【题目】Voices from the Classroom

1 What new challenges do American teachers of English think they will face over the

next five years? The following is an interview with four American educators about that question.

2 Interviewer. We’ 11 begin with Ms. Woods , who is teaching at a junior-high school

in Ohio. What do you think are the biggest problems for today’ s English teacher?

3 Ms. Woods: Language arts teachers are faced with teaching literacy to students

from diverse backgrounds , students who do not value reading , and students who have diverse needs in an increasingly complex, technological society. We teachers are caught between doing our best to help these diverse students and give them what they really need , and at the same time satisfying the state-mandated proficiencies.

4 Interviewer: So you think that sometimes the state curriculum does not suit the real needs of these students.

5 Mr. Jones: May I add something here? I have to agree. In my high school in Detroit , the increasing number of students from non-English speaking homes continues to make language education challenging. For example, Shakespeare is on the curriculum for my 11th grade class this term , but many of them have problems with basic English communication skills. I don’t mean to throw out Shakespeare , but something is wrong here 一there is a gap between the curriculum and the reality of the students’ skills and needs. Keeping our students connected by giving them better tools of communication in a common language is essential.

6 Interviewer: I bet Professor Mahiri will have something to say on that.

7 Dr. Mahiri: Yes indeed. What I’ve come to realize in my educational research at University of California is that teachers must understand youth popular culture — which is strongly influenced by African American culture— in order to relate effectively to today’ s students. Teachers should use African American and youth culture as sources for today’ s curriculum. They must make a huge effort to connect the classroom to the students’ unique backgrounds , experiences and interests.

8 Interviewer: You mean by including literature written by Afro-American authors?

9 Dr. Mahiri: That’ s just the tip of the iceberg. Of course , a more diverse curriculum is necessary. But not throwing out Shakespeare , as Mr. Jones has said. Keep Shakespeare , add new authors , include newspaper, music , comic books – and give up their traditional power and control over the classroom so that students are teaching each other and themselves 一so that students are empowered and creative thinkers.

10 Interviewer: Do you have anything to add to this discussion, Mr. Hunt?

11 Mr. Hunt: Well , I think that from primary school to university level , the biggest challenge will be introducing technology in language arts instruction. Computers and the Internet are revolutionizing how students learn and how teachers teach. We must have educators who are computer literate if we are to exploit the amazing power of technology in the Information Age. “

 Water is essential for life. What does essential mean here? ____

 

easy  

able to get 

necessary