陈佳佳
摘 要: 如何有效开展英语文学阅读教学是一个长期困扰一线英语教师的问题。本文以2017年浙江省优质课评比材料为例,对比两次不同授课理念的课例,探讨高中英语文学阅读教学从“定式”走向“定制”的可能性和应对策略,即:如何通过挖掘文学文本本身的语篇特征和优势,跳出文学阅读教学目标设定的模式化和教学流程的公式化,从文学文本的个体化特征出发,因“文”制宜制定教学目标和相应的教学活动。
关键词:文学阅读;阅读教学;语篇特征
一般性的文学阅读教学(即定式),对文本解读聚焦在文体表现的普遍性特征上。这就导致文学阅读教学目标设定千篇一律,课堂教学活动也是公式化流程:略读找出故事要素,快读分段概括大意,细读处理情节细节、分析人物性格;读后分组讨论主题、评价标题或读后续写。定式的文学阅读教学缺乏对于文本内涵意义和结构形式的挖掘,容易忽视文本的独特、高明之处,从而导致教学模式单一,难以激发学生的阅读兴趣和创造力。
现代文本阅读观认为阅读活动是读者、文本、作者三者通过互动对话实现意义构建的过程(Barthes, 1990)。在定式的教学中,教师往往聚焦在字、词、句的掌握和故事基本情节的理解上,没有找到有效的切入点和方法让学生体验到师、生、作者三者的思维交融和意义构建过程,无法体现文学课的生命力和灵动性。
对于英语教师而言,发现文学作品的独特性并不难,难在如何深挖其独特性并采用合适的教学设计将其呈现给学生,取得良好的教学效果。这就要求教师根据文本本身特点量体裁衣,因“文”制宜,因“生”制宜,即“定制”。
本文以2017年浙江省优质课评比材料为例,对比两次不同授课理念的课例(第一次是定式,第二次是定制),让读者感受教学过程和教学效果的差异,探讨高中英语文学阅读課从“定式”走向“定制”的可能性和应对策略。
阅读文本选自2017年浙江省高中英语优质课评比材料(文本详见附件)。文章是一篇435词的短故事,语言平实易懂,简洁生动。故事讲述了小男孩Steven从小就有一个演艺梦,为了实现梦想从小就参加各种表演,做着各种准备。Steven发现了一个试镜的机会,请求哥哥Brad陪他同往。在试镜前的彩排中,Steven发现了Brad惊人的表演实力。当被问及为何以前从来不参加表演活动时,Brad回答道:“I was waiting for something big.”故事在这里戛然而止,出乎意料却又在情理之中,留给读者无尽的想象和回味。
1. 文本解读与目标设定
拿到一篇文学作品,笔者一般都会按照情节、人物、主题三个方面去进行分析解读。在向文学阅读教学转化过程中,以上三方面则相应转换为情节梳理,人物性格分析及主题探讨。同时笔者发现这篇故事在语篇特征方面最大的特点在于其欧·亨利式的结尾*,所以欣赏文本语言的形式美也成为了其中一个教学目标。此外,这篇故事缺少标题,正好可以通过拟写标题的活动来发展学生综合概括和评判质疑的能力。于是笔者设定教学目标如下:
(1)通过故事要素的导入和分析,学生能初步建立起故事类阅读的学习范式;
(2)通过人物对比与细节分析,学生能掌握故事大意,把握故事脉络,分析人物性格;
(3)学生在教师的引导下,学习欣赏文学作品的写作手法;
(4)通过拟写标题的活动,发展学生综合概括和评判质疑的能力。
2. 教学过程
Step 1: Lead-in
(1) Play a short speech by Jackie Chan at the Academy Awards ceremony.
(2) Ask questions:
Q1: What award did Jackie Chan receive?
Q2: How many years has he been waiting for this big moment?
(3)Show some pictures to teach new words: Academy Awards, acceptance speech...
Step 2: Fast reading
Q3: How many characters are there?
Q4: What is the “big thing” in the story?
Step 3: Detailed reading
(1) Divide the passage into two parts according to the twist: the casting call.
Before the casting: paragraph 1-3
At the casting: paragraph 4-7
(2) Ask questions:
Q5: What did each of the brothers do before the casting call?
Q6: What did they do at the casting call?
(3) Make a comparison between the two brothers from the three aspects: performance, attitude and preparation.
Step 4: Character analysis
Q7: Whats your impression of Steven and Brad? Prove your ideas with evidence from the text.
Step 5: Appreciate the writing style
Q8: Which character is mentioned more at the beginning?
