英美文化与国家概况

关键词： 英美 概况 学生 文化

英美文化与国家概况（精选5篇）

篇1：英美文化与国家概况

1.Great Charter:

It refers to the document sealed by King John of England on June 15, 1215, which contains 63 clauses.The most important are as followed: the King could not exact payment from the vassals without their consent;no freeman should be arrested, imprisoned, or deprived of their property unless they are convinced by a jury;merchants would be allowed to move about freely.If the King attempted to free himself from the law, the vassals had the right to force him to obey the law by every means possible, even by means of a civil war.It is regarded as the foundation of the British constitutionalism.2.“A-level”:

A-level—is an academic qualification offered by educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the British Crown dependencies to students completing secondary or pre-university education.3.Pilgrim Fathers:

The first English immigrants who came to America by the ship Mayflower in 1620.They came to the America to run away from the religious persecution in England.They landed the America from Plymouth and settled down in this land.4.WASPs:

“WASP” stands for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.It is considered the basis of the mainstream culture of the United States.The people who settled in the 13 North American colonies were mostly white European Protestant believers.The United States was founded and formed largely by Protestants.5.Wall Street:

Wall Street is the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long, 0.7 miles(1.1 km)long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan.Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, the American financial sector(even if financial firms are not physically located there), or signifying New York-based financial interests.6.Independence Day:

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.7.Hollywood:

Hollywood is the US film industry centre.It is located in Los Angeles, California.There are big movie companies, including the Warner Bros.Pictures, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.The annual Oscar Award held there attracts the attention of the world;it has become the synonym of American film.1.Democracy with a constitutional monarch:

Constitutional monarchy is a form of democratic government in which a nonpolitical monarch acts as head of state within the boundaries of a constitution, whether written or unwritten.While the monarch may hold formal reserve powers and while government officially takes place in the monarch’s name, they do not set public policy or choose political leaders.It can be defined as “a sovereign who reigns but does not rule.” This form of government differs from absolute monarchy, in which the monarch controls political decision-making and is not effectively bound by a constitutional order.2.British Newspaper Culture:The United Kingdom has one of the world’s oldest established newspaper industries.In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, as the British economy began to industrialise, as the development of the society, and as literacy levels rose through the introduction of mass education, more and more newspapers began to appear.They began to influence British society and people’s life.There are two kinds of newspaper in the UK: the “quality press” and “tabloid”.The types of newspaper can reflect the reader’s social class.The quality press, such as The Observer, The Guardian, and The Times normally carries in-depth articles of particular political and social importance and are generally read by well-educated, middle-class readers.The tabloid refers to smaller format newspaper with color photos and catchy headlines.They are usually about scandals and gossips about famous people, whether in politics, sports or entertainment.The articles are short and easy to read.The readers are normally working-class and lower class people.3.Industrial Revolution:

The First Industrial Revolution first originated in the UK.The Industrial Revolution took root in Britain for a variety of reasons.First, Britain had a huge market.Second, from the colonies in America and India, England acquired enormous wealth with which to develop its industries.Third, the enclosure movement deprived many small landowners of their property.The Industrial Revolution began in the textile industry and was marked by a series of important inventions.They were the Spinning Jenny, the water frame, the power loom and the steam engine.By the middle of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was accomplished in Britain.It changed Britain in many ways.Its industrial productivity increased dramatically.Britain became the most advanced industrial country and also the financial center in the world.The country also underwent a process of mass urbanization.The Industrial Revolution also created changed in the class structure.（谢福之P.20）

The Second Industrial Revolution（谢福之P.149）: The Second Industrial Revolution, also known as the Technological Revolution, was a phase of the larger Industrial Revolution corresponding to the latter half of the 19th century until World War I.It is considered to have begun around the time of the introduction of Bessemer steel in the 1860s and culminated in early factory electrification, mass production and the production line.The Third Industrial Revolution: The first two industrial revolutions made people richer and more urban.Now a third revolution is under way.Manufacturing is going digital.4.Presidential Election:

America is a presidential government country.The presidential election is held every four years.The system of presidential government is complicated.It includes primary election, the popular vote, the Electoral College.The primary election is the first period.It is time for the party candidates won the presidential candidate of their own party.After the primary election, the candidate will spend huge amounts of money on electoral journey, competition on advertisement, electoral speeches and public debates.In most states, they work on “winner win all”.It means if one wins the most votes of states.He will gain all the votes of these states.American elections for the president are not decided directly by the popular vote, instead under the Electoral College.Each of the fifty states influence on the results equals its population.If both candidates gain 269 votes, or neither of them gains 270 votes, the president will be determined by the parliament.5.American Civil War:

