摘? 要:讀后續(xù)寫要求學(xué)生能根據(jù)所給原文續(xù)寫出情節(jié)合理、語言地道的文章,從而有效考查學(xué)生的語篇理解能力和綜合語言運用能力。筆者在日常英語教學(xué)中嘗試開展基于英語經(jīng)典小說簡寫本的閱讀活動以實現(xiàn)以讀促寫。本文基于具體案例,從三個層面探究如何通過閱讀小說簡寫本提升學(xué)生的讀后續(xù)寫能力。
關(guān)鍵詞:高中英語;小說簡寫本;讀后續(xù)寫;以讀促寫
引言
寫作是學(xué)生語言表達(dá)能力和思維能力的綜合體現(xiàn)。讀后續(xù)寫活動可以有效檢測學(xué)生的語篇理解能力和綜合語言運用能力,促進(jìn)學(xué)生英語學(xué)科素養(yǎng)的提升。然而,要想有效提高學(xué)生的讀后續(xù)寫水平,一味加強訓(xùn)練是遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不夠的,提供大量的可理解性語言輸入也至關(guān)重要。根據(jù)筆者的觀察,學(xué)生在日常寫作中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)語法混亂、語言匱乏、詞不達(dá)意、內(nèi)容平淡、流于表面等問題。這在很大程度上與高中英語教學(xué)中閱讀與寫作的割裂有關(guān)。
閱讀與寫作是二語習(xí)得中重要的信息輸入和輸出途徑。學(xué)習(xí)者語言素養(yǎng)的提高依賴于閱讀能力的培養(yǎng),語言思維和表達(dá)能力的高低的界定則依托寫作得以衡量(王篤勤,2002)。學(xué)生若不能從閱讀中有效地提取和積累語言,自然也就不能靈活熟練地將其應(yīng)用到寫作中去。而在廣博的閱讀材料中,英語經(jīng)典文學(xué)作品是人類精神文化的瑰寶,其語言生動地道、充滿想象力,是語言使用的典范和優(yōu)秀的語言學(xué)習(xí)資源。因此,將英語文學(xué)閱讀引入寫作教學(xué)尤為重要,有助于學(xué)生在真實語境中理解、模仿和習(xí)得優(yōu)美的語言,達(dá)到以讀促寫的目的。
基于英語小說簡寫本的以讀促寫教學(xué)實踐
下文以《典范英語10》中的三本簡寫本小說為例,從三個層面探究如何通過閱讀小說簡寫本提高學(xué)生的讀后續(xù)寫質(zhì)量。
1. 小說情節(jié)與主旨層面
在讀后續(xù)寫訓(xùn)練的初期,由于學(xué)生對這類活動的要求還不甚熟悉,容易出現(xiàn)情節(jié)安排過于自由、缺少邏輯的現(xiàn)象。例如,學(xué)生忽視對原文中主要人物性格特點的分析,導(dǎo)致續(xù)寫的情節(jié)與原文中的人物形象不符;在閱讀原文時忽視對文章主旨的揣摩,僅根據(jù)自己的喜好天馬行空,導(dǎo)致續(xù)寫部分的主題與原文脫節(jié)。下面,筆者以《典范英語10》中《白牙》一書的讀寫教學(xué)為例進(jìn)行說明。
(1)借助小說情節(jié),深入分析人物
《白牙》主要講述了一名叫白牙的幼狼從荒野進(jìn)入人類文明世界的故事。白牙誕生于荒野中,前后經(jīng)歷了三個主人,弱肉強食的生存環(huán)境和主人的折磨對它的身心造成了極大的摧殘。直到遇見新主人威登·斯考特,他仁慈的愛使得白牙從兇殘的野獸變?yōu)橹覍嵉膶櫸铮瓿闪擞伞袄恰钡健肮贰钡霓D(zhuǎn)變。在白牙的早期成長經(jīng)歷中,它的母親(she-wolf)起到至關(guān)重要的作用,小說中母狼的形象十分生動和豐滿。
為了引導(dǎo)學(xué)生基于小說情節(jié)分析人物性格特征,筆者在課堂上讓學(xué)生找出小說前四章中涉及母狼的情節(jié)仔細(xì)閱讀,然后進(jìn)行小組討論,從多個方面深入分析母狼的性格特點,并分別用原文中的依據(jù)(evidence)來支撐自己的觀點。經(jīng)過討論,學(xué)生對母狼形象進(jìn)行了較為全面的分析,例如,從母狼對白牙細(xì)心的呵護(hù)與照顧(motherly love)中可以看到它充滿母愛與關(guān)懷(loving and caring)的一面;從它為了幼崽的安全奮力與猞猁搏斗中可以看到它勇敢無畏、意志頑強(fearless and iron-willed)的一面;從它智斗猞猁、最終打敗對手中可以看到它聰明和狡猾(clever and cunning)的一面等。
