【英语趣味课堂】关于教室位置的讨论-The Seat Debate

Mari: Hi, I'm Mari, I'm here with Ron. Today, we're going to debate about if it's better to sit in the front of the class or in the back of the class, so I'm going to start. I always sat front-row-and-center in all of my classes all throughout my education, and I think that it's a lot better to sit in the front of the class because teachers and professors know your name. I feel like the teacher is always looking at me so I stay focused, so I think that's why I sat in the front of the class or I think it's important to sit in the front of the class.

Ron: Well, Mari, I believe that it's not necessarily¹ better to sit in the front of the class because all students aredifferent. Some students will be overwhelmed³ by the pressure of having the teacher stand right in front of them, talking to them, and they'll forget about taking notes or forget about concentrating and only worry about having the pressure of the teacher standing⁴ right in front of them, so in that case, it's good for students to sit in the back of the class so that they can relax and make sure that their mind is free so they can learn what the teacher is saying.

 

Mari: But are you really learning⁵ in the back of the class? Are you focused in the back of the class?

 

Ron: Yes, you are focused because you're relaxed and you can make sure that the pressure of not having the teacher in front of you doesn't overwhelm² so that you can go at your own pace.

 

Mari: But I don't feel pressure from my professor. I think it's more pressure that I put on myself. But I think that the kids or the students that sit in the back of the class are never really paying attention. They're always just kind of talking amongst⁶ themselves.

 

Ron: And usually, I think they're talking about the subject of the class, so that is even... that's another strong point about sitting in the back of the class. You don't have to interrupt the class and you can just ask your friend quietly on the side if you're unclear about something.

 

Mari: I think it's better to sit n the front of the class because I think you're able to develop a relationship with a teacher. If I look confused maybe they'll re-explain something or it's a lot easier for me ask questions. I think that maybe teachers think that if sit in the back of the class, they don't really like you.... like the teacher.

 

Ron: That may be true sometimes, but in my experience it was a lot more comfortable for me to sit in the back of the class with my friends and we could feed off each other, and we could ask each other questions to make sure that we understand the subject, so I think sometimes in class it's more important that you be comfortable than it is to be uncomfortable, but try to impress the teacher.

 

Mari: I see your point, but I disagree.

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

front-row-and-center

 

I always sat front-row-and-center in all of my classes.

 

Front-row-and-center is the best seat for students who not only want to participate, but see and hear clearly too.  Notice the following:

 

The best students always sit front-row-and-center.

The teach will notice you if you sit front-row-and-center.

overwhelmed

 

Some students will be overwhelmed by the pressure.

When we are overwhelmed that means we become very emotional⁷.  Notice the following:

 

The workers were overwhelmed by the amount of work they needed to do.

The people affected⁸ by the floods were overwhelmed by the level of support they received.

at your own pace

 

You can go at your own pace.

 

To go at your own pace means to do something at a speed that is comfortable for you.  Notice the following:

 

I like to jog along so I can run at my own pace.

One good thing about computer classes is students can learn at their own pace.

on the side

 

You can just ask your friend quietly on the side if you're unclear about something.

 

When we discuss something on the side that means we talk privately⁹.  Notice the following:

 

I asked the waiter on the side to suggest a good wine.

In the office we often talk sports on the side.

develop a relationship

 

You're able to develop a relationship with a teacher.

 

To develop a personal or professional relationship means to become friendly.  Notice the following:

 

It is important for companies to develop a relationship with their customers.

Most teachers try to develop a relationship with their students.

1 necessarily   

adv.必要地，必需地；必定地，必然地

参考例句：

• More work does not necessarily call for more men.增加工作量不一定就要增添人员。
• A voter must necessarily be no younger than eighteen.选民必须在18岁以上。

2 overwhelm   

vt.使受不了，使不知所措，征服，制服

参考例句：

• No difficulty can overwhelm us.困难压不倒我们。
• After my lecture,the students began to overwhelm me with questions.讲课之后，学生们开始问一系列问题，使我不知所措。

3 overwhelmed   

[ overwhelm ]的过去式

参考例句：

• She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. 她感到愧疚难当。
• If (one was) overwhelmed by passion, it could lead to serious blunders. 当感情完全淹没理智时，就可能铸成大错。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

6 amongst   

prep.在…之中，在...之间(=among)

参考例句：

• He was sitting amongst a group of children,telling them a story.他正坐在一群孩子中间讲故事。
• You must settle the matter amongst yourselves.你们必须彼此商量，自行解决这些问题。

7 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。