Unit 1 Ways of Learning

Unit 1 Ways of Learning Zhang bingfei

Key points: • Grasp the main idea • Learn comparison and contrast in writing • Master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text:

The Four Common Types of Parenting StylesBy Jason Kaminski • There are four different types of parenting styles that are commonly identified by an expert by the name of Diana Baumrind in the parenting field. These styles are known as authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting, neglectful parenting, and authoritative parenting. There are important differences between each of these styles, and there is one style that is significantly better than the other three. In order to understand which type is the best parenting style; however, we need to review all of them first.

One of the types of parenting styles is the authoritarian style of parenting. This style is characterized by high expectations of compliance and conformity to parental rules and directions. The problem with authoritarian parenting is that the parental rules and directions often change when the parent feels like changing them, so the child never truly knows what is expected. The situation could be described as unfair and threatening. Many children raised by authoritarian parents live in a constant state of fear. They tend to display less self-confidence and are withdrawn socially. Some children might also rebel by openly defying the parents by leaving home at a younger age, partaking in drugs, alcohol, and sexual behavior at a much younger age, dating or marrying a partner whom they know their parents would disapprove of, and often might be estranged from their parents during adulthood.

The second of the four types of parenting styles is permissive parenting. This style is typically characterized by a warm, loving relationship between parent and child, but is flawed by low expectations of behavior. In other words, the permissive parent is usually afraid to make demands on the child much less hold them to any standard. This type of parent simply wants the child to like them at the end of the day and will do anything the child requests to do. Children raised by overly permissive parents tend to suffer from a lack of focus, immaturity and problems with emotional regulation. The children can not control their impulses and do not accept the responsibility for their own actions. When in trouble, the child will simply blame someone else even if it was their own fault. They tend to live and remain close to where they grew up, still dependent, in early adulthood.

Neglectful parenting is another one of the types of parenting styles. This style is best described as a step beyond permissive parenting. The neglectful parent may provide food and shelter, but is generally emotionally uninvolved in the child's life. A good example of this would be parents who never ask their child questions about their day, their friends, or their education. A neglected child may have serious issues going on outside the home, but the neglectful parent is never aware of them until something potentially tragic occurs. Many times children will grow up feeling resentment against their parents for being neglectful and often might be estranged from them into adulthood.

The last of the types of parenting styles, and definitely the one that is considered ideal, is authoritative parenting. This type of parent holds high expectations of the child's behavior while allowing the child to talk about those expectations. Parental rules and directions imposed on the child are fair and expressed clearly. The authoritative parent teaches the child about cause and effect, decision-making and self-sufficiency. Authoritative parents raise children who are successful, articulate, happy with themselves, and generous with others. This results in them being liked and respected by their peers and allows them to be generally well-rounded adults. • Parents should strive to raise their children with the authoritative style of parenting.

Watch a movie clip

小孩不笨

Disscussion • What type of parents do you have? If you were a parent, how to teach children ? • hints for discussion: spoil , control , trust , love , guide , fair, care

Text Organization • Part 1.(paras1-5): • An anecdote: the Chinese staff helped Benjamin to place the key. • Part II (Paras 6-7) The author discussed the two different learning styles in China and the West in detail. • Part III (Paras 8-10) It analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of teaching by holding hands in China. Part IV (Paras 11-14) It described Creativity First, a way that American cultivated children’ abilities.

Ways to introduce a theme • Stating a topic directly • Using an anecdote or an incident • Posing a question • Quoting • An imagined argument between people

Part1 • 1) Where and when did the incident take place? • 2) Who are the main characters in this incident? • 3) What is the attitude of the author and his wife toward Benjamin’s efforts in inserting the key into the slot? • 4) What is the attitude of the hotel staff toward Benjamin’s efforts?

Language points attach: fasten or join (one thing to another) • attach sth. to sth. /be attached to sth. • attached message 附件 Please attach the document to this letter before you send it out.

