除了学语言，孩子更需要…（G3-G5家长必看）
学语言，更要学思维
字节跳动张一鸣曾在公司9周年年会上痛批互联网人患上大公司病。表现之一是工作报告不说人话，充斥着诸如“链路”、“赛道”、“赋能”、“颗粒度”等互联网黑话。在他看来，“对事物的过度抽象”是偷懒走捷径的表现，并奉劝互联网人用平常心做平常事。
他以一段工作汇报为例：
过去我们主要依靠推荐技术赋予的信息分发能力、跨端联动抖头西、分多个产品自研，实现深度共建，形成组合拳，打造内容生态闭环，以此赋能客户用户创造价值。未来我们要增加横向不同场景价值，延长服务链路。同时纵深满足用户需求，借助人类年龄的自然势能，在小中青多个年龄用户深度渗透……
这里所说的平常心做平常事，无非是指直击本质，实事求是。
著名语言学者Robert B. Kaplan在一篇名为《跨文化教育中的文化思维模式》（Cultural Thought Patterns In Inter-Cultural Education）的学术文章中指出，语言是文化思维的表现，不同文化的人看待事物千差万别，归根结底是价值观的不同。
他以写作为例，分析了来自五种文化的学生的段落写作特征，分别是英美文化、犹太文化、东亚文化、罗曼文化、斯拉夫文化，并用下面这张图展示了逻辑思维上的差异。
从这张图上可以看出，中间的东亚文化和其余四种截然不同。Kaplan以韩国学生的文章为例，认为东亚学生的习作特点是委婉（indirection），围绕主题打转，但从不明示主题。通过阐释“事物不是什么”等间接的方式来说明“事物是什么”。
Kaplan 指出，不同文化教育体系下的学生要了解其所处文化的评价标准。以英美文化中的阅读写作为例，掌握语法句法，不代表能读会写。只有明白语境的逻辑，才能充分理解语境；只有打通逻辑，才能真正写好英文。
今天，我们以小学高年级段（G3-G5）的美国学生习作为例，剖析三种不同的文体（说明文、议论文和记叙文），借此了解一下英美文化如何训练学生的思维。如果您的孩子已经是高年级的学生，一定要注意了解英语世界的写作逻辑，注重锻炼孩子的思维能力。
✍五年级学生的说明文
Author Response: Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl is a very interesting author to me. That's because he knows what a kid wants to hear. He has a "kid's mind". He is the only author that I know that makes up interesting words like Inkland, fizz wizard, and gobble funking. All his stories are the same type. I don't mean the same story written again and again. What I mean is that they all have imagination, made up words, and disgusting thoughts. Some of his stories that have those things are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches and Danny the Champion of the World. The Witches is the book that I am reading right now, and it is like The BFG, another book that is by Roald Dahl. They are alike because in The BFG, Sophie and the BFG，(the big friendly giant), are trying to stop other giants from eating human beings. The Witches has the same problem. The Boy, (he has no name), is trying to stop the witches from turning children into small mice, and then killing the mice by stepping on them. Both stories have to stop evil people from doing something horrible.
Roald Dahl uses a lot of similes. Some similes that he used that I like are: Up he shot again like a bullet in the barrel of a gun. And my favorite is: They were like a chorus of dentists' drills all grinding away together.
In all of Roald Dahl's books, I have noticed that the plot or the main problem of the story is either someone killing someone else, or a kid having a bad life. But it is always about something terrible. All the characters that Roald Dahl ever made were probably fake characters. A few things that the main characters have in common are that they all are poor. None of them are rich. Another thing that they all have in common is that they either have to save the world, someone else, or themselves.
这是一篇介绍作家Roald Dahl的说明文。Roald Dahl, 是英国杰出的儿童文学作家、剧作家和短篇小说作家。他的很多作品颇受欢迎。比如文中提到的《查理和他的巧克力工厂》（Charlie and the Chocolate Factory）、《玛蒂尔达》（Matilda）、《女巫》（The Witches）、《世界冠军丹尼》（Danny the Champion of the World）。
先了解下美国五年级写作对说明文的要求。五年级写作总体要求请戳《美国人如何硬核训练小学生写作？》
写作体裁
说明文
写任务
探讨话题，阐明观点，传递信息
写作要求
· 阐释话题, 详略得当，逻辑严谨，包括书写格式（比如，标题的写法）、插图、多媒体，使其易于理解
· 运用事实、定义、细节、引用或其它相关信息、事例拓展话题
· 在段内或段间，运用连接词、短语、从句（clauses）（如in contrast, especially）连接观点
·运用准确的语言、专业词汇表述信息，解释话题
· 提供和原文信息相关的结束句或结束段
我们对照写作要求，逐条分析。
论点清晰，展开充分
第一段：第一句话Roald Dahl is a very interesting author to me即本文的论点。第二、三句话进行解释。
论证手段多样
如果只是泛泛而谈Roald Dahl的用词多么有趣，则会显得抽象、空洞。下面这句话中，紧跟着interesting words, 列举了书中自创的词，如Inkland, fizz wizard等。
He is the only author that I know that makes up interesting words like Inkland, fizz wizard, and gobble funking.
