英语听力精选进阶版 6429

It only takes a few seconds of the original 1943 'English by Radio' theme tune¹ and I'm dreaming about 1940s Britain. Crackly violin melodies build to a strong, confident finale, reassuring² the listeners that we are safe in the hands of the BBC.

"Now, are you familiar with such things as prepositions?" asks a woman in a 'Queen's English' accent. "Prepositions," responds her co-presenter³, "Prepositions are in a position before the noun."

He sounds like a typical old-fashioned BBC gentleman, who I imagine to be wearing a tweed suit and smoking a pipe, speaking into a square BBC 'Type A' microphone, as he illustrates⁴: "Inside the room; outside the door; above the roof."

After a few more examples, it's time to practise. Our gentleman begins a sentence, and his co-presenter completes it. "What are you waiting... for; What are you talking... about; Which house do you live... in!" We are given some advice about using prepositions when writing, then some more practice and we finish on our theme tune once again.

It's an enjoyable and informative⁵ programme - and I begin to wonder, as a modern-day writer of ELT materials here at BBC Learning English: which elements of the early 'English by Radio' programmes are still found in today's output - and why?

Unsurprisingly, those 'Queen's English' accents have gone - and not just because 1940s BBC presenters⁶ are hard to find nowadays. It's generally agreed - in these days of international business and travel - that learners need to hear a variety of English accents. So, if you listen to a current BBC Learning English programme, you'll hear a range of English speakers with a range of regional accents: from Orkney to Portsmouth and beyond.

What's more, we're on first-name terms these days: download an audio programme from our website, and you'll usually find a warm welcome from Finn, Rob, Feifei and everyone.

But I must admit: I'm amazed at how little the basic language practice activity has changed. Listening to an episode of a more recent series, 'Grammar Challenge', I'm almost back in the 1940s as Callum, the presenter, challenges a student of English to use the correct preposition. "Let's meet... at seven o'clock," she says. "Well done, excellent," praises Callum.

So my question is: why so little change in the basic language practice task, despite over 70 years of innovation and development? Are those listen-and-complete activities in 'Grammar Challenge' there because 'We've always done it that way', or is it because they work - and audiences like them?

A quick look around bbcukchina.com reveals plenty of different activities: games, videos, puzzles, dialogues, and more - suggesting that the Learning English producers haven't been asleep on the job.

My guess is that the popularity of 'Grammar Challenge' is, at least in part, because the learners' enthusiasm for simple listen-and-complete language practice activities hasn't changed - even over 70 years!

But Grammar Challenge isn't all 'same old, same old'. The student 'Challenger' allows you, the listener, to identify with the learner in the programme - placing 'Grammar Challenge' firmly in the 21st century. It's exactly this type of learner-centred programme that is so central to the modern, communicative method of language teaching, which values personalised, meaningful learning experiences.

The 'explain - practice' approach of 'English by Radio' still has its place in BBC Learning English's 'store cupboard'. But now, as a writer, I can cherry-pick 70 years of advances in methodology, innovation and technology. From games, to interactive⁷ activities, social media and more - there's plenty to choose from.

But, as I click on 'listen again', I realise that what I like most about 'English by Radio' is that it delivers a solid language lesson in just 4 minutes. And in these days of short attention spans, that's well worth digging out of the archives. Jolly good!

Quiz 测验

1. True or false? The writer of the article is also the writer of the 'English by Radio' programmes.

False. The writer of the article is a modern-day writer of ELT programmes. The English by Radio programmes were written in the 1940s.

2. True or false? Today's presenters speak 'The Queens' English'.

False. If you listen to a current BBC Learning English programme, you'll hear a range of English speakers with a range of regional accents.

3. Why does 'Grammar Challenge' have simple listen-and-complete practice activities?

Because they work, and the audience likes them and is enthusiastic about them.

4. Which phrase means 'lazy; not using the latest tools and methods'?

'asleep on the job'.

5. True or false? The writer of the article thinks the old programmes are useful.

True. She says that they are well worth digging out of the archives.

Glossary⁸ 词汇表

theme tune 主题曲

co-presenter 搭档，主持人

microphone 麦克风

illustrates （举例）说明

informative 增长知识的

ELT 英语教学

elements （组成）部分

output （节目）产出、作品

regional accents 地方口音

on first-name terms （可直呼其名的）亲密关系的

download 下载

audio 音频

episode 一集

innovation 创新

producers （节目）制作人

learner-centred 以学习者为中心的

communicative 强调交流的

approach 方法

cherry-pick 精挑细选，优选

methodology （研究、教学）方法论

attention span 注意力持续时间

archives 存档（节目）

Jolly good! 非常好！好极了！

1 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

2 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

3 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

4 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

5 informative   

adj.提供资料的，增进知识的

参考例句：

• The adverts are not very informative.这些广告并没有包含太多有用信息。
• This intriguing book is both thoughtful and informative.这本引人入胜的书既有思想性又富知识性。

6 presenters   

n.节目主持人，演播员( presenter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Each week presenters would put the case for their favourite candidate. 每个星期主持人推出他们最喜欢的候选人。 来自互联网
• Karaoke was set up to allowed presenters to sing on the stage. 宴会设有歌唱舞台，可让出席者大演唱功。 来自互联网

7 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

8 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。