這一活動不僅能發(fā)展學(xué)生基于事件、動作和語言等分析人物性格特征的能力,而且有助于學(xué)生通過揣摩原文中的人物性格對角色進(jìn)行進(jìn)一步的描寫與刻畫,續(xù)寫出富有邏輯且與前文緊密相連的情節(jié)。
(2)推測小說主旨,合理續(xù)寫故事
小說主旨(underlying theme)是小說的靈魂所在,小說的主要人物行為和情節(jié)走向都是為主旨服務(wù)的。學(xué)生在讀后續(xù)寫時要根據(jù)給出的前文推測文章主旨,據(jù)此合理構(gòu)思續(xù)寫部分的情節(jié),并在結(jié)尾處適當(dāng)升華主題。然而,不少學(xué)生誤以為小說的結(jié)尾和主題是完全開放的,情節(jié)的安排和走向是可以根據(jù)個人想法隨意變更的,最終導(dǎo)致續(xù)寫作文離題。
因此,為了培養(yǎng)學(xué)生根據(jù)已有情節(jié)合理推測小說主旨的能力,筆者在閱讀教學(xué)進(jìn)入尾聲之際,讓學(xué)生基于已經(jīng)學(xué)過的文本合理提煉小說主旨并給出相應(yīng)的理由。經(jīng)過小組討論與交流,學(xué)生探討出一系列不同的主旨。例如,有學(xué)生指出白牙在斯考特的關(guān)愛和感化下被馴服,逐漸褪去身上野蠻兇殘的一面,重新恢復(fù)善良與溫暖,由此可見愛的強大治愈力量;有學(xué)生認(rèn)為小說通過對比白牙的三個主人對待它的不同方式,表達(dá)了人與動物和諧相處的重要性;還有學(xué)生著眼于白牙前后的性格變化,推測小說的主旨是環(huán)境和經(jīng)歷能極大地影響和塑造人物性格。學(xué)生分析和歸納的主旨雖各有側(cè)重,但都緊緊圍繞小說情節(jié),理由充分、論據(jù)翔實,說明學(xué)生已基本具備基于已有情節(jié)合理推測文章主旨的能力。
筆者在此基礎(chǔ)上巧用小說最后一章,將其改編為一個讀后續(xù)寫活動,讓學(xué)生在沒有閱讀本章的前提下合理推測白牙與主人的最終結(jié)局,在完成續(xù)寫后再與小說的原結(jié)尾進(jìn)行比對,反思自己構(gòu)思的情節(jié),并與原文進(jìn)行對比。結(jié)果表明,絕大部分學(xué)生構(gòu)思的結(jié)局都與小說原文的主旨相符,情節(jié)安排也與原文殊途同歸。由此可見該活動有助于引導(dǎo)學(xué)生根據(jù)前文仔細(xì)體會文章主旨,合理預(yù)測與構(gòu)思后文情節(jié)。
2. 語言積累和運用層面
書面表達(dá)能力的提高源于語言學(xué)習(xí)和模仿。教師要讓學(xué)生明白,創(chuàng)造新內(nèi)容過程中的語言模仿不是剽竊(王初明,2015),而是將學(xué)習(xí)到的詞匯或語言結(jié)構(gòu)創(chuàng)造性地運用于自己的寫作,內(nèi)化為自己的語言。而在實際的教學(xué)過程中,盡管教師積極引導(dǎo)和督促學(xué)生積累小說中的好詞好句,為語言模仿提供范例,但由于按照章節(jié)摘錄的詞匯和表達(dá)常常缺乏整合、過于零散,且輸入與輸出之間存在斷層,因此學(xué)生在實際寫作中很難快速提取所需語言,或是無法準(zhǔn)確運用語言。接下來,筆者以《典范英語10》中《秘密花園》的讀寫教學(xué)為例進(jìn)行說明。
(1)分類歸納優(yōu)質(zhì)語言
在閱讀《秘密花園》的過程中,筆者積極指導(dǎo)學(xué)生分類歸納與整理小說中的優(yōu)質(zhì)語言,例如讓學(xué)生分別找出書中關(guān)于“說”“走”“發(fā)怒”的表達(dá),以及描述面部表情和心理感受的表達(dá)等。以下是學(xué)生分類歸納的部分實例。
●Verbs that have the same meaning as “say”:
P15: “It has to be,” she whispered to herself.