In the early 1800s, the Northern states turned from farming to manufacturing.Black slavery soon disappeared in the North.But things were different in the South.The South expanded both its agriculture and its slavery.The problem of slavery became a serious political issue.The abolitionists tried to abolish slavery while the South tried to keep it.When Abraham Lincoln was elected President, the Southern states broke away and formed a new nation.Then Lincoln was determined to maintain the Union and the war broke out on April 12, 1861, Lincoln realized that he could win support for the Union at home and abroad by making the war a just war against slavery.So he issued Emancipation Proclamation.Thus England and France stood by the Union’s side.Many black slaves joined the Union Army.After a series of battles, Robert Lee could no longer hold Richmond.He surrendered on April 9, 1865.The Civil War ended.6.Separation of Powers:

The American constitutional system includes a notion known as the Separation of Powers.In this system, 3 branches of government are created and power is shared between them.At the same time, the powers of one branch can be challenged by another branch.This is what the system of checks and balances is all about.There are three branches in the United States government as established by the Constitution.First, the Legislative branch makes the law.Second, the Executive branch executes the law.Last, the Judicial branch interprets the law.Each branch has an effect on the other.

篇2：英美文化与国家概况

It is one of the most important of all social movements in the 1960s in America.Rosa Parks’ spontaneous action in 1955 was believed to the true beginning of the civil rights movement.The black students’ sit-in at a department lunch counter in North Carolina touched off the nationwide civil rights movement.During the first half of the decade, civil rights organizations like the SNCC,CORE,and SCLC struggled for racial intergration by providing leaderships,network and the people.In the latter half of the decade, some black organizations changed their nonviolent tactics, and emphasized on more radical means to end discrimination and raised the self-image of the blacks.The civil rights movement produced such great leaders as Martin Luther King.Jr, and Malcolm X, who inspired a generation of both blacks and whites to devote their lives to fighting for racial equality in th US.2.A federal system【联邦制】

It is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constiuent parts, with some rights reserved to each.3.King Arthur

It is said that he was the King of England in the 5th century and united the British and drove the Saxons back with his magica sword,Excalibur.His real existence is in doubt.He is the central figure of many legends.4.The Anglo-Saxons

They were two groups of Germanic peoples who settled down in England from the 5th century.They were regarded as the ancestors of the English and the founders of England.5.Riverdance[大河舞] It is a very popular form of dancing based on Ireland’s intricate[错综复杂的]folk dances which are rearranged and modernized and adapted onto current stage performance.Dancing is traditionally part of Irish culture.It is usually accompanied by the Irish pipe and fiddle.The music usually sounds fast and furious.Most of the action

is from the waist down, with the arms held rigidly at the sides.6.The House of Commons

It is the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives(members of parliament)make and debate policy.These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.7.The Commonwealth【英联邦】

In the author’s opinion, the Commowealth is a voluntary association of states which is made up mostly of former British colonies.There are 50 members of the Commonwealth: many of these are developing countries like India and Cyprus;others are developed nations like Australia,Canada and New Zealand.The Commonwealth was set up as a form for continued cooperation and as a sort of support network.8.Maoritanga

It is the Maori word for “Maori culture.” It refers to all the elements of the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people in New Zealand, including their language, customs and traditions,9.The “Washminster” form polity

It is adopted by the Australian government.It is a mixture of the US Washington system of government and the British Westminster system.This means that the political structure of the government is base on a Federation of States with a three-tier system of government.However, the chief executive is a Prime Minister, instead of a President as in the US system.10.Yellowstone National Park

It is the oldest and one of the largest national parks in the US.It is named after the Yellowstone River that flows through the area.It is known for its geysers and hot springs among other natural wonders.counterculture[反主流文化]

In the wake of the Free Speech Movement and the New Left, there appeared a phenomenon that historians called the “counterculture”.The counterculture rejected capitalism and other Americans principles.They had morals different from those taught by their parents.Some group of youth tried to construct different ways of life,.Among the most famous were the hippies.They thought new experience through dropping out, and drug taking.But it was music,rock music particular, that became the chief vehicle for the counter cultural assault on the traditional American society.The counterculture exerted a great influence upon people’s attitudes toward social morals, marriage, career and success.Martin Luther King, Jr.A black Baptist minister, he was leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the civil rights movements of the 1960s.To promote his philosophy of nonviolent protest against segregation and other kinds of social injustice, King organized a series of “marches”, including the march on Washington of August 1963, when King delivered his famous “ I Have a Dream” speech.As a civil rights leader, King worked not only to end racial discrimination and poverty, but also to raise the self image of the blacks.Due to his strong belief in non-violent peaceful protest, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964.He was assassinated in the city of Memphis in April 1968.13．Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon was the former President of the United States.He won the elction in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972.While he was in office, he contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China and visited China in 1972.Shortly after he was re-elected ,he was involved in the

