新视野英语原文(大一上学期)

Section A

Learning a Foreign Language

Learning a foreign language was one of the most difficult yet most rewarding experiences of my life? Although at times, learning a language v/as frustrating, it v/as well v/orth the effort ?

My experience v/ith a foreign language began in junior middle school, when I took my first English class?I had a kind and patient teacher who often praised all of the students?Because of this positive method, I eagerly answered all the questions I could, never worrying much about making mistakes? I was at the top of my class for two years?

When I went to senior middle school, I v/as eager to continue studying English; however, my experience in senior school v/as very different from before? While my former teacher had been patient v/ith all the students, my new teacher quickly punished those v/ho gave in correct an sv/ers ? Whenever we answered incorrectly, she pointed a long stick at us and，shaking it up and dov/n, shouted, "No! No! No!" It didn't take me long to lose my eagerness to ansv/er questions? Not only did I lose my joy in ansv/ering questions, but also I totally lost my desire to say anything at all in English?

However, that state didn't last long? V/hen I went to college, I learned that all students were required to take an English course ? Un like my senior middle school teacher, my college English teachers v/ere patient and kind, and none of them carried long, pointed sticks! Hov/ever, the situation was far from perfect? As our classes were very large, I v/as only able to answer a couple of questions in each class period? Also, after a few v/eeks of classes, I no deed there were many students v/ho spoke much better than I did ?I bega n to feel intimidated? So, once again, although for different reasons, I was afraid to speak? It seemed my English was going to stay at the same level forever.

That was the situation until a couple of years later; whe n I v/as offered an opport unity to study English through an online course? The communication medium was a computer, phone line, and modem? I soon got access to the necessary equipment，learned the technology from a friend and participated in the virtual classroom 5 to 7 days a v/eek?

Online learning is not easier than regular classroom study; it requires nnuch time, commitment and discipline to keep up v/ith the flow of the course. I worked hard to meet the minimum standards set by the course and to complete assignments on time.

I practiced all the time. I carried a little dictionary v/ith me everywhere I went, as v/ell as a notebook in which I listed any nev/ words I heard? I made many, sometimes embarrassing, mistakes. Once in a while I cried with frustrate on，and sometimes I felt like giving up. But I didn't feel intimidated by students v/ho spoke faster than I did because I took all the time I needed to think out my ideas and wrote a reply before posting it on the screen. Then, one day I realized I could understand just about everything I came across, and most importantly, I could "say” anything I wanted to in English?Although I still made nnany mistakes and was continually learning, I had finally reaped the ben efits of all that hard v/ork.

Learning a foreign language has been a most trying experienee for me, but one that I wouldn't trade for anything? Not only did learning another language teach me the value of hard work, but 让also gave me in sights into ano ther culture, and my mind v/as opened to new v/ays of seeing things? The most wonderful result of having learned a foreign language v/as that I could communicate with many more people than before? Talking v/ith people is one of my favorite activities, so being able to speak a new language lets me meet new people, participate in conversations, and form new, unforgettable friendships. Nov/ that I speak a foreign lan guage, in stead of staring into space v/hen English is being spoken， I can participate and make friends. I am able to reach out to others and bridge the gap betv/een my language and culture and theirs?

Section B

Keys to Successful Online Learning

While regular schools still exist, the virtual classroom plays an important role in today's learning community. Job opportunities for students are expanding rapidly and more people of all ages are becoming av/are of online learning that allov/s them to study at home? Online students, however，require unique qualities to be successful. The follov/ing list discusses some ideal qualities of successful online students?

1.Be open-minded about sharing life, v/ork, and learning experiences as part of online lear ning.

Many different people find that the on line method requires them to use their experiences and that online learning offers them a place to communicate v/ith each other. This forum for communication removes the visual barriers that hinder some students from expressing themselves? In addition, students are given time to reflect on the information before replying. In this v/ay, students can help to keep the online environment open and friendly.

2.Be able to communicate through v/riting?

In the virtual classroom nearly all communication is v/ritten, so it is critical that students feel comfortable expressing themselves in v/riting? Some students have lim让ed v/riting abilities v/hich need to be improved before or as part of the online experience? This usually requires extra commitment by these students. Whether working alone or in a group, students share ideas, perspectives and discussions on the subject being studied, and read about those of their classmates. In this way, students gain great insight from their peers, learning from each other as v/ell as the instructor.

3.Be willing to ”speak up'1 if problems arise?

Remember that instructors cannot see their students in an onUne course?This means students must be absolutely explicit with their comments and requests. If they experience technical difficulties, or problems in understanding something about the course, they MUST speak up; otherwise there is no v/ay anyone can know something is wrong? If one person does not understand something, possibly several others have the same problem .If ano ther student is able to help, she/he probably will. V/hile explaining something to others, students reinforce their ov/n knowledge about the subject?

https://www.sodocs.net/doc/5213893224.html,ke the program seriously.

