【摘要】 初中英語書面表達是中學生學習英語必須掌握的一項基本技能,它旨在訓練學生對所學語言知識綜合運用的能力,不但要求學生具有良好的書寫習慣,而且還能用所學的詞匯、語法和句型來表達所要描述的內容,闡明自己的觀點和看法。英語考試中書面表達這一題型的設計目的就是為了檢驗學生的這一能力。一直來,該題型既是學生應試的難點,也是教師教學的難點。本人結合自己多年的教學經驗,對學生的書面表達進行了全面分析,認為初中英語書面表達的提高應著眼于以下幾點。
【關鍵詞】 句型 Chinglish 諺語 連接詞
一、善用同義詞和反義詞
單詞和詞組猶如土、木、磚、石是建筑材料一樣,它們是寫作的必需材料,只有積累相當數量的詞匯,才可以把所要表達的內容正確書寫出來。而掌握常見的同義詞和反義詞的用法,對于表達正確的句子起到重要的作用。先看下面三個句子:
Tom spent 300 yuan buying a bike yesterday.
Tom paid 300 yuan for a bike yesterday.
The bike cost Tom 300 yuan yesterday.
這三句話分別使用spend、pay和cost三個同義詞,其實意思是一樣的,都是“昨天Tom花費300元買了一輛自行車”。至于反義詞,它的作用也不能小視。就以下面兩個句子為例,從中可看出復雜的單詞可以簡單化。( 注意帶下劃線單詞的變化 )
① English is difficult to learn well.
→ English is not easy to learn well.
② They are in a different school.
→ They are not in the same school.
所以說,在寫句子用詞上,要做到準確無誤,對于沒有把握的詞或詞組,可以用同義詞或反義詞來表達,減少不必要的失誤,從而少失分甚至不失分。當然,在積累詞匯的過程中,我們還要注意詞匯拼寫的準確性,尤其要慎用一些易錯詞和形似詞。例如:its和it’s, bought和 brought, maybe和may be,quite和quiet, pass和past等等。
二、牢記常用句型
在完成書面表達的過程中,為了在一定的時間內用有限的詞來表達自己對某一事件觀點,或者要敘述某一事件,使用一定的句型結構可以寫出更地道的英語句子,從而起到事半功倍的作用。因為這些句型就好像數學里的公式,只要我們牢牢記住這些句型,再把單詞對號入座就可以造出正確的語句。譬如:
※ It is + adj. + for sb. to do sth.
※ there be + sth. / sb. doing sth.
※ Would you mind (not) doing sth.?
運用上面三個句型就可以輕易寫出下面三個相應的句子。
→ It is important for us to learn English well.
→ There is a boy playing under the tree.
→ Would you mind not putting your bike here?
下面再以幾個常用的句型為例,從中可感受到句型在造句所顯示出來的重要性。
※ It is + 一段時間 + since + 從句
→ It is a long time since they visited Beijing.
※ Sb. can’t wait to do sth.
→ I can’t wait to see her.
※ There is no doubt that + 從句
→ There is no doubt that we did the right thing.
當然,英語中的句型還有許多,這就需要我們平時用心去歸納總結,并通過一定的練習來積累,從而達到舉一反三,活學活用的目的。
三、注意中英句子表達的差異
英語和漢語是兩種不同的語言體系,它們在文化思維方面、語言表達方面都存在一定的差異。由于我們容易受到本國語言文化的影響,所以,許多學生在寫句子時往往逐字逐句翻譯成英語,使用“漢化英語”(Chinglish),致使錯誤百出,有時還可能因此鬧出笑話或誤解。例如:
〔例1〕中文: 由于時間關系,我就到此為止。
【誤】 Due to the time, I should stop here.
【正】 As time is up, I am afraid I have to stop here.
〔例2〕中文: 我要去看病。
【誤】 I have to see the illness.
【正】 I have to see the doctor.
