节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-04-28
难易度:Medium
关键字:oriented, discipline, outcome, continuous
Welcome back, everybody.
Our friends Ben and Jane are having a conversation about which kind of homework
is best,
an ongoing project that takes weeks to finish or having daily homework
assignments?
Let's return to their conversation with Jane's next comment, an advantage to
doing long-term homework projects, on line 12.
(Music).
What Kind of Homework is Best?
However, in the workplace we won't be learning a new task every day and needing
to practice it.
We'll have continuous projects that need to be worked on little by little over
time.
So you're saying that long projects will prepare us more for the real world?
Yeah, I think so.
Then in some classes we should have nightly homework.
And in other classes, it would be better if we had long projects to work on.
I agree, so let's get going on this homework!
So how are you preparing for work?
Is your homework helping you prepare for a career-oriented world?
Well, that's what we're trying to figure out.
Which of these homework styles is best?
Jane says next: However, in the workplace we won't be learning a new task every
day and needing to practice it.
And so she's saying that, well, in the workplace you're not learning new tasks
every single day.
You're probably more likely to be working on a project and learning some new
things along the way.
That's right.
Now this is in response to Ben saying that learning the discipline of doing your
work every single day is good because then you are prepared for the future when
that happens in the workplace.
Although I think Jane makes a good point, Brandon.
Even though we're doing the same task again and again and again, it's not a new
task every day.
That's right. And so that's this continuous project.
We'll have continuous projects that need to be worked on little by little.
If something is "continuous," it doesn't stop.
So you're working on a project on Monday, and you come back on Tuesday and
Wednesday, and continue to work on it.
That's right.
And you do it little by little.
That means a small piece at a time.
You don't do the whole project in one sitting or in one day.
Instead, each day you do a small part of it as you work to put the entire
project together.
That is what "little by little" would mean.
And then we see "over time." And so you have a week, a month, three months,
whatever it is, you're working during that period of time.
So this would be more like a project at school where you are assigned something
at the beginning of the school semester, at the beginning of class,
and by the end of the class, you have to turn in the final project.
And that would be something you've worked on, hopefully a little by little over
time, but at your own pace.
Ben says: So you're saying that long projects will prepare us more for the real
world?
I like that phrase there, the real world, talking about people that are out
working and doing ordinary things that we would expect people to do.
That's right.
We refer to "the real world" as outside of school.
Yes, Brandon, I know that the school is part of the real world.
You have to go.
It's required.
You need to be there.
But when we talk about the real world in general, we're talking about life
outside of school, even outside of college.
It's when you're in the workplace, when you have a career you are working
towards.
That's right.
And it also is the opposite of something you may see in a movie or read in a
book.
It's something that's actually happening.
And Jane replies: Yeah, I think so.
So she agrees here then with Ben with what he has just said.
So this is... this is interesting.
At the beginning of their conversation, Jane thought that having nightly
assignments sounded like more fun instead of big project.
And now she thinks that having these big projects does prepare you for
real-world life experiences.
And Ben says: Then in some classes we should have nightly homework.
But in other classes, it may be better if we had these longer projects to work
on.
So Kaylah, what they're saying here is there are benefits to both, to the daily
assignments and then to the long projects that you work on.
You can learn from both situations.
That's right.
You can learn the discipline of nightly homework, but also, there's a certain
amount of discipline that goes into getting a project done in the right time.
You need to know how to spread your time out and pace yourself correctly.
So Brandon, if we're thinking about school, a class that I would say nightly
homework is best for would be math.
That's exactly right.
You need to practice, practice, practice doing many different kinds of math
problems.
And you learn that way in math class.
But in other classes, maybe a large project you would be working on.
Maybe in computer class, you're working on some project.
And so that takes a lot of time.
You do a little bit each day, but you may not have as many individual
assignments.
That's right.
Or even history, something where you do research and you put together something,
you're taking the time to learn a lot of different pieces.
So depending on the class, depends on what kind of homework should be assigned.
And I'm hoping that teachers know what that is.
We have to trust that the teacher understands what they're doing and assigns the
right kind of homework.
That's right.
And in the end, Jane decides to agree with Ben, and she says: So let's get going
on this homework.
She... she means let's start doing our homework.
So in the end, Kaylah, they tend to agree.
That's right.
They agree that having both and having the discipline and learning both ways of
doing assignments and projects is a good thing.
Now Brandon, in your job, do you have daily tasks?
I do.
Do you learn something new each day?
Maybe not learn something new.
Or I would say I don't do something brand new every single day.
So which one do you think better prepared you from school?
Well, I honestly think that both can help you because you have these daily
assignments that helps you to learn the discipline that you need,
and of course, in a work environment you need to know how to work on long
projects.
Well, they agree, Ben and Jane; and their conversation agreeing, saying let's
get going on this homework.
Well, that's our Grammar on the Go sentence, so let's check in with Liz.
And then visit the Chat Room.
How are you doing today, friends?
My name is Liz.
And it's time for Grammar on the Go.
So we're talking about what kind of homework is best in today's VIEWPOINTS
article.
And here's our Grammar Tip sentence: ... let's get going on this homework!
Our focus is on the phrase, get going.
It's actually an idiom that means to get started or to begin.
In other words, today's sentence just means: Let's begin this homework.
This idiom is used in informal conversations.
Suppose let's say you and your roommate are going out for a movie.
But your roommate is taking a long time in getting ready, so you can say:
Can we get going now? I don't want us to be late for the movie.
Or, let's say you're the supervisor of a department in your company.
And it's reported to you that one of the guys in your department is lazy and
hasn't started on a project yet, so you can say:
Tell him to get going with that project or he's going to lose his job at the end
of the month.
So give this idiom a try next time when you find yourself in a situation that
requires you to tell someone to get something started.
And if you'd like to see some more example sentences,
be sure to check out today's Grammar Tip section in your Studio Classroom
magazine.
That's all the time we have for today.
This is Liz with Grammar on the Go signing off.
Bye-bye.
(Music).
Hi there, Ken.
Hey, Bryan.
Hey! What's going on?
You look like a professor.
I'm no professor, but I will be giving a lecture later today.
What will you be speaking about?
I'll be talking about teamwork in the workplace.
In the workplace?
You mean here at the library?
Well, yes. The library is my workplace.
But I'll also mention examples that apply to other workplaces such as offices
and factories.
Is that phrase "in the workplace" very common?
Sure. People talk of bullying in the workplace, motivation in the workplace, and
even fairness in the workplace.
I see.
So these are issues related to people's jobs?
Yes. "Workplace" can also be an adjective when it comes before a noun.
That makes sense.
I've read of workplace stress.
And that is often caused by workplace noise.
I bet it is.
Are there any other job-related words with "work" in them?
You bet.
"Workspace" is one.
It describes the area where you work in your home or office.
Bryan, your workspace is larger than most, right?
That is true.
I'm not stuck in a desk all day long.
I do have a workstation.
But I am able to move around the library quite a bit.
Workstation? Why "station"?
Oh. "Workstation" is just a fancy word for a desk and computer.
I see.
Well, thanks for all the tips, and good luck with your lecture.
Thanks.
(Chinese).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And it is too early for us to say goodbye.
I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
OK. This isn't a homework assignment, but if you have an extra moment,
log on to our Studio Classroom website and download our free Activity Sheet.
It's just a little something to help cement this lesson's words and concepts
into your mind better.
And another way to do that is to cut out and carry the magazine vocabulary cards
to review whenever you're waiting at a red light,
or at the bus stop, or at a tea stand.
Friends, I see cookies in your future.
Find out why on Monday.
Until then, have a greatweekend.