1. Unit 1 Ways of Learning

2. Part I Lead-in  1) Tell examples of differences between the East and the West.  2) Tell whatever you know about the different learning/teaching styles in the East and the West.

3. Learning, Chinese-Style --- By Howard Gardner Text A

4. Part II Cultural Notes (1)  Howard Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

5.  The author of over twenty books translated into twenty- seven languages, and several hundred articles, Gardner is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple intelligences, a critique of the notion that there exists but a single human intelligence that can be assessed by standard psychometric instruments.

6.  Multiple intelligences is an idea that maintains there exist many different types of "intelligences" ascribed to human beings. Multiple intelligences  In 1999 Gardner lists eight intelligences as linguistic, logic-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic, naturalist, interpersonal and intrapersonal.

7. Cultural Notes (2) Education in the West There is no common agreement in the West concerning the best method of education. It is this very existence of contending points of view that is characteristic of Western education.

8. Tracing back, Socrates encouraged his students to question anything, even their most fundamental beliefs. Greek philosopher - Socrates

9. Currently, compared with Asian methods of learning, Western methods are more student-centered, expecting students to discover things for themselves rather than relying on their teachers to tell them.

10. Part III Writing Features The text introduces the topic by telling an anecdote, elaborates on the topic by employing comparison and contrast, and concludes with a suggestion.

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

12. Comparison and Contrast  Comparison brings out the similarities between two or more things of the same kind  Contrast concentrates on the differences between

13. 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

14. Ways of Conclusion  Restatement of the main points previously mentioned  A proposed solution  A quotation from some books or people  A prediction of future developments  A suggestion for further study

15. Part IV Difficult Sentences  Because of his tender age and incomplete understanding of the need to position the key just so…(Lines 2-4, para.3)  Because he is young, and as a result he is unable to fully understand the need to place the key carefully to fit into the narrow key slot…

16. Part IV Difficult Sentences  He probably got as much pleasure out of the sounds the key made as he did those few times when the key actually found its way into the slot (Lines 5-8, para. 3).  Benjamin got as much pleasure out of the sounds the key made as he got when he occasionally placed the key into the slot successfully.

17. Part IV Difficult Sentences  He may well get frustrated and angry...(Line 7, para.6)  He is likely to get frustrated and angry. You use “may well” when you are saying what you think is likely to happen, e.g. It may well rain tonight.

18. Part IV Difficult Sentences  So long as the child is shown exactly how to do something – whether it be placing a key in a key slot, drawing a hen or making up for a misdeed – he is less likely to figure out himself how to accomplish such a task (Lines 8-12, para. 7)  Whether it be placing a key in a key slot: in formal English, the subjunctive mood is used occasionally in whether-clause.

19. Part IV Difficult Sentences  … (the “standing on the shoulders of giants” phenomenon )(Lines 6-7, para.13)  “Dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants” is a Western metaphor meaning “one who develops future intellectual pursuits by understanding the research and works created by notable thinkers of the past”.

20. Part V Language Points  attach (para.2): fasten or join (one thing to another)  Pattern: attach sth. to sth. e.g. The porter attached a label to my suitcase. Please attach the document to this letter before you send it out.

21. Part V Language Points  attach significance/value/weight (to sth.): to believe that sth. is important or worth thinking about e.g. I attach great importance to this research. He doesn’t attach too much importance to fixed ideas.

22. Part V Language Points  be attached to sb./sth.: full of affection for sb./sth. e.g. I am attached to my family. 我对我的家依依不舍.

23. Part V Language Points  not in the least (para.3): not at all e.g. I don’t in the least appreciate the Marilyn Monroe kind of beauty. The boy is not in the least concerned about his study.

24. Part V Language Points  find one’s way (para.3): reach a destination naturally; arrive at e.g. It’s hard to find your way around when going to a new city. The river finds its way to the sea. His words and looks found their way to her heart.

25. Part V Language Points  initial (para.4): of or at the beginning, first (a., used only before n.) e.g. The initial sorrow turned into the anger when he knew the real reason of his father’s death.

26. Part V Language Points  await (para.4): (fml) wait e.g. There are many challenges awaiting us, our American people in the next century.  Cf. await & wait “Await” is a fairly common word in formal writing, but you do not usually use it in conversation. Instead you use “wait for”. eg. There are many challenges awaiting us, our American people in the next century.

27. Part V Language Points  on occasion (para.4): now and then e.g. 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.

28. Part V Language Points  Cf. neglect & ignore  neglect (para.4): give too little attention or care to e.g. The investment turned out to be a failure and the manager was accused of neglecting his duties.  ignore: pay no attention to sb./sth. on purpose, or as if sth. has not happened e.g. He completely ignored all these facts as if they never existed.

29. Part V Language Points  on one’s own (para.6):  1) without anyone’s help e.g. Although her father is the president of that firm, she insisted getting the job on her own.  2) alone e.g. I’d rather not go to dance on my own. I do wish you’d come with me.

30. Part V Language Points  in due course (para.6) at the proper time; eventually e.g. Be patient. You will get your promotion in due course. Your book will be published in due course.

31. Part V Language Points  critical: (para.7 multiple meanings)  1) very important e.g. Whether you may meet the demands of the customers will be critical to the success of this campaign.  2) very serious or dangerous e.g. As the situation in Iraq became critical, the UN Secretary-General appointed a special representative to tackle it.

32. Part V Language Points  so much so that (para.9): to such an extent e.g. 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.

33. Part V Language Points  facility: (para.9)  1) a building, service, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose e.g. The hotel provides excellent facilities for children.  2) a natural ability to do something well and easily; ease in doing things e.g. She showed an amazing facility for mind-reading.

34. Part V Language Points  in terms of (para.11): with regard to; concerning e.g. The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion. The book was well written, but in terms of actual sales it hasn’t been very successful.

35. Part V Language Points  priority: (para.11)  1) sth. that one must do before anything else e.g. Earning enough money to maintain his family is a high priority for him during this period.  2) sth. that holds a high place among competing claims e.g. The proposals deserve support as they give priority to the needs of children.

36. Part V Language Points  strike a balance (between A and B): (para.14): to manage to find a way of being fair to two opposing things; to find a compromise between two things e.g. We have to strike a balance between what we want and what we can afford.

37. Part VI Writing Techniques Useful Expressions for Comparison and Contrast ComparisonContrast likeunlike the same asin contrast to alikedifferent from similarwhereas likewisehowever, but and, as wellas opposed to also, tooon the other hand

38. Part VI Writing Techniques The Best Way of Learning as I See It Directions: Write an essay on the following topic in no less than 200 words.