?yōu)槭裁匆荚嚕质菫榱思顚W生努力學習嗎?還是為了檢查他們是否有進步?

Peter: Yeah, I think we test because obviously 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 learning stuff, does a test really make sure that you learn stuff? Do you think?

彼得：對，我認為我們進行考試的原因是，我們在大學教書，學校希望對學生的成績進行評定，以確定學生是通過了一門課還是沒有通過，所以我認為考試是設置了一種標準，或多或少地為所有人設置了同樣的標準，但是從學習角度來看，考試是否能確保你的學習?你認為呢?

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

嘉娜：我不清楚。我上學時非常討厭期末考試。

Peter: Me too.

彼得：我也是。

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?

嘉娜：尤其是口試。我們有很多口試，我發(fā)現(xiàn)那讓我非常有壓力。我寧愿在學期中多進行些小型考試，不過我認為這也要看學習者的類型，對吧?

Peter: Mmm.

彼得：嗯。

Jana: Different people like different things so.

嘉娜：不同的人喜歡不同的事情。

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 assume that you will have tests anyway, don't you think?

彼得：對，我認為這很難說，因為我想全世界大部分學校都會進行考試，就像我們學到的那樣。我不知道你的情況，我從小學開始就一直在考試，上大學以后理所當然地認為應該有考試，你不這么想嗎?

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

嘉娜：沒錯，也許如果沒有考試的話，有學生會抱怨的。

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 cram a lot of information in their heads before...

彼得：嗯。我的學生曾說，他們學習的唯一方式就是被強制因為考試而去學習，因為這相當于對他們加以限制，不過我不太確定這是不是記憶知識的好方法，因為有很多學生會在考試前把信息塞入大腦里……

Jana: Right.

嘉娜：沒錯。

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

彼得：在考試前一晚臨陣磨槍，然后考試之后就全忘了。

Jana: It's a tricky one.

嘉娜：對，這是個棘手的問題。