试验的目的一般在老师讲课的开场白中,信号词test之后就是目的,即检验或者验证某个观点或者现象。试验的对象和器材是我们关注的第二大方面,常见的实验对象包括infant,children或者monkey之类,试验的器材相对而言比较广泛,具体情况具体对待。实验的过程是听力的重中之重,跟着老师做实验的步骤一步一步来,Firstly,and then, finally,同时记下关键的信息以及观察到的现象。最后我们要关注的是实验的大结论,教授花这么大的力气讲实验不是逗你玩的,因此一定要听清楚最后这个实验是验证了还是推翻了之前的理论或者观点?

下面我们以2009年2月14日的真题为例一起解读一下教授的课堂内容:

M:Now we believe that observational learning may take place when children watch other people’s performances. In 1961,Bandura conducted his famous Bobo doll experiment to test whether or not children would imitate adult models’behavior, say ,aggressive behavior or non-aggressive behavior.

Two groups of children were put separately into two playrooms, and two adult models were seated in each room containing a tinker toy and a Bobo doll. After a while, the aggressive model would attack the Bobo doll physically. Meanwhile, the non-aggressive model simply played with the tinker toys for the entire period. then, both children were taken into another playroom filled with highly entertaining toys and were left alone for 20 minutes. Judges watched each child from the window and recorded these children’s performance.

The result showed that the children exposed to the aggressive model were more likely to act in physically aggressive ways. Bandura successfully supported his theory of observational learning in this experiment and came to the conclusion that children tend to think that the behavior they are observing is acceptable.

从教授的开场白我们得知教授引用了Bandora的实验来阐述问题,目的就是test whether or not children would imitate adult models' behavior, aggressive behavior or non-aggressive behavior。实验的对象包括2组孩子,一个有攻击性的成年人和一个没有攻击性的成年人,试验的工具包括一个玩具和一个娃娃。实验步骤第一步"put 2 groups of children separately into 2 rooms, and two adult models were seated in each room containing a tinker toy and a bobo doll" ;实验第二步"aggressive model attack bobo doll, non-aggressive model play with the tinker toy"; 实验第三步 "then, both children were taken into another playing room","judges watched and recorded the children's performance" ;实验的现象"the children exposed to the aggressive model were more aggressive";实验的大结论"Bandora successfully supported his theory", "children tend to think that the behavior they are observing is acceptable"。

对我们所做的笔记进行加工之后我们可以这样概括教授的讲课内容:

In the lecture, the professor took Bandora's experiment to test whether or not children would imitate adults' behavior.
In the experiment, Bandora firstly divided the children into two groups. In group one, the aggressive model attacked the bobo doll; in group two, the non-aggressive model played with the tinker toy, and then he put the two groups of children into one entertaining room. The scholar found that the children who exposed to the aggressive model were more aggressive.

The professor concluded that Bandora's theory is correct. In another word, children are inclined to acquire knowledge through observational learning.

世上无难事,只怕有心人。再难的题总有应对的办法,只是你还没有掌握合适的方法。托福口语远不如你想的那样可怕,从战略上我们要藐视它,因为他确实只不过是选修课的难度;从战术上我们要重视它,毕竟英语不是我们的母语。搞定托福口语,听力能力和信息加工的能力是我们必不可少的战略武器。