…
●Verbs that have the same meaning as “walk”:
P18: She skipped along the paths leading to the________________kitchen garden.
P34: Mary almost galloped out of the room.
P35: She tiptoed out of bed and opened her door.
…
●Expressions about showing ones anger:
P27: fly into a rage
P31: Mrs. Medlock stormed in, the usual scowl nailed to her face.
P38: stare at sb. crossly
…
●Expressions that describe ones facial expressions: _______________and feelings
P6: Mary just stared out of the window and scowled.
P7: feel ones spirits sink even lower
P67: Colin flopped back down in his chair with a proud grin on his face.
…
(2)完成話題式寫作任務(wù)
要想引導(dǎo)學(xué)生靈活運用所學(xué)表達(dá),教師必須督促學(xué)生多寫、多練,同時圍繞某一特定主題下的相關(guān)語言設(shè)置話題式寫作任務(wù),為學(xué)生搭建好語言支架,降低寫作難度,讓學(xué)生在有語言范例參考的前提下進(jìn)行情境式仿寫,實實在在地運用所學(xué)語言。
在教學(xué)中,筆者讓學(xué)生找出專門描寫花園的詞匯和句子,目的是讓學(xué)生自主地將小說中描寫“花園”這一場景的話題語言進(jìn)行有效的整合與積累,以便在之后的寫作中進(jìn)行恰當(dāng)運用。以下是學(xué)生摘錄的部分描寫“花園”的句子:
●P13: There was a large pool with a fountain in the middle. But the flowerbeds were bare and wintry and the fountain was not working. … Instead the ivy grew wild here, trailing like a waterfall down to the ground.
●P23: Rose trees had taken over the garden. They had climbed over urns and arbors and other trees, spreading thorny tendrils across to each other, as if holding hands. The branches were either grey or brown. … She was amazed to find tiny green shoots beneath the dead vegetation.
●P62: The plum tree was about to burst with white blossom and it formed a canopy under which Colin sat in wonder.
●P75: The place was a feast of autumn yellow and purple, and flaming scarlet. Late roses climbed and hung and clustered. The afternoon sun shone down on the leaves and made everything appear like a temple of gold.
…
隨后,筆者布置了一項話題式寫作任務(wù),讓學(xué)生參考和借鑒以上語言,寫一篇短文描述一個曾經(jīng)去過或想象中的花園或公園。筆者發(fā)現(xiàn),絕大多數(shù)學(xué)生都能或多或少地運用小說中的語言,并在寫作時融入個人的思考和想象,在模仿的基礎(chǔ)上進(jìn)行創(chuàng)造。以下是一篇優(yōu)秀范文,畫線處參考了小說中的表達(dá)。
I still remember the first time I stepped into this garden. That bare flowerbed, that dry pool. Everything was overgrown at that time. Moss and mushrooms took over the place. The branches were all either grey or brown. It was spring, but the garden was a wintry kingdom.
