“提问式”搭建读后续写“脚手架”
2023-06-21戚跃进
戚跃进
【摘要】針对高中英语读后续写中学生存在的问题,结合课堂教学案例,通过对读后续写材料的梳理确定教学目标,帮助学生构建读前、读中、读后的问题“脚手架”,论述如何把握续写文章的时态人称文风等基本要素、如何保证情节设计合理和主题升华恰当、如何实现学生反思提高和以评促写的具体操作,同时对教师如何适配读后续写的教学素质要求进行了反思。
【关键词】读后续写;提问;问题“脚手架”
读后续写应用于外语教学,可以弥补外语环境缺少与本组语者交流机会的不足,还可发挥写作促进外语精确表达的功效。然而,在实际教学中,读后续写一直被视为一块难啃的硬骨头,学生的输出问题诸多、不尽如人意,这就需要一线教师深入钻研,寻找突破口。
一、学生续写中存在的问题
笔者授课的主体对象是普通高中的高二学生,其在读后续写过程中存在的主要问题有:(1)基本要素把握不正确。学生在读后续写时不注意原文时态、人称、故事发生的背景等基本要素,导致与原文衔接不准确。(2)词汇储备不充足。学生在阅读给定的语言材料和续写的段首提示语句时,会因为遇到掌握不到位的单词或者词组对文章的意思理解产生偏差而写偏题。(3)语言运用不丰富。学生的语言表达能力较弱,主要体现在写作中词汇运用单一匮乏、句式简单且中式化表达较多。(4)情节设计不合理。在解读故事文本时,学生可能因为忽略了故事背景、人物性格、写作风格等天马行空地设计情节而导致与给定的续写文本融合度低。(5)过渡衔接不自然。有的学生读懂了语言材料,但是在续写时不注意原文与续写段、续写两段内容之间、续写段落与开头语之间的衔接,导致续写内容过于生硬,难以形成逻辑上的统一。(6)主题探究不深刻。学生在续写故事结尾时,无法回扣原文、挖掘内涵,进行主题升华。
二、续写提问
基于以上存在问题,在读后续写教学实践中,笔者发现通过运用提问的方式可以促进学生主动学习、研读文本进行深入思考。本文将以一篇名为“A talent show”的文章为例,以提问的方式,帮助学生搭建读后续写的“脚手架”。
其中,原材料为:Lola and I had been friends since we were little kids. Lola was a smart, funny friend. But at school, Lola just didn’t fit in. Lola’s hair was curly and her thick glasses made her look like a fish. Girls in our school wore trendy, brand-name clothes, but Lola sewed hers. She stood out like a sore thumb.
Sometimes, it was embarrassing to be around Lola. People said rude things about her hair, clothes, glasses — even about the fact that she got really good grades. Lola always seemed to be able to ignore what other people thought,but I couldn’t.I started to keep my distance from her.
There was a talent show in our school each spring. Students would sing, dance, play musical instruments, and do everything else to put in their talent. Being our graduation season in this senior school, this year’s talent show would be obviously different. It would be a huge night.
Maya, an outgoing girl wanted me to be on her dance team. “We win the talent show every year, and we need a satisfactory graduation this year,” Maya said excitedly, “We need a new dancer. But just you, not her!” Maya pointed to someone behind me.
I didn’t have to turn around-I knew who she meant. “Uh, sure,” I mumbled. Maya was already heading out when I felt someone tap on my shoulder. It was Lola. When I saw her confused face, it was like waking up from a dream. Lola asked me if I was going to be in the talent show. I hesitated without response. “That’s great, Jane!” Lola said, “I’m going to participate this year, too!” I couldn’t believe what I had heard. I even pictured Lola in front of a huge crowd, everybody yelling and teasing. I was starting to worry.
The week passed quickly, and I barely saw Lola. I had to practise every day with Maya and the team. The other dancers already knew the steps, and I should keep up.