另外,大家都知道,漢語的字形是沒有變化的,而英語的單詞一旦組成句子,往往會發生相應的變化,(冠詞、介詞、連接詞除外),尤其是英語中的動詞,有時態、語態、語氣的變化,如果不明確、不熟練,寫作時就很容易出錯,因為漢語中只通過時間詞來表示動作發生在什么時候,沒有動詞形式的變化,而英語除了使用時間詞之外,同時還通過動詞的變化來體現動作的發生情況。例如:They go to Beijing yesterday.這個句子是錯誤的,正確的表達應為:They went to Beijing yesterday. 在英語中,除了動詞有不同形式外,可數名詞有單數和復數形式,形容詞和副詞有原級、比較級和最高級,人稱代詞有主格和賓格之分。如:
a) Tom has a pen.
b) Tom has four pens.
c) Lucy is tall.
d) Lucy is taller than Lily.
e) Lucy is the tallest in her school.
f) Let us help you.
g) We can help you.
從以上各句中,可以看出帶下劃線的單詞,在漢語里都是一樣的,但在英語中則發生了變化。除此之外,被動語態的使用也是一大難點。例如:If you are stolen, call the police at once. 該句正確的表達應為:If something is stolen from you, call the police at once.
四、巧用諺語和名言
眾所周知,諺語是各國民族在長期的生活實踐中智慧的結晶,它們蘊涵著深刻的人生哲理。例如:
★ Strike while the iron is hot. (趁熱打鐵。)
★ Look before you leap. (三思而后行。)
★ Walls have ears. (隔墻有耳。)
★ There’s no smoke without fire. (無風不起浪。)
★ Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. (切忌孤注一擲。)
從以上諺語中,我們可以看到,在寫作時,如果能適當使用一些耳熟能詳的諺語,可以將所要表達的意思以生動有趣的形式呈現出來,從而起到畫龍點睛的作用。下面摘錄一些關于學習方面的諺語:
★ Practice makes perfect. (熟能生巧。)
★ Diamond cut diamond. ( 強中更有強中手。)
★ It’s never too old to learn. (活到老,學到老。)
★ Well begun,half done. (好的開始是成功的一半。)
★ Constant dropping wears the stone. (水滴石穿。)
★ Time is money. (一寸光陰一寸金。)
★ Where there is a will,there is a way. (有志者事竟成。)
★ Not to advance is to go back. (學如逆水行舟,不進則退。)
另外,名言名句也蘊含著深邃的哲理,閃耀著理性的光輝,在寫作中如能正確引用名言名句,效果也很顯著。因為名言名句生動形象,言簡意賅,本身就具有很強的說服力和感染力。以下是幾句是外國名人關于健康的名言:
★ First wealth is health. (健康是人生第一財富?!狤merson 愛默生)
★ Care killed the cat. (憂傷足以致命?!猈illiam Shakespeare 莎士比亞)
★ Prevention is better than cure. (預防勝于治療?!狣ickens 狄更斯)
★ Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. (早睡早起,使人健康、富有、明智?!狟enjamin Franklin 富蘭克林)
孔子是我國古代偉大的教育家,他提出的一些關于教育方面的觀點,至今仍有借鑒作用。下面的名句就是摘自他的言論:
★ When I walk along with two others, I may be able to learn from them. (三人行,必有我師。)
★ What you know, you know; what you don’t know, you don’t know. (知之為知之,不知為不知。)
★ Learn the new while reviewing the old. (溫故而知新。)
★ Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. (己所不欲,勿施于人。)
★ To study and not think is a waste; to think and not study is dangerous. (學而不思則罔,思而不學則殆。)
因此,在寫作過程中,只要我們恰當地引用的諺語或名言名句,就可以起到事半功倍的作用,當然,要想做到這一點,我們在日常的學習中要有意識收集常用的諺語和名言名句并熟練掌握它們,那么在應用時就可以信手拈來,從而為整篇文章平添幾分色彩和獨到之處。
五、有效地應用啟、承、轉、合等詞語
為了使文章語句通順,段落過渡自然,必須正確使用連接詞,從而增強文章的整體性和連貫性。在平時的寫作訓練中,常常發現很多學生都會按照漢語的表達來寫句子,例如:
① Because he got up late, so he was late for school.因為他起床晚,所以上學遲到。
② Although Mr. Smith is very poor,but he is very happy. 雖然Mr. Smith很貧窮,但是他很快樂。
顯然,以上兩個句子就是錯誤地使用連接詞。正確的句子應該是這樣:
① Because he got up late, he was late for school. 或He got up late, so he was late for school.