Watergate scandal,for which he was forced to resign from the presidency.1.Explain your understanding of how the United States is governed according to its constitution, including its polity and the check and balance mechanism of governing.if Congress proposes a law that the president think is unwise, the president can veto it.That means the proposal does not became law.Congress can enact the law despite the president’s views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.If Congress passes a low which is the challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions,including the position, of Supreme Court justice.The Senate,however,must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official.In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments.2.How do you understand the saying: ”British history has been a history of invasion.” ?

Before the 1st century AD Britain was made up of many tribal kingdoms of Celtic people:a powerful cultural originating in central Europe.Then in 43AD Britain was invaded by Roman Empire, and England and Wales became part of the Roman Empire for nearly400 years.As the Roman Empire came under threat from the east, the Roman armies and Roman protection were withdrawn from Britain, and Britain was again divided into small kindoms, and

again it came under threat from outside, this time from Germanic peoples:the Angles,and the Saxon.In the 5th century AD it is said that a great leader-King Arthur appeared, united the British, and with his magical sword, Excalibur,drove the Saxons back.whatever Arthur’s success,legend or not,it did not last,for the Anglo-Saxons did succeed in invading Britain,and either absorbed the Celticpeople,or pushed them to the western and northern edges of Britain.From the late 8th century on, raiders from Scandinavia, the ferocious Vikings, threatened Britain’s shores.Their settlements in England grew until large areas of northern and eastern England were under their control.1066, the Normans, from northern France, whowere descendants of Vikings.Under William of Normandy they cross the English Channel and in the Battle of Hastings, defeated an English army under King Harold.This marks the last time.that an army from outside the British Isles succeeded in invading

3.Your understanding of the characteristics of American religion and its social functions

First of all, American with different religions live together under the same law.The Bill of Rights in the US Constitution

篇3：英美文化与国家概况

语言是文化的载体, 文化通过语言才能表现。语言交流的实质就是文化的交流。文化意识的培养与英语学习密不可分。忽视了语言所承载的文化对英语这门学科的学习是不利的, 而重视语言背后的文化, 注重文化意识的培养必定会促进英语的学习。校本选修课程《英美文化概况》的开设为高中学生文化意识的养成搭建了一个很好的平台, 也为学生的英语学习以及教师的教学开辟了新的思路。本文将以选修《英美文化概况》课程的高中学生为调查对象, 探究开设该选修课的意义以及文化意识的培养对英语学习的促进作用。

一、研究背景

有关文化意识的培养和跨文化交际能力的培养的研究开始于20世纪50年代末的美国。1959年, 美国人类学家Edward Hall出版的《无声的语言》 (The Silent Language) 一书, 被认为是跨文化交际的最早成果。目前, 我国关于跨文化教学的研究大都集中在大学领域, 涉及高中的很少, 即使有, 也只是停留在经验总结层面, 而关于高中校本选修《英美文化概况》的开设和文化意识的培养之间的关系的研究更是少之又少。

近年来, 高中英语教学中跨文化交际能力的培养和研究逐渐受到英语教师的重视。胡文仲 (2005) 通过对我国学术期刊上发表的有关跨文化交际的论文与同一时期美国International Journal of Inte rcultural Re lations发表的论文进行对比, 发现我国基于实证研究的跨文化交际论文较少。对此, 很多专家、学者呼吁我国的跨文化交际研究者大力加强实证研究。

笔者正是响应关于跨文化交际实证研究的号召, 以开设校本选修课程《英美文化概况》为契机, 进行两次题为“高中生英语文化知识与意识现状”的调查, 旨在探究校本选修课程《英美文化概况》的开设对培养学生的英语文化意识的影响, 以及开设该选修课的意义和必要性。

二、课程基本概况

笔者开设校本选修课程《英美文化概况》已有数年时间, 从第一年的摸索到后来的不断改进, 逐渐编制出科学、合理且适合高中生学习的篇章体系, 课程框架如表1所示。校本选修《英美文化概况》每周安排2个课时。

