英语教学中思维品质培养初探

王旦

摘 要英语学科具有独到的培养学生思维品质的课程价值，英语不仅是学习的对象，也应该成为学生的思维工具。教师在教学中应遵循课程论的原理，明了学生思维品质的起点及培养方向、培养策略和评价手段，创造性地利用英语教学来提升学生的思维品质。

【关键词】英语教学；思维品质；课程论

外语学科作为基础教育的学科，它留给人们的印象往往是语言的听说读写技能的培养，实际上从核心素养的角度来看，外语学科担负的育人价值体现在语言能力、文化品格、思维品质和学习能力等四个方面，其中思维品质的培养尤其容易被英语教师所忽视——它往往被误认为是数理老师的责任。而课标规定英语课程承担着培养学生基本英语素养和发展学生思维能力的任务。要求教学要进一步促进思维能力的发展，为今后继续学习英语和用英语学习其他相关科学文化知识奠定基础。

认知心理学认为，思维品质体现在五个方面：深刻性、灵活性、独创性、批判性和敏捷性。教师在教学中要深刻领会其含义，结合学情和教学内容，有针对性地实施相关策略。

1 深刻性

思维的深刻性是一切思维的基础，它是指学生深入地思考问题，抓住事物的规律和本质，预见事物的发展进程。单词是构成语言的最小单位，所以词汇学习也是英语学习中的基础内容。帮助学生理解单词的构成是非常重要的，也是培养学生思维品质的重要手段。如在词根学习时，Equal、equation、equator，这三个单词的词根是equ（具有相等的意思），-tion是名词的后缀，这样很容易记住equation是方程式和平衡的意思，而equator是赤道的意思，也可记住equality（n.同等，平等），equally（ad.平等的，相等的）等单词。而利用前缀进行词汇教学也能起到事半功倍的效果，使学生学会在阅读中拓展词汇，增强学习能力。如mid-是表示中部的意思，midday（正午），middleaged（中年的），midland（内陆），midnight（半夜），midsummer（仲夏），midway（中途的）……这些单词学生很顺利推测出，而我展示middleman和midwife时，学生猜什么的都有，当我揭晓谜底分别是经纪人和助产士的时候，学生不禁哄堂大笑，继而又为英文单词的传神表达击节赞叹。

2 灵活性

在英语学习中，教师要善于给学生提供多样性的学习材料，让学生在练习中学会同类词汇的学习方法，如美丽除了beautiful以外，我们还要教会他们其他描绘美丽的词汇，有：graceful，elegant，gracious，exquisite，perfect，handsome，pretty，smart，lovely，grand，magnificent，splendid，glorious，spectacular……，以培养他们思维的灵活性。

在课文教学中，概念图的应用也是培养学生思维灵活性的重要手段。通过引导学生构建课文概念图，既帮助学生深刻领会课文含义，又有利于学生提取信息，复述课文，深化语言功能。像新概念课文“the loss of the Titanic”，学生在老师的引导下画出了概念图，如图1所示。

此图将两段有机地连接成一个整体，使整个事件脉络清晰，便于记忆。

3 独创性

在英语教学中，思维的独创性就是要培养学生创造性地运用语言来得体地表达自己的思想。我在实习阶段组织过两次学生辩论，辩题分别是：转基因的利与弊；城市、乡村的优与劣。我要求学生写出正反两方面的辩论稿，在正式辩论前，双方随机抽取正反方，以培养学生随机应变的语言表达能力和思辨能力，学生的创新能力得到了极大的发挥。如某同学写的辩论稿提纲：

The advantage of genetic engineering：

Genetic engineering has produced commercially valuable proteins， gene therapies ，and ，possibly， new and powerful vaccines.

Recent experiments have demonstrated the possibility of cloning differentiated mammalian tissue， opening the door for the first time to practical transgenic cloning of farm animals.

Transplanted stem cells may allow us to replace damaged or lost tissue， offering cures for many disorders that cannot now be treated. Current work focuses on tissue-specific stem cells， which do not present the ethical problems that embryonic stem cells do.

Genetic engineering affords great opportunities for progress in medicine and food production， although many are concerned about possible risks. On balance， the risks appear slight， and the potential benefits substantial.

The disadvantage of genetic engineering：

Every coin has tow sides. so does the GM foods. proper use may benefit to the human beings.

Eating genetically modified food is dangerous. GM crops are harmful to the environment .