再比如，为了说明作品的相似性，作者对相似性的具体细节展开说明，包括made-up words, disgusting thoughts,并举出这些作品的名字。
All his stories are the same type. I don't mean the same story written again and again. What I mean is that they all have imagination, made up words, and disgusting thoughts. Some of his stories that have those things are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches and Danny the Champion of the World.
这还不够，写作者还进一步对比了两部作品，The Witches和BFG, 指出情节的相似性。
The Witches is the book that I am reading right now, and it is like The BFG, another book that is by Roald Dahl. They are alike because in The BFG, Sophie and the BFG，(the big friendly giant), are trying to stop other giants from eating human beings. The Witches has the same problem. The Boy, (he has no name), is trying to stop the witches from turning children into small mice, and then killing the mice by stepping on them. Both stories have to stop evil people from doing something horrible.
衔接得当，从句使用娴熟
全篇没有一句废话。句与句之间连接紧密，船头连船尾。比如，下面三句话黑色粗体标注的单词将三句话从逻辑上连了起来。
Roald Dahl uses a lot of similes. Some similes that he used that I like are: Up he shot again like a bullet in the barrel of a gun. And my favorite is: They were like a chorus of dentists' drills all grinding away together.
用词专业
文章中出现了一些文学作品分析常用到的一些词。如simile(明喻)、plot(情节)，角色(character)
✍四年级学生的议论文
Zoo Field Trip
Dear Mr. xxx and Mrs. xxx,
We have a problem. The wildlife here in xxx is very limited. There is not a lot of opportunity to learn about conservation and wildlife preservation. If we took a field trip to xxx our problem would be solved. xxx, xxx, xxx and I would like to take our class for a great learning experience. In addition, we will provide a study guide to xxx to identify the animals and provide information about conservation of endangered wildlife.
If we went on a field trip, we will learn about the wildlife from around the world and how xxx provides a natural habitat for them to live and breed. This information would help us to understand the importance of science in our day to day life. We would use math to make a budget and figure out a way to earn money. These skills will be very useful again and again. We will learn how to make a schedule with target dates. This will provide us with a plan that covers the entire project from start to finish. The preparation of the study guide will require lots of research and organization of information.
The first thing to do is research, research, research! Next, we will choose a fund raiser (with your approval, of course). This will earn money for the field trip. The parents will hopefully chip in their time and money, if we don’t get enough. We will prepare a plan schedule. This will provide the dates that team members will need to accomplish the steps toward our goal. My competent adult model is the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It shows us step by step how to plan a trip and what to see.
Now, you are asking why should I approve a trip to xxx? How does this help xxx and the students? Besides the fact that the project planning, fund raising, budgeting and reporting will provide an excellent learning opportunity, it will provide education. It will also provide awareness of wildlife and the importance of conservation. This project will be evaluated by its successful planning and its ability to involve our class in wildlife conservation. The trip will be evaluated by the student participation on the trip and a plan of conservation that identifies what we can all do to protect and respect wildlife so they will still be around when we have children.
Sincerely,
xxx
这是一封小学生写给某个野生动物园的信，恳求获得参观动物园的机会。诉求坦诚清晰，可行性和预期效果有理有据。
先了解一下美国四年级写作对议论文的要求。四年级写作总体要求请戳《美国人如何硬核训练小学生写作？》
写作体裁
说明文
写作任务
根据话题输出观点，运用说理、事实支撑观点
写作要求
· 介绍话题，陈述观点，结构合理, 信息组织得当，支撑写作目的
· 运用事实、细节支撑观点
· 使用连接词或短语(如for instance, in order to, in addition), 连接观点与论据
· 提供结束句或结束段
诉求直截了当，结构合理
第一段第一句话直接说明写这封信的目的，并给出解决方案。直接表达诉求。比如：
We have a problem.
If we took a field trip to xxx our problem would be solved.
第二、三段给出可行性方案。比如：
运用数学知识做好预算，并想办法募集资金。
We would use math to make a budget and figure out a way to earn money.
制定周密的日程表
We will prepare a plan schedule.
最后一段说明该方案预期效果。比如：
能起到教育的作用
Besides the fact that …, it will provide education.