Q9: Why does the author do so? Step 6: Thinking and evaluating
Work in groups to give a title to this story.
(1) Students create and share their versions;
(2) Teacher shows her own version and the original version of the story, and then asks students to evaluate these different versions.
Step 7: Assignment
According to characters personalities and the writers writing style, try to write a proper ending for this story.
3. 问题与反思
第一次课是定式,采用了常规的故事阅读教学模式,对文本独特特征理解不深,教学目标设置较为传统,教学活动设计中规中矩,注重将信息和故事情节分析透彻。以下分三个方面分析第一次课例的问题。
(1)在文本特征挖掘方面:关注结尾范式,却忽视了叙述视角特点。
这篇故事文本最大的特点其实是叙述视角。在故事中作者用更多笔墨描写弟弟Steven,关于哥哥Brad的描述基本上都是透过Steven的眼睛(视角)去看。作者始终把弟弟Steven放在聚光灯下,而哥哥则被隐藏起来。这是典型的“第三人称受限视角”。读者都是跟着Steven的视角去观察和思考,这才使得故事的结尾产生了出乎意料的戏剧性效果。因此叙述视角和结尾范式是本文的两大亮点,而叙述视角是结尾出乎意料的前置条件。
对文本独特特征的有效把握是文学阅读教学从“定式”到“定制”的前提。上述课例没有突出叙述视角,只在结尾范式上简单做了文章,还是一堂中规中矩的课,无法有效地为学生从文章字面意思到内涵意义的理解搭建层层递进的“思维之梯”。
(2)在教学目标设计方面:目标不聚焦,处处皆“要点”。
教学目标的设定是一个综合而有侧重的过程,必须有所取舍(葛炳芳,2013)。综合视野下的阅读教学观强调(叶恩理等,2016):阅读课堂教学的目标定位要结合学情、结合文本。结合文本即结合文本的语篇优势,文章题材和体裁。针对这篇文章,根据故事类文章的这一体裁特点,从故事情节、人物性格、主题探讨、叙事技巧几个维度探讨,重点聚焦其中一到两个问题。一节课只有确定一个重点教学目标才能有深度,学生才能有足够的时间进行阅读、思考和分享阅读体验。
第一次课例,缺乏一条统领整体的核心主线,目标设置面面俱到,平均用力,导致教学活动浅尝辄止。在文本细节的处理上占用时间过多(比如教学设计中的Step 3),而在有利于学生深度思考的关键线索上却一笔带过,对包含丰富信息的关键词句缺乏深入探讨。
(3)在教学活动设计方面:忽视学生主体地位,思维层次与深度不足。
文学阅读不应是教师把自己咀嚼过的内容灌输给学生,而是应该引导学生自己去发现和阐释。在文学阅读教学中,应充分发挥学生作为读者的主体地位和主观能动性。“一千个读者眼中有一千个哈姆雷特”,由于不同的经历和认知的差异,读者从同一篇文章中读出的内容和感悟也必然是千差万别的,而这也正是文学阅读的意义所在。第一次课例在教学活動设计中,教师控制的部分较多,老师常用封闭式问题提问,学生在老师的带领下阅读文章,亦步亦趋,思维空间狭窄,丧失了文学阅读的灵动性和生命力;活动过多,没有做到层层递进、抽丝剥茧,每个活动都浅尝辄止,导致学生无法进行深层次思考,体会不到师、生、作者、文本相互之间互动对话的乐趣,无法发展学生思维的深刻性和灵活性。比如Step 4分析人物性格环节,学生的回答只是停留在用简单的几个形容词来概括人物性格。活动设计中缺乏对于学生思维的进一步引导。
基于以上反思,经过北京外国语大学专家的点拨,笔者重新进行了教学设计,采用“定制”理念,因“文”制宜制定教学目标和相应的教学活动。
基于该文本独特的叙事视角——第三人称受限视角,教师可以思考如何抓住故事中对于Brad部分的叙事空白,引领学生探索视角“聚光灯”未照射到的另一面。学生可以基于已有信息,结合自身的知识经验去解读这些空白信息,推断未知信息,充分发挥想象力去体会作者言外之意,品味作者这种“此处无声胜有声”的奇妙之处,从而达到发展评判性思维和创新性思维的目的。
其次,根据“欧·亨利式结尾”的“出乎意料,又在情理之中”这一叙事手法特点,教师可以考虑以“出乎意料”和“情理之中”作为阅读教学的两大主线,引导学生去分析故事为何会出乎意料,又有哪些线索让读者认为虽意外,却又合乎情理。
第三,在读后作业中,不一定采用常规续写模式,而可以尝试视角转换的改写模式,让学生学会转换立场,设身处地地去体会别人的情感,从而发展学生的移情和跨文化思考的能力。
以上即是笔者从“定式”到“定制”思维的转变过程。根据以上思路,笔者实施了第二次课堂教学,取得了较好效果。
1. 教学目标
(1)学生通过对关键词句的探讨,实现对原文的深度理解,同时分享个性化的阅读体验;
(2)引入“欧·亨利式结尾”的概念,对结尾进行解读和评价,欣赏文本写作手法和技巧;
(3)通过情境设置,转换视角,探索“聚光灯”未照射到的另一面,推断未知信息,发挥想象力去体会作者言外之意,从而达到发展评判性思维和创新性思维的目的;
(4)通过视角转换,对文本进行重构,充分发挥学生在阅读中的主体地位,分享阅读体验,让学生学会转换立场,发展学生的移情能力和跨文化思辨能力。
2. 教学流程
教学材料在课前发给学生,学生做好预习工作。
Step 1: Fast reading
Q1: How many characters are there?
