一、教學設計思想
當代外語教學觀要求外語教師充分利用一切課堂資源進行教學,其中網(wǎng)絡是增加信息量并促進學生自主學習的一個重要途徑。
祝智庭教授就此問題提出了“五何分類法”,即“是何、為何、如何、若何和由何”。“是何”通常指以What, Who, When, Where 為引導,指向一些表示事實性內(nèi)容的問題;“為何”指以Why為引導,指向事物之間的關系,并做解釋和推理;“如何”指以How為引導,指向一些表示方法、途徑與狀態(tài)的問題;“若何”指以If…(then)…為引導的,指向一些條件發(fā)生變化,可能產(chǎn)生新結果的問題;“由何”指以From…為引導的問題。人們通常把“由何”與其他“四何問題”進行融合設計,展示相應的問題情境。
在英語課堂中進行“五何提問法”教學,能創(chuàng)設運用英語進行思維的環(huán)境,引導學生較為全面地認識事物,學會通過多角度提問而獲得更多信息,進行有意義的英語學習。以下是以Water in China為主題進行的網(wǎng)絡模式下的“五何提問法”的教學實踐。
二、教學對象和內(nèi)容分析
Water in China是牛津英語(上海版)8B Chapter 6的主題內(nèi)容。初二學生對于中國水資源的情況了解較為含糊,多局限于身邊的用水情況。為了讓學生全面了解中國的水資源狀況等相關信息,進行網(wǎng)絡探究成為絕好的手段。學生已初步具備了網(wǎng)絡信息的搜索、處理和制作PPT的能力,是教學順利進行的基礎。
三、教學目標
本課旨在讓學生初步學會“五何提問法”,即用What, How, Why, If , Who 和Where 進行Water in China主題的設問;讓學生充分利用網(wǎng)絡資源搜尋資料、解決問題;鼓勵學生自己制作PPT,并用英語表述主題內(nèi)容;提供學生與同伴合作學習的機會;激勵學生關心地球和環(huán)境,培養(yǎng)責任意識。
四、教學重點、難點
學生用“五何提問法”進行Water in China主題的問題設定;學生搜索信息和制作PPT,并進行成果展示。如何全面、合理地設定問題。
五、教學過程
(一)主題導入
T: Good afternoon, everybody! We’ll discuss our topic with the help of the computers today. I know you’re all good at computers, so I hope we enjoy the class today. First, let’s watch a short period of video.
T: How does the boy feel?
S: He feels sad.
T: Do the people around like him?
S: No.
T: What do they think of him?
S1: They think he is a trouble-maker.
S2: He is a little bit boring.
T:Why don’t they like him?
S1: That’s because he asks too many whys.
S2:He only asks whys and he doesn’t know how to communicate with others.
T: So it seems that we’d better learn how to ask proper questions so as not to make others bored. Right?
S: Yes.
T: Well, I’d like to introduce you a new way of asking questions. That’s so called five-wh questions. Are you interested in it?
S: Yes, of course.
(設計意圖:心理學向我們揭示了如下的規(guī)律:個體一旦獲得學習動機并發(fā)生作用,就能在學習中產(chǎn)生強烈的興趣和持久力,促進學習。所以,筆者播放了動畫片《聰明的一休》中有關一個孩子不停地發(fā)問,引得周邊人大為反感的片段。學生對于“為什么這個孩子的問題總是不受他人歡迎”的問題很感興趣。他們積極思考,自發(fā)地得出了答案。學生在教師的引導下,自然地獲悉了動畫片片段給大家的啟迪,也提出了“如何提好問題”的討論主題。)
(二)主題內(nèi)容的初步認知階段
T: First wh - includes what, who, when and where. By asking such questions, we can get first idea about what something is. That’s the basic fact of a certain thing. Secondly, the questions begin with why. Thirdly, how, we’ll get further idea about the relations between this thing with others, such as the reason for something or the way in which something comes out. Fourthly, we have if… then. It means you can make a supposition. That is to say, you put what you suppose something to be in your questions and get the result finally. Lastly, that’s the questions beginning with from.
T: Let me take an example. Suppose here is a watch. We can ask questions like “What can you find on the face of the watch? Which country is famous for watches? When do we need watch? Where can we find watches? How is a watch made? Why do we need watches? How can you tell a clock from a watch?”
(設計意圖:雖然教師從定義和內(nèi)涵上介紹了“五何提問法”,但是只有通過舉例學生才能初步了解“五何提問法”的具體含義。)
T: Can you get a general idea about the five-wh questions? If not, take it easy. Next item will be helpful for you to understand it better. It is to play a guessing game.
T: I’ve prepared a box. Inside it is something special prepared for today’s guessing game. You may ask me several questions. But you can’t ask me about it directly. For example, you can’t ask me “what is it? What is the name of it? Is it …?” If your question is good enough, I’ll give you a small prize for that. Here is the prize box. There’re many prizes in it. You may have one for your good question.
(設計意圖:教師取出一只里面藏有一樣物品的盒子,讓學生試用“五何提問法”進行猜物品游戲,為鼓勵學生多角度思維,教師以小禮物予以鼓勵。學生盡管已經(jīng)初步認知了提問方式,但仍需要具體操練才能真正掌握和運用。對學生而言,用外語來提問是要有足夠的自信的,因此教師用小禮物能激勵學生參與,促使學生進行提問。)
(三)問題提出和解決階段
T: Now that you’ve done some practice on raising questions. I’ll show you one of your tasks today. That’s to ask the questions on the topic Water in China. Please show us what questions you have decided to talk about and write them down in a Word Document on your computer. You may co-operate with your partner.