能造福下一代
The trip will be evaluated … so they will still be around when we have children.
用大量的事实和证据说明方案可行性。
比如，在谈到募集资金的计划时，写作者详细地阐释了借助哪些渠道。
Next, we will choose a fund raiser (with your approval, of course). This will earn money for the field trip. The parents will hopefully chip in their time and money, if we don’t get enough. We will prepare a plan schedule.
逻辑连接词使用娴熟
从下列句子中黑体加粗的词语可以看出写作者思路非常清晰。
In addition, we will provide a study guide to xxx to identify the animals and provide information about conservation of endangered wildlife.
The first thing to do is research, research, research! Next, we will choose a fund raiser (with your approval, of course).
Now, you are asking why should I approve a trip to xxx? … Besides the fact that … .
结尾采用问答形式，对方案进行整体评估
It will provide education.
It will also provide awareness of wildlife and the importance of conservation.
They will still be around when we have children.
✍四年级学生的记叙文
Glowing Shoes
One quiet, Tuesday morning, I woke up to a pair of bright, dazzling shoes, lying right in front of my bedroom door. The shoes were a nice shade of violet and smelled like catnip. I found that out because my cats, Tigger and Max, were rubbing on my legs, which tickled.
When I started out the door, I noticed that Tigger and Max were following me to school. Other cats joined in as well. They didn’t even stop when we reached Main Street!
“Don’t you guys have somewhere to be?” I quizzed the cats.
“Meeeeeooooow!” the crowd of cats replied.
As I walked on, I observed many more cats joining the stalking crowd. I moved more swiftly. The crowd of cats’ walk turned into a prance. I sped up. I felt like a rollercoaster zooming past the crowded line that was waiting for their turn as I darted down the sidewalk with dashing cats on my tail.
When I reached the school building . . . SLAM! WHACK! “Meeyow!” The door closed and every single cat flew and hit the door.
Whew! Glad that’s over! I thought.
I walked upstairs and took my seat in the classroom.
“Mrs. Miller! Something smells like catnip! Could you open the windows so the smell will go away? Pleeeeaase?” Zane whined.
“Oh, sure! We could all use some fresh air right now during class!” Mrs. Miller thoughtfully responded.
“Nooooooo!” I screamed.
When the teacher opened the windows, the cats pounced into the building.
“It’s a cat attack!” Meisha screamed
Everyone scrambled on top of their desks. Well, everyone except Cade, who was absolutely obsessed with cats.
“Awww! Look at all the fuzzy kitties! They’re sooo cute! Mrs. Miller, can I pet them?” Cade asked,
adorably.
“Why not! Pet whichever one you want!” she answered.
“Thanks! Okay, kitties, which one of you wants to be petted by Cade Dahlin?” he asked the cats. None of them answered. They were all staring at me.
“Uh, hi?” I stammered.
Rrriiiiinng! The recess bell rang. Everyone, including Mrs. Miller, darted out the door.
Out at recess, Lissa and I played on the swings.
“Hey! Look over there!” Lissa shouted. Formed as an ocean wave, the cats ran toward me.
Luckily, Zane’s cat, Buddy, was prancing along with the aroma of catnip surrounding his fur. He ran up to me and rubbed on my legs. The shoes fell off. Why didn’t I think of this before? I notioned.
“Hey Cade! Catch!”
Cade grabbed the shoes and slipped them on.
The cats changed directions and headed for Cade.
“I’m in heaven!” he shrieked.
这是一篇命题作文，要求学生根据下面这句话，叙述一个完整的故事。
“One morning you wake up and find a strange pair of shoes next to your bed. The shoes are glowing.”
写在最后
维特根斯坦在《逻辑哲学论》中写道，语言的边界决定世界的外延。思维塑造着语言，同时语言也反向塑造思维。我们在教孩子学习英文时，要着重训练孩子的思维，引导孩子用英语世界能够接受的方式思考、表达。
说明文、议论文、记叙文是小学阶段重点练习的三种体裁。从今天的学生习作可以看出，无论是结构、论证，还是语言表达，较之低年级习作，难度陡增。Kaplan 认为外语学习最重要的不是学习单词、语法，而是逻辑、思维。他还建议语言教师要向学生说明母语和外语在逻辑思维上的差异，这是学习的根本。
如果您的孩子在语言学习的逻辑思维方面遇到困难，不妨试试我们的大嘴外教。我们的外教老师将透过语言，解构西方英语世界的思维，直击语言学习的本质。让孩子学会语言，更学会思考。
在大嘴外教这里约一个语言学习的好老师，全方面提升孩子语言能力。
400-677-2006
