❶Teaching robots gain popularity in Europe

By Jane/曾跃兰（译）

◆语篇导读

机器人是一个让我们兴奋不已的词汇。但如果这么具有魔力的机器人走进教室，对学生们的学习是有利还是有弊呢？他们的出现会不会让我们朝夕相处的老师深感不安呢？现在，就让这篇文章为我们答疑解惑吧！

Just thirty centimeters tall,Elias likes to dance Gangnam style when he’s not teaching.But besides his dancing skills,the co-founder of the company who made Elias says,when it comes to learning,robots are hard to beat.The robot is programmed to speak and understand nearly 25 languages.Its makers say it’s equipped with software that helps it behave in a way that encourages learning.

Robots are neutral,it doesn’t laugh if you make mistakes and it doesn’t get tired of repeating words.Whether it’s learning new languages or getting tutored in math,kids find robots both educational and entertaining.Students seem to be much happier than before.It’s true that they are willing to learn from a robot teacher.Perhaps getting better grades is only a matter of time.

One language teacher sees robots as another tool in her teaching.She says having them in classrooms is something teachers should be open-minded about.She thinks Elias is one of the tools for students to get a different kind of practice in the classroom.But some teachers do worry they might be replaced by robots.One student says there is no need to worry.The reason is that teachers are still needed to keep the kids behaved.Without human teachers,classes will be in a mess.Also,it’s not enough to learn from robot teachers alone.

Teaching robots willnevercompletely replace human teachers but they can make it easier for students to learn and sometimes more entertaining.

◆词语积淀

co-founder/kəu'faundə/n.联合创始人；共同创办者

equip/I'kwIp/v.装备；配备

behave/bI'heIv/v.表现；有礼貌

neutral/'njuːtrəl/adj.中立的；中性的

tutor/'tjuːtə(r)/v.辅导；教

entertaining/,entə'teInIŋ/adj.使人愉快的；有趣的

a matter of time一个时间方面的问题

open-minded/'əupən'maIndId/adj. 思想开明的；虚心的

◆典句赏析

1....when it comes to learning,robots are hard to beat.……在谈及学习的时候，机器人很难被打败。

when it comes to是固定搭配形式，意为“谈及”，这里的to为介词，后面可以接名词、代词或者动名词。

【即时尝试】谈到打篮球，我总是很容易激动。

2....It doesn’t get tired of repeating words.……它不厌其烦地重复话语。

get tired of...是固定词组，意为“对……感到厌倦；厌烦……”，表示一种渐渐改变的语气，介词of之后可以接名词、代词或者动名词。如果表示状态，也可以说be tired of...，意为“厌烦……”。

【即时尝试】我认为你很快就会厌倦在这个地方生活。

3.Whether it’s learning new languages or getting tutored in math,kids find robots both educational and entertaining.不管是学习新的语言还是在数学上接受辅导，孩子们觉得机器人寓教于乐。

该句为含有让步状语从句的复合句。whether...or...意为“不管……还是……”，or是连词，可以连接两个并列的句子成分。该词组所连接的两个并列成分既可以是谓语、表语，也可以是宾语等。

【即时尝试】不管是唱歌还是跳舞，我的朋友汤姆都很有天赋。

译文助读

仅30厘米高的埃利亚斯在教学之余喜欢跳《江南style》。除了他的跳舞技能，埃利亚斯制造公司的联合创始人称，在谈及学习的时候，机器人很难被打败。这款机器人被程序设置为能说并理解近25种语言。制造商称他身上的软件可以促进他不断学习。

机器人是中立的，如果你犯错误，他们不会笑话你，也不会因为重复一些话语而厌倦。不管是学习新的语言还是在数学上接受辅导，孩子们觉得机器人寓教于乐。学生们似乎比以前更开心了，而且他们真的愿意向一位机器人老师学习。也许取得更好的成绩只是一个时间问题。

一位语言教师把机器人看作是她的另外一种教学工具。她说老师们应该对机器人课堂持一种开放的态度。她认为埃利亚斯是其中一种可以让学生在教室里获得一种不同实践的工具。但是有的教师着实担心他们可能会被机器人代替。一位学生说没有必要担心，原因是老师们依然被需要来让学生遵规守矩。没有人类老师，课堂将会一片混乱。而且，单单向机器人老师学是不够的。

教学型机器人永远不会完全代替人类教师，但是对于学生而言，机器人老师可以让学习变得更容易，有时更有趣。