此课程的内容囊括英美国家的基本简介和典型文化的介绍, 还将英国和美国的文化进行了比较, 旨在使学生更深入地将所学知识变成自己认知体系的一部分。

该课程的功能有四:第一, 使学生加深对两大典型英语国家文化的理解, 提高跨文化交际能力和分析、判断问题的能力。第二, 帮助学生开阔视野、扩展知识面, 通过知识的传输和潜移默化地熏陶, 为高中生的英语学习提供背景知识。第三, 让学生通过阅读大量的文化书籍与讲义、欣赏各种文化影视作品和歌曲, 讨论各种文化争议, 开展总结陈述等活动, 有效提高听、说、读、写等各项语言技能以及综合运用英语的能力。第四, 使学生掌握大量的英美文化知识, 对英语这门语言学科有深层次的了解, 激发学生学习英语的兴趣, 增强他们的信心。

课程的实施是通过影片欣赏让学生直观地感受英美国家的历史、文化、地理、民俗等。结合时政新闻和学生现有的知识水平, 引导他们通过阅读、思考、自行搜索、调查研究等方式探究英美国家的文化知识。并让学生通过小组讨论、合作学习的方式将英美文化与中国文化进行比较。

三、实验探究

为考证校本选修课程《英美文化概况》对学生的文化意识有何影响, 笔者以选修《英美文化概况》课程的50名高中学生为研究对象, 分别在课程开始前和结束后, 对学生的英语语言文化知识现状展开调查 (分别为前期调查和后期调查, 分别见表2、表3) 。此研究旨在促进学生对英语文化重要性的认识, 让学生和教师都看到英语文化意识和文化内涵的培养对学习英语的促进作用。

(一) 前期调查

1.实验背景

本次调查是在学生学习校本选修课程《英美文化概况》之前进行的, 目的是考查学生在选修此课之前对学习英美文化对英语学习和文化意识培养上的重要性的认识和对英美文化知识的了解情况, 以及了解学生对《英美文化概况》这门选修课有着怎样的期待。

2.表格说明

此表格分为两个部分。第一部分为5个简单的问题, 是为了了解学生对英美文化知识重要性的认识以及对校本选修课《英美文化概况》的期待。表格的第二部分中, 笔者将英美文化中的一些具有代表性的知识罗列出来, 要求学生填写自己对表格中知识的了解程度, 旨在了解学生对英美文化知识的认知水平。

3.前期调查结果分析

调查数据显示, 选择校本选修《英美文化概况》的学生要么是对英语感兴趣, 要么是对英语国家的文化感兴趣。所以, 对于第一个问题, 几乎所有的学生都回答“是”;对于第二个和第三个问题, 学生的回答不是那么确信;大多数学生表示期望教师的教授形式多样化, 知识性强, 生动一些。大多数学生对英语国家代表——英联邦的构成十分了解, 多数学生能说出英联邦的四个组成部分以及典型的英语国家名称。关于圣诞节的由来, 学生基本上只知道跟耶稣基督有关, 其他的便说不出个所以然。

关于英国的早期发展史和基督教的发展史, 多数学生一无所知。关于美国国旗的含义, 部分学生只是知道星星代表美国的州, 部分学生甚至连这个也不知道。关于黑人文化的内涵, 学生能说出hip-hop等极具影响力的内容。而关于印第安文化的内涵, 几乎所有的学生都是一无所知。

(二) 前期调查结果总结

本次调查是在本选修课开始的第一堂课上进行的, 学生还没有系统地学习过有关英美文化知识。学生对英美文化知识感兴趣, 对英语国家文化的重要性也有一定程度的认识, 渴望了解更多的英语国家的文化。但大多数学生只知道当今流行的一些英美文化知识, 对大部分英美文化知识缺乏系统的了解。

同时, 学生的期待也使笔者认识到任务的艰巨, 在设计本门选修课时深感任重而道远。但是不管授课以何种形式进行, 目的只有一个, 就是让学生感受到英语国家文化的魅力, 认同差异, 提高自身的文化意识, 最终更好地学习英语这门语言学科。