Q2: What happened to them?
【设计意图】 因为故事简单易懂,话题也贴近学生生活,因而去掉了原先的lead-in环节,直接进入故事阅读。设计问题检测学生对于故事人物和大意的把握情况。
Step 2: Reading and thinking
Q3: How do you understand the following sentences?
(1) Brad was not interested in acting.
(2) “Just for fun”.
(3)“I was waiting for something big”
【设计意图】提炼出文章中需要深入理解和推断的句子,学生需要在理解原文的基础上,借助自己的认知和经验进行分析和推断,从而读出文字背后的故事。
Q4: Why did the author seldom mention Brad at the beginning?
【设计意图】针对叙述视角进行设问,引导学生关注作者的写作技巧。
Q5: How do you like the ending?
【设计意图】通过对故事结尾的评价,引入“欧·亨利式结尾”的写作特点:出乎意料,又在情理之中。引导学生去分析故事为何会出乎意料,又有哪些线索让读者认为虽意外,却又合乎情理。
Step 3: Interview of the two brothers
Suppose both of the brothers won the casting, and now they are back to school. Their school holds a small information session for two brothers to share their feelings and experiences with other students who are interested in acting.
Ask two students to role play Steven and Brad, other students ask them questions.
Questions should cover the following aspects:
(1) The two brothers feelings about winning the casting and their next goal;
(2) The preparations they have made for the casting;
(3) Their understandings of dream and hard work;
(4) Their comments on each other.
【设计意图】通过设置情境进行生生互动,一方面学生需要对故事内容进行回顾,更重要的是学生需要基于已有信息,推断未知信息和作者言外之意,从而达到发展评判性思维和创新性思维的目的。同时这一活动也是为后面的写作任务搭建脚手架,做好思维上的铺垫。Step 4:Writing
Based on the information from the interview, rewrite the story from the perspective of Brad.
【设计意图】从Brad的视角来重新叙述这个故事,需要学生深入理解原文,挖掘原文中隱藏的信息,比如Brad的内心活动。从哥哥Brad的视角重述故事,既有模仿,又有创造。学生切换视角重构文本的过程即是学生主动建构意义、分享阅读体验的过程。在这一活动中,学生需要在重新分析文本的基础上,充分发挥想象力,打开思维空间来重新创建文本,发展他们的逻辑推断和创造性思维的能力。
以下是其中一则学生作品:
I realized when I was very young that I had a totally different temperament with my brother. Steven likes to perform and show his talent in front of the public. But I am quite the opposite. I dont really want many people to know how much I love acting. But one thing we have in common is that we harbored the same desire, which is to become successful actors.
My brother dedicated himself to acting since he was very young, imaging himself receiving the Academy Awards. I never did the same thing. However, truth be told, I have the same dream as he has. I was born to be an actor and designed for flashlight and stage. I was waiting for something big to happen, and I was always waiting for a chance. So I practiced and practiced, secretly and arduously, repeating every line and every movement.
Finally, my chance came. I went to a casting with my brother. I performed extremely well and left my brother in shock.“I was waiting for something big.” I replied, feeling myself indulging in the exaltation and glowing pride.
Now I finally proved myself to be extremely talented in acting, and suddenly, all those hard work, sleepless nights, sweat and coarse voice gained their meaning. However, in others eyes, I am the talented Brad who is able to perform amazingly without any hard work. I am so proud of myself.