…to position the key just so to position the key carefully to fit into the narrow key slot • not in the least: not at all I don’t in the least appreciate the Marilyn Monroe kind of beauty. The boy is not in the least concerned about his study.

Because of his tender age and incomplete understanding of the need to positon the key just so, he would usuallyfail.Benjamin was not bothered in the least. 由于他年幼，不太明白得把钥匙放准位置才成，因此塞不进去，本杰明一点也不在意。

find one’s way: reach a destination naturally; arrive at It’s hard to find your way around when going to a new city. • initial: of or at the beginning, first (a., used only before n.) The initial sorrow turned into the anger when he knew the real reason of his father’s death.

Await & wait • await: (fml) wait for 他早就期待着这个时刻了。 He has long awaited this moment. “Await” is a fairly common word in formal writing, but you do not usually use it in conversation. Instead you use “wait for”

on occasion: now and then The heavy pressure in the city made him go to the countryside on occasion for a relaxation. I was usually the only foreign participant, although on occasion I brought other Americans in as guests.

neglect & ignore • neglect:对职责义务或应做的事没有给予足够的注意; - dutities/traffic regulations The investment turned out to be a failure and the manager was accused of neglecting his duties. • ignore:强调对某人或某事物故意不理会，-me /difficult questions • He completely ignored all these facts as if they never existed. • omit 因专注疏忽遗忘某事/删掉

relevant: adj. directly connected with the subject • 该证据与此案有关 The evidence is relevant to the case. Pattern: be relevant to

throw light on:help understand • These facts throw new light on the matter. • 这些事实使人进一步了解此事。 • 梦想照进现实

Part 2 • 1) What does the author mean by saying this incident was key in more than one sense? • 2) How do Americans and Chinese differ in their attitudes to creativity? • 3) What suggestion is made about seeking a better way for fostering skills and creativity

Comparison & Contrast • Comparison brings out the similarities between two or more things of the same kind • Contrast concentrates on the differences between them

Ways of Comparison & Contrast • One side at a time Examining one subject thoroughly and then start the other • Point by point Examining two subjects at the same time, discussing them point by point

Points for Comparison & Contrast • Ways to learn to accomplish a task Chinese Show a child how to do sth., or teach by holding his hands

Points for Comparison & Contrast • Ways to learn to accomplish a task Teach children that they should rely on themselves for solutions to problems

Points for Comparison & Contrast • Attitudes to creativity and skills Give great priority to developing skills at an early age, believing creativity can be promoted over time

Points for Comparison & Contrast • Attitudes to creativity and skills Put more emphasis on fostering creativity in young children, thinking skills can be picked up later

exception:n.sb./sth. that a comment or statement does not apply to 这是那项规定的一个明显的例外。 This is an apparent exception to the rule. Pattern:an exception to Collocations: with many/few exceptions 有很多/很少例外 without exception /with the exception of /make an exception of /make no exceptions

on one’s own • without anyone’s help Although her father is the president of that firm, she insisted getting the job on her own. • alone I’d rather not go to dance on my own. I do wish you’d come with me.

accomplish: manage to do 这项任务不是在一代人的时间里所能完成的。 The task will not be accomplished in one generation. Collocations: accomplish one's object/goal accomplish one's mission

accomplish 通常接task, aim, journey, voyage等名词，有时兼有取得效果之意。例如： I don't feel our visit really accomplished anything. complete比 accomplish 具体，可接建筑、工程、书籍等名词，指按预期目的把未完成的工作经过进一步的努力使之完成，主要涵义是补足缺少的部分。例如： The building will be completed by the end of this month. finish 在许多情况下可与complete换用, 但不及complete正式，常含有认真仔细地完成工作的最后阶段的精工修饰，使之完美的意思。例如： Finish the work off before you leave for your holiday.

in due course: at the proper time; eventually Be patient. You'll get your promotion in due course.

critical • very important Whether you may meet the demands of the customers will be critical to the success of this campaign. • very serious or dangerous As the situation in Iraq became critical, the UN Secretary-General appointed a special representative to tackle it.