学生没有英美国家的文化知识, 就无从谈感受英美国家文化的魅力, 更不用提提高自己的文化修养、培养自身的文化意识了。

(三) 后期调查

1.调查说明

笔者对学习《英美文化概况》选修课的50名高中学生进行了第二次的问卷调查。此调查是在学生学完校本选修课程《英美文化概况》之后进行的。笔者将前期调查的表格做了一些调整。将调查表2中简单、常识性的问题删去, 代之以难度稍大一点儿的问题。将表2中问卷部分的问题“你对英语文化知识感兴趣吗?”改为“你最喜欢校本选修课程《英美文化概况》中的哪个部分的内容?”删去“你想学习有关英美文化的哪些方面的知识?”和“你想要以什么样的方式学习英美文化知识?”两个问题, 代之以“学完校本选修《英美文化概况》后你感觉有收获吗?”和“请简要说明英语文化知识的学习是怎样影响英语学科的学习的?”知识考查部分的内容也删去了“英联邦的构成”“具有代表性的英语国家有哪些?”“美国国旗的含义”“圣诞节的由来”等常识性的内容, 代之以“大不列颠是如何统一的?”“美国的五大象征”“英国的建筑与宗教的关系”以及“天主教与基督教的关系”等有一定难度的问题。

表格3的难度大于表格2, 目的是考查学生学完校本选修《英美文化概况》后在知识和意识方面的提升情况。

2.后期调查结果分析

调查数据显示, 96%的学生认为学完这门选修课后有收获, 4%的学生选择“还可以”;约40%的学生喜欢英美文化中有关黑人文化部分的内容, 30%的学生喜欢宗教和节日方面的内容, 少数学生选择其他方面的知识。对“你认为英语文化知识的学习对提高英语成绩有帮助吗?”与“你认为英语文化知识的学习可以提高自身的文化素养吗?”这两个问题, 绝大多数学生给出了肯定回答。最后一个问题“请简要说明英语文化知识的学习是怎样影响英语学科的学习的?”有些学生的回答让笔者感到惊讶。典型的答案有:英美文化的学习为我们学习英语提供了心理环境;英美文化的学习帮助我们理解有些词汇的深层含义和一些谚语的含义。当然也有些学生的回答莫衷一是, 还有个别学生认为英美文化的学习对当今以考试为目的的英语学习没有任何帮助。表格中对于英美文化知识的考查部分, 75%的学生能了解所有给出的内容, 少数学生只能了解一部分或是很少的一部分。

(四) 后期调查结果总结

英语本身就是属于英美文化的一部分。作为一种语言, 英语反映了英美国家长期以来的思想、知识和信息, 因此, 英语的学习离不开对英美文化的学习。然而, 很多学生和教师在学习和教授英语时, 过于注重对英语知识的学习和英语技能的训练, 而忽略了对英语国家文化的学习和教授, 这样只会阻碍学生学习英语这门语言的步伐。要想真正学好英语, 就必然要了解英美文化, 培养自身的文化意识, 提高文化素养。

事实证明, 学生在选修《英美文化概况》之后, 在文化知识和文化的意识上都得到了很大的提高, 对他们以后的英语学习具有促进作用。

结束语

一门语言的学习离开了文化意识的培养是空洞而乏味的。任何一门语言都是其国家背景文化的载体, 没有了文化的支撑, 语言便没有了灵魂。所以, 学习一门外语就需要学习者对其背景文化有所掌握。只有学会欣赏和包容与自己不同的文化, 才能更好地学习这一文化背景下的语言, 更好地进行跨文化交流。

摘要：为考证校本选修课程《英美文化概况》对学生的文化意识的培养有何影响, 以选修此课的高中生为调查对象, 分别在课程开始前和结束后进行英语语言文化知识现状调查。通过对两次调查结果进行分析, 得出结论:校本选修课程《英美文化概况》的开设对于培养学生的英语文化意识和文化内涵及其英语学习具有促进作用。

关键词：校本选修,《英美文化概况》,高中,文化意识

参考文献

篇4：《英美国家概况》学习方法

关键词：英美国家概况英美文化学习方法

一、前言

《英美国家概况》是一门集英语国家背景知识和英语语言知识为一体的英语专业必修课，旨在向学生介绍主要英语国家（英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰等）的社会和文化背景知识，如地理、历史、政治、经济、教育、节假日、宗教信仰和文化传统等方面的基本知识，帮助学生了解主要英语国家的社会与文化概貌，提高学生对文化差异的敏感性、宽容性和处理文化差异的灵活性，培养学生跨文化交际能力，使其从文化和社会的角度更加深刻地理解和掌握所学语言知识和技能，为从事将来的工作打下较为坚实的基础。本课程在江西中医药大学英语专业学生中第5学期开设，选用的教材是谢福之主编、外语教学与研究出版社出版的《英语国家概况》。

二、学习方法

2.1 结合语言学习与文化学习

语言和文化密不可分，英语专业的学生不仅要学好英语语言本身，对英语国家的文化也必须有一定的了解。本课程最大的特色就是将语言知识与文化知识紧密结合起来进行教学，从而有利于语言教学与文化知识教学的相互促进，有利于扩大学生的知识面，提高学生综合素质和人文修养。本课程的内容也是英语专业八级考试必考的部分。