On line lear ning is not easier than study in regular classrooms. In fact, many students say it requires much more time and effort. Requirements for online courses are not less than those of any quality program? Successful students, hov/ever, see online learning as a convenient v/ay to receive their education — not an easier way. Many online students s让at computers for hours at a time during evenings and on weekends in order to complete their assignments ? V/hen other people are finished and having fun is most likely the time when online students do their course work? Online students need to commit 4 to 15 hours a week for each course ?

5.Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of online leaming?

Online courses require students to make decisions based on facts as well as experience? It is absolutely necessary for students to assimilate information and make the right decisions based on critical thinking. In a positive online environnlent, students feel valued by the instructor, by their classmates and by their own work?

6.Be able to think ideas through before replying?

Providing meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of on line learni ng. Time is give n to allow for careful development of answers ? Testing and challe nging of ideas is encouraged ? Many times on line students will not always be right; they just need to be prepared to accept a challenge.

7.Keep up v/ith the progress of the course?

Online learning is normally sequential and requires commitment on the students' part?Keeping up v/ith the face-to-face class and completing all work on time is vital. Once students get behind, it is almost impossible to catch up. Students need to want to be there and need to v/ant the experienee. The instructor may have to communicate with stude nts pers on ally to offer help and remind them of the need to keep up.

Just as many excellent instructors may not be effective online facilitators, not all students have the necessary qualities to perform v/ell online? People who have the qualities discussed above usually make very successful on line students ? If you have these qualities, lear ning on line may be one of the best discoveries you will ever make ?

Words: 715

Section C

Teaching Children at Home

Record numbers of children are being taken out of school and taught by their parents at home ? Up to 100 children a month are leaving the classroom because parents are not satisfied v/ith schools? Around 15,000 families now teach their children at home, a rise of 50 per cent from last year, according to the latest figures.

This present rise in home schooling is blamed on the nature of examinations, not getting children into the school of choice, and dissatisfaction v/ith teachi ng methods. Some parents prefer keeping children home because of attacks by other students and a lack of discipline in schools? Researchers say, however, many families prefer teaching at home because they feel the idea of public schooling is not modern. They believe schools will be things of the past in 20 years as media technology, like the Inter net, teaches childre n. 1.

Under the lav/, parents must teach their children, v/hether at school or at home. Comm unity officials are charged v/ith protecting their schooli ng. Professor Meighan of Notti ng ham Un iversity says parents were fed up v/ith the requirements of existing schools? For him, schools are an out-of-date concept from the days of the town crier （市政传令员）,v/hen it v/as difficult to get information and a central person was needed to com mu nicate kn owledge ?

He also thinks parents are recognizing educati on is movi ng on and don't want their children to be held back by out-of-date methods? 2? _______________________________

Meighan suggests children will be taught at home using the Internet, computers, and video （录像片）?He thinks future schools v/ill be small groups of children, sharing equipment in their homes. The teachers may become advisers v/ho sort through the information. 3?

Future schooling was questioned by Sir Christopher Ball of the Royal （皇家的）Society of Arts. He thinks learni ng in the future will include an inter national curriculum and international standards ?He sees some present models of schooli ng —comm unity schools and home schooling, for example 一becoming more central and other models, not yet

How Personal Choice Brings O-Level Success at 13

Leslie Barson is already running the type of school that researchers think will teach children in the future. Based partly at a community centre and partly in family homes, the Otherwise Club in eludes some 35 families around n orth Londo n. Professional teachers are brought in to help with special subjects, but mostly parents and children work together on units like studying the Greeks or the American Civil V/ar, reading about events, making costumes （戏

装）,and learning how people used to live? 5. __________________________________ 6.

Parents choosing home schooling say the freedom of home learning allov/s some children to sit one or two GCEs by the age of 13. Ms. Barson*s own children, Luis, age 12, and 7-year-old Lilly, have never attended school. She pays around 2,000 pounds a year for private teachers to help in special areas? She set up the Otherwise Club six years ago v/ith just a few students ? She thinks the purpose of teachi ng children is to develop their sei仁worth? Her son agrees?Luis, now teaching himself math, said, H l like the freedom to tearn things that interest me, especially music. I don't feel I am missing out on anything by not being at school because I am a member of various clubs and have friends who attend normal school." 7? 8. _____________________________

The "Danger” of Separating Students

Home schooling could change children's relations with their peers and older people because of long periods spent v/ith their parents. Most professors agree future learning will be more centred around the home, and fear children could become isolated and shy. Professor Michael Barber of London University said pupils could spend half their time at school, half at home as a way to solve this problem? He believes very strongly that children need the experience of school to ensure the quality of being taught the basics and being examined?He thinks children must spend time v/ith peers to learn the rules of work in a democratic （民主的）society and to learn hov/ to deal with relations with more people than just their parents. Margaret Rudland, head teacher in Hammersmith, also thinks children must experienee actual peer relations. 9?_________________________________________ 10. _______

Unit N

Section A

A Busy V/eekday Morning

The radio clicked on. Rock music blasted forth. Like a shot, the music woke Sandy. She