But now everything is totally different. The place is a feast of bright red, pink and yellow. Tiny white flowers scatter in the grass like stars. The breeze makes little waves on the sea of spring flowers. The scent of flowers fulfilled his heart. A magpie slides through the air, landing on the top branches on a plum tree. Its like heaven here.
3. 語篇句式與銜接層面
為了檢驗以上兩個層面教學(xué)實踐的有效性,筆者收集了學(xué)生在一次大型考試中的讀后續(xù)寫答題作文并仔細(xì)分析,以下為其中一篇較有代表性的作文示例(語法錯誤未修改)。
Sam arrived early the next morning. It was so early that Roland was still sleeping. Mrs. Proudfoot woke him up gently. Roland was sleepy and didnt even want to move. It was a difficult work to get Roland ready to get outdoor. Roland was lazy and walked slower than any other dog. Suddenly, Sams best friend, Barry poped out, walking a beautiful dog. Roland troted forward and sniffed the dog. The two dogs became friends quickly. The following days, Roland would dash out as soon as Sam called him to walk, wagging his tail excitedly.
A month later, Mrs. Proudfoot was delighted to find Roland fit and energetic. She gave Sam 120 dollars and said: “I trust you, and I hope you could walk my dog for another month.” Sam was so happy for his best friend wont be dismissed from final exams. He visit Mrs. Proudfoot regularly and she wasnt lonely anymore.
經(jīng)觀察,該學(xué)生在情節(jié)的邏輯性、用詞的準(zhǔn)確度和語言的豐富性上都較之前有所提升。但文章通篇都以單一的簡單句為主,句式的復(fù)雜度嚴(yán)重不足,讀起來平鋪直敘、十分枯燥。此外,該學(xué)生還不能靈活地運用銜接詞,導(dǎo)致文章語句之間常常出現(xiàn)斷層,缺少連貫性,再加上時不時出現(xiàn)的語法錯誤,作文的可讀性就大大降低了。
下面筆者以《典范英語10》中《黑駿馬》一書的讀寫教學(xué)為例進(jìn)行說明。
(1)加強語法手段指導(dǎo)
學(xué)生的作文之所以寫得像流水賬,很大程度上是因為句式復(fù)雜度不夠,沒有使用恰當(dāng)?shù)恼Z法手段來“裝點”語句。經(jīng)研討,筆者總結(jié)出以下八種常見的語法現(xiàn)象:非謂語動詞、獨立主格結(jié)構(gòu)、with結(jié)構(gòu)、非限制性定語從句、狀語從句、倒裝句、It句型、虛擬語氣。首先,筆者分別對這八種語法現(xiàn)象進(jìn)行詳細(xì)講解,然后讓學(xué)生完成相應(yīng)的鞏固練習(xí),如用括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式填空等。在學(xué)生掌握了相應(yīng)的語法知識后,筆者布置學(xué)習(xí)任務(wù),讓學(xué)生在小說《黑駿馬》中找出運用典型語法現(xiàn)象的句子,并分別注明具體運用了哪種表達(dá)。以下是學(xué)生找出的一部分典型句子。
●As I stepped onto the bridge I knew something was wrong and I stopped dead.? ?(Chapter 3) 狀語從句
●Little did I know then how badly I would suffer without…? ?(Chapter 5) 倒裝句
●Each night, after work, I returned to my stable feeling sore, worn out and very depressed.? (Chapter 7) 非謂語動詞
●It was not until around midnight that help finally came.? ?(Chapter 9) It 句型
●It was a while before my owner found out and by then I had become ill from lack of good food.? (Chapter 10)? It句型
●He decided not to keep a horse any more, and once my feet were better I was sold once again.? (Chapter 10) 狀語從句
●“Suit yourself,” said Mr. Briggs crossly, storming off.? ?(Chapter 11) 非謂語動詞
●If her owners had been kinder she would never have suffered so badly.? ?(Chapter 12) 虛擬語氣