The advantages afford by genetic engineering are revolutionizing our lives. But what are the disadvantages， the potential costs and dangers of genetic engineering？ Many people， including influential activists and members of the scientific community， have expressed concern that genetic engineers are "playing God" by tampering with genetic material. Could genetically engineered products administered to plants or animals turn out to be dangerous for consumers after several generations？ What kind of unforeseen impact on the ecosystem might "improved" crops have？ Is it ethical to created "genetically superior" organism， including humans？

在辩论乡村、城市优缺点时的辩论文稿：

City：Living in a city can provide easy access to work， shopping and entertainment. Since cities contain large clusters of people in a relatively small area， there are more opportunities to meet people than in the suburbs. For a single person， this means that he or she could increase the chances of finding a spouse. People who are starting a business or looking for that one "big break" may have a better chance of making a valuable contact.

Cities also present more opportunities for people who enjoy cultural activities. Residents can also experience the unique cultures of the different ethnic groups and nationalities that often make up a large portion of a citys population.

Life is simple and boring in the countryside. In the city we can have more opportunities to have a satisfied job. Life there is more colorful and meaningful than that in the country. And there are more modern conveniences in cities for us to enjoy.

Countryside：First， the environment is better. You can find more animals and plants. The air is fresh. People always live in a healthy way there.

The living cost is much less than living in the city.

There are more space to relax yourself. You will see a large area of farmland which makes you feel comfortable. You dont have to push your way onto an overcrowded subway car only to find yourself squashed next to someone who smells or elbows you. You arent late because theres been a delay and some robot-like voice has to tell you about it over and over on the speaker. You can drive yourself where you want， when you want. Even if theres traffic （and there isnt much outside of cities）， you can usually find another way to go. And theres plenty of （free） parking.

There is too much noise and waste gas in the city. You can find environmental pollution everywhere in the city. Housing is often at a premium and is typically more expensive in the city. Instead of having a house with a yard and room for the kids to roam， residents may have to resort to living in a tiny apartment that is several stories high， making it inconvenient to transport items such as groceries.

培养学生思维的独创性要引导学生学会迁移，进行新颖的组合分析，找出新异的层次和交接点。学生在分析城乡优劣时，能够辩证的分析就是一种独创性的表现，教师要鼓励学生的独特和新颖的想法，独特、新颖就是思维独创性的体现。

4 批判性

在阅读时人们会接收很多信息，如这个信息要讨论什么问题，结论是什么？作者支持或否定此信息的理由是什么？在此信息中，哪些概念的含义是模糊的？信息的推理过程中，有无包含推理谬误？有无重要的信息被省略？根据这些信息，我们能得出哪些结论等。如我出了如下题：1.what do you understand by the phrase “body language”？2.in pairs ，look at the drawing and try to match the body language with the feelings. please explain your reasons.

A. saying something important B. feeling attracted C. feeling defensive

D. feeling nervous E. feeling superior F. being honest G. lying H. thinking hard

对于思维批判性的培养，可以增加学生的英语阅读和听力训练。像上题中，在讨论结束后，我会及时提供一篇“let your body do the talking”短文，便于学生核对，既落实了阅读，又培养了思维的批判性。

5 敏捷性

我们在做英语阅读的时候，有时原文中用了一种说法，而在题目中用了另外一种表达，敏捷的思维可帮助我们快速判断出意思一致的答案。要提高这种思维品质，培养阅读、写作和思考习惯是正道。在日常生活中我们都是用母语进行思考和交流的，但在英语学习中，能更快的理解和转化英语，是我们一直追求的。要做到这点，必须对英语文化有所了解，在遇到某些典故时候，不至于一头雾水。所以要有大量英语的听力和阅读的输入以及良好的英语环境。英语思维的培养既要借鉴母语的学习，同时又要摆脱母语思维的禁锢。比如在翻译中，要灵活运用两种语言，有的不能完全直译，意译的意境有时会更美。在口语训练时也不能忽视。教师可组织学生做快速的口语练习。比课堂上教授单词或短语之后，给学生一定的思考时间后请他们自由造句。这就是英语思维敏捷性的锻炼。教师也可组织学生定期进行英语辩论、英语舞台剧表演等课外活动，既能丰富学生的学习生活，又能激起他们的英语学习热情，还锻炼了他们的英语思维敏捷性。

培养学生用英语思维是英语教学重要目标，在教学的同时优化思维品质也是教学任务之一，但思维品质的培养不是一日之功的，需要教师创造性的设计多样化的教学活动。思维的五个品质是一个相互有机联系的统一整体，在教学过程中，它们相互促进、共同发展。

作者单位

江南大学人文学院 江苏省无锡市 214122