2.2 灵活使用教学方法

本课程属于文化理论课，授课以课堂教学为主，但传统的以教师为中心的理论讲解容易使学生产生枯燥乏味之感，因此在教学过程中，我们将采用“以教师为教学主导、学生为学习主体”的教学理念，以建构主义学习理论作为理论基础，采取专题讨论的方式，将英国、美国等国家按照地理、历史、政治、经济、文学和教育分为六大学习专题，采用合作式学习方式，要求学生在课堂上分小组进行交流、讨论、汇报；除此之外，还定期举办讨论会、辩论大赛、演讲比赛、专题讲座等活动，尽可能地调动学生的学习积极性，激发学习潜力，提高学习效果。

2.3 综合运用现代教育技术

在教学过程中我们充分认识到现代教育技术是教学的有力支持，是教育教学改革的动力，因此，本课程采用电脑、投影、电视、录像、 网络等多媒体手段进行教学，为学生创造了声像并茂、真实生动的图形资料和视频素材。如在讲解美国历史中的“911事件”的时候，我们就让学生观看事件的视频及相关的新闻报道，让学生对这一恐怖事件有了比较直观地认识。同时，为了体现教材内容的生动性和趣味性，我们还购置了有关英美文化的音像资料和补充教材，帮助学生学习英语国家国情，使学生对相关知识点的理解从文字发展到形象，从单纯抽象的思维上升到感性与理性的结合，从而较好地实现学习目的。

三、课程实施模式

3.1课前准备

江西中医药大学英语专业在第5学期开设了《英美国家概况》，共54个课时，学生约30人。我们在学期初要求学生自由组合，每五人为一个小组，每一组承担一个章节的主题展示。每一章的内容由各小组成员自己讨论以何种形式表述。小组成员根据自己的专题提前一周开始准备，通过学校的图书馆、学院资料室以及网络等途径查阅资料。五位同学各自发挥自己的特色，做出自己负责那部分主题的PPT，而每一个小组的内容又是一个完整的体系。学生通过这种准备工作对课本内容有了比较好的了解，也锻炼了自己的口语及PPT制作能力。

3.2 教师讲解

上课的前15分鐘，由老师对本节课的内容进行简要的讲解，教师应充分发挥组织者的引导作用。教师需要做大量的课前备课准备，不仅要给出每一章的主题要点，还要对每一章的相关的内容进行阅读、收集、思考，才能为学生的讨论、提问给出深层意义的解答。老师讲解目的是让学生掌握本节内容的基本知识，拓宽学生的思维，加深思想深度。比如在讲述美国的南北战争的时候，老师就应该引导学生思考战争发生的根本原因、导火索、战争的转折点、结果以及对美国社会的影响等，其中可以穿插林肯纪念堂、小说《汤姆叔叔的小屋》等和战争相关的资料。

3.3 学生陈述

紧接着的下面10分钟为小组成员的课堂陈述阶段（presentation），每位同学的时间为2分钟左右，都要求以PPT的形式展现。小组成员生动、认真的陈述往往能吸引下面每一位学生的注意力。这种陈述彻底的改变了传统教学中教师满堂讲、学生被动的接受的授课方式。学生成了课堂的主体，他们是课堂的设计者、参与者和讲演者。事实证明，这种主体性、主动性、协作性和自主性相结合的模式能极大地活跃课堂气氛，激发学生的求知欲，提高学习热情，让师生都受益匪浅。

3.4提问和交流

小组成员陈述之后，是班上其他学生自由提问和小组成员回答问题的阶段，时间为15分钟。小组成员必须全力以赴，聚精会神地倾听问题，参考已查询的资料和自己所掌握的知识进行回答。比如在讲述美国的议会制度的时候，大家就可以探讨和英国议会制度的异同以及形成的缘由。讨论往往非常踊跃、激烈，问题不断的扩展和深入。通过课程改革实践证明，这种师生共同参与、互为作用的过程营造了一种积极向上、自由和谐的课堂氛围，也培养了学生的主体意识和协作精神。通过提问与交流，全班同学对整个专题的内容、要点和相关的知识、社会现象、历史事件等都有了详细的了解和深刻的认识。这种课堂是生动活泼、充满求知欲、充满思索的文化交流会，是感知英语文化的良好平台。