(設計意圖:讓學生自發(fā)探討、決定Water Talk主題中自己感興趣的若干問題是本節(jié)課的教學難點。教師鼓勵學生合作討論、研究要設定的問題任務,并利用Word進行預設問題的記錄和修改。)
T: You all did a good job. The first task is perfectly completed. Let’s move on to the second task. That’s to use PowerPoint to make an electronic presentation document. Here are the suggested steps for you.
T: Step A. Search the Internet for the information which is related to your questions. Before class,I sent two letters to your e-mail box. In the enclosures, you’ll find one about resources. They may help you find the materials you need more easily.
T: Step B. Use PowerPoint to make an electronic presentation document on the topic. Also in the enclosure, you’ll find a letter about gauge. All the requirements and degrees are listed in the gauge. Let’s see what are required. First, 4 pages is a must. Secondly, the contents should be close to your designed questions on Water in China; Show your creativity in your work. Try to make your work different from others. Make it clear and creative. Lastly, you’re supposed to work with your partner on the same work. Each one should offer his help to the work. You’d better check your work according to the gauge and try to make it perfect.
(設計意圖:教師在學生向網(wǎng)絡尋求設問的答案時提供幫助,預先給學生的校園網(wǎng)郵箱里送上相關主題的資源鏈接和量規(guī),這個過程被稱為“搭腳手架”。學生在“腳手架”的幫助下,對設定好的“五何問題”進行思考和探究,并最終完成PPT的制作。在此過程中,學生可根據(jù)量規(guī)進行自測,以提高電子作品的質量。這部分是本課的重要教學環(huán)節(jié),充分展示了學生發(fā)現(xiàn)問題、提出問題、分析問題和解決問題的能力。)
(四)資源和評價
本課設計了評價量規(guī),供學生在進行問題設定和問題解決過程中進行先行的自我評價,這也是作為在師生最后共同評價學生電子作品時的重要依據(jù)。量規(guī)的設計提供了學生在學習過程中的“支架”,注重了學生的參與和合作互動,注重了學習過程的評價。
(五)學生合作展示PPT、總結和作業(yè)布置
T: Here’s another important part. Present your work to us. If you can do the job well, a surprise will wait for you!
T: Now it’s nearly the end of the class. Let’s have a brief conclusion. What do you think of the five-wh questions?
S1: It can help us to ask further questions.
S2: It can help us think of questions more thoughtfully.
T: Yes, you’re right. Using the five-wh questions, we can easily ask deeper questions and communicate with others. So the topic of today’s homework is “How to console your friend?”Console is a new word for you. Suppose your friend is unhappy today for he failed in the English exam. How can you console him? How can you make him happier or not so sad about his failure? You’re supposed to make a short dialogue with your poor friend. Try to ask the five-wh questions in your dialogue. Wish you success!
(設計意圖:學生完成網(wǎng)絡探究和“五何提問”內(nèi)容的PPT制作后,通過合作的方式向大家介紹主題設問和解答結果。學生和教師參與評價,是本課的又一重點環(huán)節(jié)。設計學生談運用“五何提問法”后的感受環(huán)節(jié)是為了讓學生發(fā)現(xiàn)它的優(yōu)點,并鼓勵運用英語思維。作業(yè)布置內(nèi)容結合學生的生活實際,鼓勵學生多用“五何提問法”來提問,促進交流。)
(六)教學啟示
1.教師指導學生認識“五何提問法”時要結合學生身邊事,以提高學生對話題感知的興趣和敏感度,也可以結合口頭操練、做游戲等環(huán)節(jié)使學生吸收和內(nèi)化教師語言輸入的內(nèi)容和形式。
2.學生合作確定設問內(nèi)容時,教師應提供及時的引導,鼓勵學生去創(chuàng)新并運用發(fā)散思維,使學生設計出良好的“五何”提問句。
3.教師幫助學生認知量規(guī)的重要性,有針對性地引導學生,并自己探究過程設定目標,采用適當手段。
4.學生以合作方式進行網(wǎng)絡模式探究學習和完成電子演示文稿制作時,教師提示其要注意預設問題與答案內(nèi)容的統(tǒng)一性和時代性,鼓勵每位學生主動參與活動,關注學生過程評價。
5.教師要求學生合作完成電子作品時,遇到交際困難要運用適當?shù)慕浑H策略用英語來完成會話協(xié)商,完成交際活動。
6.教師鼓勵學生自我總結運用網(wǎng)絡模式和“五何提問法”進行主題內(nèi)容學習后的感受。
7.本教學模式下,教師的主導作用不僅包括講解教學內(nèi)容、啟發(fā)、引導學生,更主要的是包括創(chuàng)設“1+1”(任務要求稍高于學生能力)的情境、提供信息資源、組織和指導協(xié)作探究性學習以及設計學生自主學習策略等方面。
8.在學生進行探究過程中,教師要不斷給學生提供幫助,要做好“搭腳手架”的工作,充分了解學生,引導和訓練學生的高級思維能力。
9.在不同性質的英語教學要求下,采取靈活的探究形式,使教學形式服務于教學目標和教學過程,以達到理想的教學效果。
(作者單位:華東師范大學)