这篇文章主要讲述了主角Lola和“I”从小就是好朋友。Lola虽然成绩很好,但穿着朴素、头发卷曲且带着一副厚眼镜,很难得到学校时髦女孩们的认同。很多女孩子都会取笑她,虽然她似乎不太在乎,“我”却会时常感到尴尬。于是“我”开始慢慢疏远她,后来在学校大型才艺秀时加入了以时髦女生Maya为代表的队伍。作为队伍的新成员,“我”因为对舞步不熟而勤加练习,但直至比赛当晚仍紧张万分。即将上台之际,“我”碰到了同样要参加表演的Lola,续写故事就此展开。
1.读前基础式提问
读后续写是一种将语言输出与输入紧密结合、旨在加速提高学生语言运用能力的方法。学生在尝试进行读后续写的初始阶段时,常常忽略“输入”的重要性,不思考,提笔就写,导致一些写作的基本要素都无法与原文融合。所以,在读文章前,老师设置了读前的基本问题,学生通过读前提问的方式来提醒自己避免一些不必要的低级错误,如:What tense is used in the article? Which person is used in this article? What is the writing style of this article? 等。读前的基础提问,可以帮助学生把握住续写文章的时态、人称等基本要素的正确性。
2.读中逻辑式提问
(1)基本提问,针对故事要素。在续写文章前,学生首先需要理解原文,把握故事的基本要素即5W (Who, what, when, where, why) 和1h (how)。基本要素提问的方式可以帮助学生抓住关键信息,让续写切合原文。所以,面对每一篇续写文章时,就故事的基本要素提问都是必要的。续写前的基本问题围绕主要任务和环境展开。基本问题设置为:When and where does the story happen? Who are the main characters of the story? What characteristics do they possess? What is the relationship between them? 具体实践中,学生将这些基本问题记下,边读边在文章中圈划或者简单记下关键词。
在这份材料中,When and where的问题指向故事背景:在文章第三段有这么一句话:“It would be a huge night”而续写第二段的提示语中有“I walked off the stage”,所以故事发生的时间地点为晚上和舞台前后。其中,“huge”一词的应用也体现了“我”对这场才艺展示十分重视,对后文“我”上台紧张的续写起了铺垫作用。Who and what的三个问题指向故事中人物分析:I(Jane),Lola和Maya;其中,“我”和Lola是好友,后续故事发展的冲突也是发生在“我”和Lola之间。少部分同学因为没有理清三者的关系,导致在续写文章时误写成了“我”和Maya之间的故事。进行性格描述时,当学校时髦的女孩们因Lola的外貌和衣着而嘲笑她时,原文对“我”的反应描述为:“Lola always seemed to be able to ignore what other people thought, but I couldn’t. I started to keep my distance from her.”这是一句反应人物性格非常关键的句子,很多同学忽略了“seemed”这个词,读完后认为Lola总是能够勇敢面对同龄人的嘲笑,而“我”却因为和Lola这样的“a sore thumb”交朋友感到尴尬。事实上是,Lola可能也会为此苦恼,因此就可以在续写中添加“我”也鼓励了Lola的情节,如果在续写段中要描写同学们对Lola嘲讽的场景,则“seemed”还可以作为Lola微表情的铺垫。
(2)细节提问,针对情节设计。理清故事的发生背景和主要人物后,就可以开始围绕故事的另一要素—情节开始提问了。故事的情节分为开端、发展、高潮和结尾。所给材料中包含了故事的开端和发展,要学生续写的是高潮和结尾。两段续写段首提示语分别为:提示语1: “Finally, the talent show came, and I felt more and more nervous.”;提示语2:“I walked off the stage and gave a glimpse of gratitude to Lola, who was ready to sing.”。針对提示语,紧扣原文,就能引导学生设计紧扣情节的问题链,搭建续写脚手架。
在实际教学中,笔者根据多年从业实践,一般会要求学生每一段续写前至少向自己提3个问题。续写第一段三个预设的问题应从提示语1出发,联系原文,并且要结合提示语2,这样才能做到续写段与原文、续写两段之间衔接自然。提示语1中说到“I felt more and more nervous”,相应地,预设的第一个问题Q1:Why did I feel nervous? 回读原文最后一段:“The week passed quickly, and I barely saw Lola. I had to practise every day with Maya and the team. The other dancers already knew the steps, and I should keep up.”和之前的“a huge night”,学生答“我”紧张可能给是因为重视这场才艺秀,可能是因为“我”对舞步还不够熟悉,也可能是因为“我”对自己不够自信。