3.5评价与反馈

教师的评价和总结是整个教学过程中非常重要的一个环节。评价主要包括两方面的内容：内容和表达。内容涉及课外知识面的广度，主题内容的加工和延伸，课文内容的重点把握程度等。表达包括语音、语调的准确和流畅，多媒体手段的利用，肢体语言的表达等。随着教学理念的改变，课程的教学评估体系也发生了很大变化，由以前的单一的终结性评估转变为形成性评估与终结性评估相结合。具体来讲，本门课程的期末总成绩由两部分组成：平时成绩（也叫形成性评估）和期末考试成绩（也叫终结性评估），平时成绩占总成绩的30%，期末考试成绩占总成绩的70%。平时成绩考核学生的出勤、学习态度、课堂表现、阶段性测试等，这样学生的注意力不仅在期末的考试，也非常关注平时的表现。

四、结束语

综上所述，江西中医药大学英语专业开设的《英美国家概况》教学目标明确，教学方法多样，教学手段先进，教学效果显著，学生在学习语言的同时对英美国家的文化有了一个基本的了解，提高了学生的跨文化交际能力。我校英语专业学生在全国英语专业四级考试及英语专业八级考试中的通过率一直名列省内高校前列，本课程起了一定的作用。

参考文献：

[1]李丹.基于建构主义理论的英美概况教学模式研究[J].江西青年职业学院学报， 2011（4）： 88-90.

[2]刘安洪.关于“英语国家概况课”教学的思考[J].重庆教育学院学报， 2004， （4）.

[3]罗少茜.英语课堂教学形成性评价研究[M].北京：外语教育与研究出版社， 2003：18-19.

篇5：英美概况课程教学的改革与实践

一、英美概况课程教学的现状

针对该门课程目前的教学状况, 笔者组织本校教授该课程的教师进行了一次抽样调查, 共收到有效问卷309份, 得出的主要结论如下:一是对于该课程, 20.3%选择了非常喜欢, 63.4%选择了一般喜欢, 16.8%的学生选择了不太喜欢, 只有0.3%的学生选择非常不喜欢。可见大多数学生对于该课程还是比较肯定。二是对于教师的授课方式, 77%选择了能够接受, 12.6%选择了不太能够接受, 1.94%选择了不能够接受, 7.4%选择了说不清楚, 可见教师的授课方式基本上被学生接受, 当然还需要进一步改进。三是对于该课程对于学生专业学习的益处, 分别有7.4%, 15.5%, 选择了有很大帮助, 比较有帮助, 37.9%选择了有点帮助, 32.4%选择不太有帮助, 8.4%选择完全没有帮助, 可见对于课程学生的专业的联系是不太密切的。四是对于该课程对于日后的工作的益处, 分别有7.4%, 22.3%选择了有很大帮助, 比较有帮助, 41.1%选择了有点帮助, 27.5%选择不太有帮助, 4.5%选择完全没有帮助, 可见学生认为课程与日后工作有些联系。对于这一点, 需要澄清的是, 作为通识课程, 它的出发点并非实用性, 更多是为了拓展知识面, 提高综合素质。

基于以上的调查结果, 学生对于该课程的开设基本持肯定态度, 但是由于该课程涉及到英美两国的地理、历史、社会生活、政治体制、科学教育、文学作品、宗教信仰等方方面面, 纷杂的内容, 大量的信息以及专业术语给具体教学工作带来了诸多不便。加上学校实施大学英语改革, 教师教授的对象并非英语专业的学生, 而是非英语专业的本科学生, 这给教师教授该课程, 学生学习该课程都带来了一些困难。由于受到课时的限制 (每个学期32个学时) , 以及班级规模的限制 (每个班级均有80人左右) , 目前学校教师教授该课程的方式基本是教师教授为主, 对英美两国的情况进行介绍, 学生只需听讲, 大多时候无机会参与发言, 只是被动接受, 可想而知, 这种教学方式对于学生来说并非理想。教师向学生灌输知识, 学生被动接受。这样的结果往往是教师费力不讨好, 由于大部分使用英语, 学生只顾得上努力听懂英语, 而课程的知识反而被忽略了, 而且学生记下的东西也极易忘却, 教学成效不大。因而学生对于教师的授课方式不满也在情理之中。

在客观条件限制的情况下, 比如课时, 班级规模, 如何对该课程进行改革, 以求更加良好的教学效果是今后教师需要考量的问题。

二、英美概况课程的教学改革建议

鉴于以上状况, 笔者对英美概况课程的教学思路和方法提出如下建议:

(一) 遵循相关课程教学原则。

1. 适度性原则。

由于学生的语言水平、接受能力和领悟能力参差不一, 教师应该根据实际情况由浅入深, 化难为易, 尽量做到言简意赅, 循序渐进。

2. 趣味性原则。

根据学生实际情况, 在教学内容上适度补充文化背景知识, 增加相关的音频视频资料, 增加课程的趣味性, 调节课堂气氛。

3. 科学性原则。

对于文化知识与语言知识的关系的处理得当, 既要注意文化知识的系统性、又要注意语言的准确性, 在学习文化知识的同时促进语言学习。在教学该课程时, 教师应该向学生明确该课程属于通识性课程, 它更多是为了拓展学生的知识面, 而不是针对某个专业或者日后的具体工作而设。

4. 参与性原则。

尽量安排时间, 设计活动让学生参与课堂教学。在教授该课程的过程中, 教师们大多让学生分组进行相关PPT的制作, 并在课堂上演示, 然而, 根据问卷调查显示, 由于受学生制作PPT的水平, 话题的选择, 以及演示者语言水平等因素影响, 学生对于该项活动存有倦怠情绪, 教师需要积极改进学生参与课堂的方式。

(二) 力图改进教学方法。

教师尽量改变满堂灌的方式, 充分利用现代信息技术, 设计出以学生为中心的英美概况课程教学方式, 做到既传授一般的语言知识与技能, 又能够培养学生对英语国家自然、地理、历史、政治、宗教及社会生活等方面基础知识的了解和应用能力。学生成为自主学习活动的积极参与者。学生要把当前学习内容尽量与自己已有的知识经验联系起来, 并对这种联系认真思考。教师在课堂上可多使用效的方法, 如启发式教学法、角色扮演教学法等。

1. 启发式教学法。

在英美概况课程的教学实践中, 根据课程内容和教学对象, 采用讨论启发和提问启发两种方法。讨论启发法, 是在预习基础上, 通过讨论的方式, 引导学生主动参与课堂教学活动, 发挥学生的主体作用。例如, 在讲授英国人的性格特征时, 教师可在先提问, 例如:Why do British people talk about weather a lot?引导学生思考, 学生可能提出各种答案, 然后顺势导入, 并且可以让学生将中国人见面时寒暄的话题, 比如喜欢谈论吃饭, 做一对比, 从而使学生了解英国人保守的个性, 又可以讲两国文化作一比较, 培养了学生的跨文化意识。提问启发法是指教师在教学过程中, 针对课程内容的重点难点, 设计一些问题, 让学生当堂回答, 让学生消化、巩固课程内容。

2. 角色扮演教学法。

由学生在课堂上扮演不同的角色。例如, 在讲授英国议会制时, 可以让学生扮演不同党派的议员就某个议题进行简单辩论, 加深学生对英国议会制的理解, 同时提高学生的语言表达能力。

3. 多媒体教学法。

英美概况课都在多媒体教室授课, 因而教师应该利用多媒体设施的优势进行教学。多媒体教学课件可以活跃课堂气氛, 能使视听设备完美地呈现图像和声音, 具有极强的表现力, 可以全方位地以不同形式描述某一事物, 能够直接地提供教学素材, 弥补文字、口头表达形象性差的不足, 如果再加上教师的引导讲解, 学生可以得到清晰的概念, 完成良好的记忆。根据问卷调查, 不少学生提出应该增加相关视频音频资料提高学习效果。例如在讲授英国王室这一章节时, 教师可以播放电影《英国女王》某些片段, 让学生有更加深切直观的了解。

(三) 注重教材的使用。

在具体的课堂教学过程中, 教师可以教材内容为依托、以课文为基础, 在学习英语语言知识的基础上, 拓展补充与课文有关的文化内容, 开展丰富多彩的活动, 以不同的形式使学生进一步了解英美文化知识, 调动学生学习英语的积极性。目前使用的教材对于学生来说有些难度, 选择一本适合学生现有水平的教材至关重要, 同时, 教师应该意识到, 无论哪本教材都会有滞后性, 因而教师应该与时俱进, 及时补充英美国家新的信息。

三、结语

英美概况课作为一门通识性课程, 它的特点是教学容量大、课时少、综合性强。教师要教好该课程, 要在具体的教学条件下, 遵循适当的教学原则, 采取有效的课程教学方法, 注重文化背景知识的拓展, 引导学生了解了英美国家的基本情况和这些国家的文化与本土文化的差异, 增强学生们对文化差异的敏感性和宽容性, 从而达到该课程的目的。

参考文献

[1].李慧君.英美概况课程教学改革刍议[J].湘潭师范学院学报 (社会科学版) , 2009