提升大学生英语思辨能力的课堂教学活动——以Social Problems单元为例

张 文

(安庆师范大学外国语学院，安徽 安庆 246133)

大学英语课堂教学过程中，老师讲解本单元课文后，在特定的语境下安排一系列思辨性的讨论活动，本文以《新编大学英语》第3册第3单元“Social Problems”为例，围绕社会问题展开讨论，使学生对当今社会问题有新的感悟，并提出可行的解决方案。

一、Activity 1 How to prevent shoplift ?

A variety of social problems like poverty and gambling lead to many types of thefts and robberies.Shoplifting is one of them.Many stores and shopping malls have been reinforcing their safety force.Detectives in plain are in charge of the shop.But shoplifting still occurs sometimes.One day a manager of a large and crowded supermarket comes to you for help.He has lost a large sum of money because of shoplifting.He suspects that some students from a nearby high school stole some goods from his store.

Now suppose I were the miserable shop manager.Would you try to think for about 3 minutes and come up with me some less costly and creative solutions.There is a high school across the street and Most of our customers are the students from that school.Every afternoon from 4：30 to 7：30 p.m.，the store is crowded with students purchasing chocolates，biscuits and drinks.But we are losing too much money because of shoplifting.And we have suspected that some students are shoplifters.

Suggested solutions

Student1：I think you should install more surveillance cameras in the store.

Student2：If you punish the shoplifters severely，shoplifting will be decreased.

Student3：Maybe you can hire a group of safety guards.

More creative suggestions

Student4：You may invite some well-mannered students to watch those students who intend to shoplift.You don't have to pay too much money for this task.

Student5：You can possibly inform their teachers and headmarster about your awkward situation.They should make their students get legal education in order to be an honest individual and behave politely and legally.

Student6：Police patrol and reinforcement of police should be stressed.

Student7：Emergency system security devices needed to be installed

Student8：To have a harmonious felationship in the neighborhood is of importance.

二、Activity 2 State your point of view on the phenomenon

1.What’s your opinion about people’s installing burglar-proof doors and windows ?

2.Do you consider it is useful? Why or why not?

3.Are there any other good measures to prevent burglary? Can you list them?

In China，many houses are now equipped with burglar-proof doors and windows.Most people install burglar-proof doors and windows for the security of their families，which are necessary and useful access to the prevention of burglaries.But they have their drawbacks too.Some insist they will hinder them from getting along well in the neighborhood.Some argue they are just like prisoners and feel uneasy.Some hold they may prevent people from rushing out rapidly in times of urgency.

三、Activity 3 List words of social problems

Crimes robbery rape theft shoplifting murder smuggling drug taking drunken driving fake products trafficking of children and women domestic violence high divorce rate gambling sexual harassment

Causes poverty lay-off unequal social distribution envy resentfulness suspicion revenge low moral standard

Legal actions claim damages charge accuse find.guilty of sentence convict imprison put in prison deprive of liberty