② Although Mr. Smith is very poor, he is very happy. 或 Mr. Smith is very poor,but he is very happy.
所以,在寫文章的過程中我們要按照一定的英語語法來調整句子順序,并準確運用連接詞,才可以把句子有機地連在一起,使句子更為緊湊,段落更為聯貫,邏輯更為嚴密。下面簡單歸納一些我們常用的連接短語:
★表示原因:
Because, because of, due to, thanks to
★表示結果:
so, therefore, as a result, otherwise
★表示遞進:
not only ... but (also), what’s more, what’s worse, besides, in addition, moreover
★表示次序:
first, firstly, second, secondly, third, thirdly, above all, first of all, then, next, finally, in the end, at last
★表示舉例:
for instance, for example, such as, take ... for example
★表示強調:
in fact, above all, as a matter of fact, of course, in other words, that is to say
★表示轉折:
yet, although, but, while, on the other hand, however, at the same time
★表示并列:
or, and, also, too, not only ... but also, as well as, both ... and, either ... or, neither ... nor
★表示結論:
in a word, in short, in brief, in summary, in conclusion, in all
以下是說明連接詞作用的例子,從中可以看出,如果沒有連接詞,句子和句子之間的關系就不連貫。只有使用連接詞后,句子的意義才變得明確和銜接,使人感到通順可讀,沒有累贅或厭煩之感。
〔例1〕
(I had a bad cold. I went to school.)
→ Though I had a bad cold, I went to school.
→ I had a bad cold, however, I went to school.
〔例2〕
(New York is a very expensive city. Rents are very high.)
→ New York is a very expensive city, for example, rents are very high.
六、進行各種專題范文訓練
在平時進行書面表達訓練時,盡量提供各種不同題型的范文,如日記、便條、書信、通知等,而且要給予幫助和提示,只有這樣,當學生在考試遇到類似體裁文章時,就知道該怎么去寫,而不至于不知所措,無從下筆。另外,要求學生背記一些典型的范文,尤其要有意識地讓學生收集書面表達中常用的開頭和結尾的佳句,因為文章的開端是很關鍵的一步,一個好的開端,一開始便能吸引住讀者的注意力;而結尾部分的重要就是要給讀者留下較深刻的印象。當然,我們還要背記各種特殊場合中的交際用語和習慣用語,這樣在寫作時才能靈活運用,胸有成竹,從而取得好的分數。下面就以書信和通知的開頭、結尾為例,書信常用的開頭句子:
How are you doing?
How are you going on?
How time flies!
Thank you for your letter
How nice to hear from you again!
I am glad to receive your letter.
I have just received your kind letter.
常用于書信結尾的句子:
Please write to me soon.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes to you and your family.
I wish you have a good time.
Good luck!
Best wishes!
Please remember me to your whole family.
Give my best regards (wishes) to your family.
With love.
常用于通知開頭的句子:
Attention, please.
May I have your attention, please? I have something important to tell you.
常用于通知結尾的句子:
That’s all. Thank you.
Please come and join in it.
Everybody is welcome to attend it.
I hope you’ll have a nice time here.
綜上所述, 只要我們教師在課堂教學中, 對學生進行有目的、有系統的寫作訓練,由易到難、循序漸進,并加強對學生寫作的輔導,幫助他們掌握一些寫作技巧,我相信學生的書面表達能力一定會有有所提高,他們也一定能寫出內容充實、要點全面、表達地道的好文章,從而激發他們的寫作熱情,并且為現在和今后在運用英語進行語言表達能力上,打下堅實牢固的基礎。
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[1] Jim Greenlaw. 王德川. 仁愛版英語教材Project English Students’ Book 九年級上冊.(加) 長沙: 湖南教育出版社出版, 2009(108-117).
[2] Jim Greenlaw. 王德川. 仁愛版英語教材Project English Students’ Book 九年級下冊.(加) 長沙: 湖南教育出版社出版, 2009(55).
[3] 朱寶雄. 實用英語寫作 English Writing A Practical Course. 上海:華東師范大學出版社出版, 1990(53-55).