于是追问:What would I do or how would I feel if I felt nervous? 追问激发学生的想象的同时,也告诉他们在续写时,可以用人物的动作和心理描写来推动情节的发展。这两个问题可以回答为:An awful thought crept upon me,“What if I forget the steps?”So anxious did I feel that my mind went blank. I walked back and forth restlessly, my heart thumping wildly.再结合提示语2提问:Why did I give a glimpse of gratitude to Lola? 学生答:因为Lola帮助了我。所以,推动情节的预设问题可以设计为—Q2:What did Lola say or do to help me? Q3:How did I make it? 答:Sensing my emotion, Lola approached me and gave me a big hug.“Come on, Jane. You can make it.”Lola comforted, casting me a look of trust. I nodded to her with a smile, a surge of strength welling up in my heart. Taking a deep breath, I plucked up my courage and confidently walked onto the stage with my teammates. Much to my delight, I remembered every step and ultimately we gave a wonderful performance.
续写第二段时,同样结合提示语及材料中“I even pictured Lola in front of a huge crowd, everybody yelling and teasing. I was starting to worry.”预设问题Q4:What’s the audience’s reaction? 同时追加问题:What did I do? Q5: How was her performance at first? 追加问题:Could she ignore this time? What was Lola’s response to my encouragement?
在问题链的引导下,学生带着问题回读原文、紧扣提示语发问,思考情节发展和变化,就可以合理预测、分析故事,提升自己的构思能力,设计出合理而有创造性、原文融合相切的情节。
(3)深度提问,针对主题升华。续写故事时,除了抓住人物的情感和情节的发展外,还要在解决故事冲突的同时深入主题。针对主题的一般问题就是:What’s the conflict of this story? What’s the theme of this story?本文中,情节的冲突(conflict)在于“我”因为Lola的“与众不同”刻意疏远她。冲突的化解方式就是续写中我们的相互鼓励。主题可以是自信、勇敢、友情、包容、自我成长等。在阅读每一篇故事时,学生一定要将主题意义的探究刻在脑海中,这样续写才能融合于原文。
3.读后自评式提问
学生和教师一样是评价的主体,教师应设计适当的评价方法和可行的评价工具,促进学生自我监督式学习。学生开展自评有利于调动学生的内驱动力,启发学生认识自我,发现自我,改进自我。在学习的每一个环节学生都可以通过以自评的方式促学,读后、写前同样如此。读后写前的过程性评价有利于学生审视、反思自己的语言基础及构思,为续写任务做铺垫。
学生的自评式提问可分为两大类:①语言词汇方面:Did I have any difficulty in understanding this article? Is there any unknown word that affects my idea? Can I use any various sentence patterns or advanced vocabulary to beautify my articles? 這3个问题旨在鼓励学生走出英语学习的“舒适区”,不因为词汇障碍而影响了整体阅读理解的前提下,扩充自己的词汇银行,补充高级词汇,为文章增加亮点。②情节设计方面:Have I designed question chain logically? Are those questions centered on the two sentence prompts? 这两个问题旨在督促学生再次审视自己的设计是否符合逻辑,过渡衔接是否自然。
三、总结
文章通过读前、读中、读后三个阶段的问题搭建,围绕语言词汇、故事基本要素、情节发展、段首提示语展开问题,为续写的正确性、具体性、连贯性搭建脚手架,帮助学生在回答问题时一步一步攀爬续写这座大楼,降低写作难度。细致的问题设计既能激发学生的写作思维,又能让续写语言更丰富,衔接更自然,逻辑更严谨。教师在帮助学生搭建问题脚手架时,要对学生基础和文本有充分的理解,在此基础之上预设符合学情、深入文本的问题。这对教师的同理共情能力和语篇分析能力提出了更高要求。
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