principal & principle • principle仅作名词用，其主要意义指基本的东西或规则和标准。 • principal既是名词又是形容词。作为名词，它一般指居于高位或担任重要角色的人。例如：a meeting among all the principals in the transaction。作为形容词，它有主要的或首要的的意思

He is less likely to view life - as Americans do -as a series of situations in which one has to learn to think for oneself, to solve problems on one's own and even to discover new problems for which creative solutions are wanted. • 他也就不大可能-如美国人那样，将人生视作为一系列的情境，在这些情境中，一个人必须学会独立思考，学会独立解决问题，进而学会发现需要创造性地加以解决的新问题。

In retrospect, it became clear to me that this incident was indeed key - and key in more than one sense. It points to important differences in the educational and artistic practices in out two countries. 回想起来，这件事真是体现了问题的关键所在而且不仅仅是一种意义上的关键之所在。它表明了我们两国在教育和艺术实践上的重要差异。

so much so that: to such an extent(P 18)often followed by a clause beginning with that: Some parents spoil their children so much so that they never ask them to do any housework. David was already very weak, so much so that he could not walk at all.

The idea that learning should take place by continual careful shaping and molding applies equally to the arts. 学习应通过不间断的精心塑造而得以实现这一观念同样适用于艺术。

apply: vi. • 1.Pattern: Apply to • 教授的这条建议只适用于一些大学生 The advice given by the professor only applies to some of the college students. 2. Pattern: apply (to sb.) for sth. / apply to do sth 他决定申请参加学生会。 He decided to apply to join the Student Union.

continual & continuous • continual: it describes separate actions which are repeated over a period of time Recently the young couple have had continual arguments with each other because of trifles. • continuous: it indicates an action carrying on without stopping or interruption The brain needs a continuous supply of blood.

priority • sth. that one must do before anything else Study is not on his list of priorities. 道路建设应是予以优先考虑的事。 Road building is a first priority • sth. that holds a high place among competing claims The proposals deserve support as they give priority to the needs of children.

In terms of attitudes to creativity there seems to be a reversal of priorities: young westerns making their boldest departures first and then gradually mastering the tradition • 从对创造力的态度来说，优先顺序似乎颠倒了：西方人的年轻人先是大胆创新然后逐渐熟谙传统。

evolve: • evolve into 进化成，发展成，逐步形成 • evolve from/out of 由……演化而成；从……发展而来 • 这整个想法是从信口说出的一句话发展而来的。 • The whole idea evolved from a casual remark • The simple plan evolved into a complicated scheme

promote: vt. help to grow or develop • 促进经济发展 • promote economic growth • 牛奶增进健康。 Milk promotes health.

promote & further • 这两个词都可指促使某事物朝着预期的目标发展。 promote 用于事物发展的各个阶段，包括起始阶段。例如： promote the understanding between the two countries Further 则用于除了起始阶段以外的各个发展阶段。例如： • Getting a scholarship will further her education

on the other hand, no comparable hurry to promote creativity. 他们并不同样地急于促进创造力的发展。

superior: better than average or than others of the same type • Pattern: be superior to • be superior in • The enemies were superior in numbers • 敌军在数量上占优势 • 这条地毯在质量上远远比那条好。 • This carpet is far superior to that one in quality

Assuming that the contrast i have developed is valid, and that the fostering of skills and creativity are both worthwhile goals, the important question becomes this • 假定我这里所说的反差是成立的，而培养技艺与创造力两者都是值得追求的目标，那么重要的问题就在于： • conj， dangled participle 形式上是分词，但实际上却改变了词性的表达形式。supposing（that）conj. 假如（＝if）（主句多为特殊疑问句）providing（that）conj. 倘若… seeing（that）conj.鉴于…，barring prep. 除…之外，除非，除外（＝except）speaking of 说起…，谈到… including prep. 包含，包括talking of prep. 说起…，谈到…（常放在句首） • even assuming he understands the problem, he will never take any action

Unit 1 Ways of Learning