●The drayman, whose cart it was, was later charged with drunken driving. (Chapter 14) 非限制性定語從句
●Life became so awful that, like Ginger, I wished I could drop down dead to be out of my misery.? (Chapter 15)? 虛擬語氣
●Grandfather looked me over, gently peering inside my mouth and feeling down my legs.? (Chapter 16)? 非謂語動詞
該教學(xué)活動的目標(biāo)是增強學(xué)生對各類常見語法現(xiàn)象的辨識度,體會到語法現(xiàn)象的恰當(dāng)運用對于提升句式復(fù)雜度和多樣性的作用,從而有意識地在自己的寫作中加以運用,寫出更加地道、豐富、精彩的語言。
(2)重視銜接詞指導(dǎo)
要使文章的情節(jié)和脈絡(luò)更加清晰,語言的連貫性是必不可少的。這就要求教師指導(dǎo)學(xué)生在作文中使用恰當(dāng)?shù)你暯釉~,如表示先后的and、then、before、after、afterwards、at first、at last、in the end、finally等,表示轉(zhuǎn)折的but、however、yet、although、unless、nevertheless等;表示對比或選擇的while、rather than、whereas、in contrast、on the contrary、on the other hand、whether… or、either… or、otherwise、instead of等;表示因果的so、therefore、because、since、thus、hence、so… that、consequently、accordingly等;表示并列的and、both… and、neither… nor、not only… but also、as well as、moreover、furthermore、besides、in addition等;表示條件的if、unless、supposing (that)、provided / providing (that)、only if、in case (that)、in the event (that)、so / as long as、on condition that、assuming (that)等。
筆者布置學(xué)習(xí)任務(wù),引導(dǎo)學(xué)生在《黑駿馬》中找出運用銜接詞使前后文更加連貫的典型句子并判斷具體是哪一類銜接詞,從而促進(jìn)學(xué)生有意識地運用恰當(dāng)?shù)你暯釉~,使文章語意連貫。以下是學(xué)生找出的一部分典型句子。
●Being broken in had come as a great shock to me… Shortly after this I was in for another shock.? (Chapter 2)
●At last we reached our destination, but the squires business took ages.? (Chapter 3)
●I took the ditch with a huge leap and made it safely to the other side. But what a sad sight met me!? (Chapter 8)
●But I couldnt keep it up and suddenly I stumbled and fell on my knees. Reuben flew to the ground. He landed heavily, groaned once and then fell silent. I felt like groaning too but I managed to struggle up.? (Chapter 9)
●Money was very tight after that because Mr. Briggs stopped using Jerry altogether. But Polly said, “It will all work out in the end.”? (Chapter 11)
●At first I hardly knew what to do with myself! Should I eat the grass, roll on my back, gallop as fast as I could or lie down and rest? In the end I did everything and it was the best time Id had in ages.? (Chapter 11)
結(jié)語
作為語言輸入和輸出的重要環(huán)節(jié),讀與寫密不可分、相輔相成。綜上所述,教師可以著眼于小說簡寫本的不同層面,在不同階段調(diào)整教學(xué)側(cè)重點,由淺入深地提升學(xué)生的讀后續(xù)寫水平。在閱讀和學(xué)習(xí)小說的過程中,學(xué)生能夠習(xí)得許多優(yōu)質(zhì)的語言表達(dá),為自己的文章添磚加瓦。與此同時,學(xué)生的閱讀和寫作興趣也在這一過程中得以培養(yǎng)。教師應(yīng)該引導(dǎo)學(xué)生在課內(nèi)外閱讀更多生動有趣、語言豐富和富有表現(xiàn)力的作品,努力探索新的教學(xué)方式,讓學(xué)習(xí)真實發(fā)生。
參考文獻(xiàn)
王初明. 2015. 讀后續(xù)寫何以有效促學(xué)[J]. 外語教學(xué)與研究, (5): 753—762
王篤勤. 2002. 英語教學(xué)策略論[M]. 北京: 外語教學(xué)與研究出版社.
王開欣
浙江省寧波市效實中學(xué)英語教師,中學(xué)二級教師。