文学作品的生命力在于其独特性,每一个故事都有一个灵魂,都有其自身的精彩之处:或是人物性格的塑造,或是情节冲突的编排,又或是独特的叙述视角及叙事手法。挖掘文学作品的个性特征进行教学,无论是对学生阅读兴趣的培养还是思维品质的提升都大有裨益。
“阅读过程要重视学生的主体参与,激发学生主动思考,体验阅读过程,完成意义构建”(葛炳芳,2013)。从“定式”到“定制”,因“文”制宜地设计高中英语文学阅读教学,其核心目的就是为学生搭建好思维的阶梯,让学生能与作者、老师一起完成属于各自的个性化意义构建。没有“定制”这个“思维之梯”,这个核心目标就很难达成。
完成一篇文学作品阅读教学的“定制”有三个关键点:
第一,准确找到搭建阶梯的“材料”,也就是找准文学作品所具有的独特特征。老师在设计教学过程之前,对文本特征的深入分析,将成为课堂成功的关键。准确找到并有意识地将文学作品的独特特征应用于教学中,是教学设计从“定式”到“定制”的起点。这需要教师发展文本解读能力,增加对文本语篇特征把握的敏感性。
第二,设计阶梯的方向,聚焦目标主线。课堂时间和学生精力有限,基于文学文本核心的语篇优势,结合课标和学情,制定与个体化的文本特点契合度最佳的教学目标,舍弃其他目标,是教师必须要做的决策。基于文本特征的教学目标定位即是对阅读教学方向的“定制”。打破思维定式进行目标聚焦,才能让学生充分感受文学课堂的独特魅力。
第三,搭建合理高度的台阶,帮助学生爬上“思维之梯”。“定制”的文学阅读教学重视学生的个性化阅读体验,鼓励多元化解读,这对师生都是很大的挑战。教师需要充分结合学生的认知和语言水平,设计合理的任务,通过师生、生生互动帮助学生层层递进,为高层次的思维活动和输出做好语言和思维上的铺垫。
定制的文学阅读教学课堂需要像精彩的小说一样打破思维定式和常规模式,带给学生惊喜。依托文本的独特特点进行“定制”的教学设计,可以充分激发学生的阅读兴趣和情感体验。学生通过联系自身生活经验进行移情和角色体验,可以发现不一样的风景,拉长思维的深度。一个因文制宜的“定制”课堂,将为教师、学生带来一场从心开始的灵动之旅。
参考文献
Barthes, R. 1990. The Pleasure of the Text [M]. Oxford: Blackwell.
葛炳芳. 2013. 英语阅读教学的综合视野[M].杭州:浙江大学出版社.
叶恩理, 翁颖卿, 汪润,等. 2016. 英语阅读教学中的目标定位:综合视野视角[J].英语教师,16(1),157-159.
附:
2017年浙江省优质课评比材料
Steven had had his first starring role in kindergarten, playing a talking stone in a class play. From the moment that he heard the applause and took his bows, he knew he wanted to be an actor. He “drew” his name as it would look at a theatre. In his mind, he “practiced”his acceptance speech to the Academy Awards. “I want to thank my agent …” he imagined himself saying to the crowd.
By sixth grade, he was used to starring in school productions. He played Romeo in this years Junior Shakespeare Festival. His brother said he was probably the first Romeo in the history of theater to have braces. Steven liked everything about acting – except for his brothers comments about it. Brad was not interested in acting.
Steven dreamed of going to California or New York when he got older. Meanwhile, he read the “trades” at the library – the newspapers and magazines of the acting business. He couldnt believe it when he saw that there was going to be an open casting call in his own Midwestern city. He begged his parents to take him, but they worked on Saturdays and they couldnt take the day off. He was forced to ask his older brother, the critic.
The part called for a boy who looked about 14. Steven figured he could pass. Unlike Brad, Steven looked older than his age. Brad, on the other hand, at 16 looked more like 14. The boys arrived early at the theatre where the try-outs were taking place. There were already over 200 kids there. Steven picked up his application. Brad picked up one, too – “just for fun,” he said. Each of them then studied the short script theyd been handed. Like all the other kids, they mouthed the words over and over. Some kids found quiet spaces to read their lines aloud, with all the right emotion. Steven asked Brad to listen to his reading. “Okay, but you have to listen to mine, too.”
“Deal,” Steven answered. Then he read, and, as usual, he was good. Next, it was Brads turn. Steven couldnt believe what he was seeing and hearing. Why hadnt Brad ever tried out for a play? Where had he gotten all this talent all of a sudden? He asked his brother, “Why havent you tried before?”
“I was waiting for something big,” Brad replied.