Teaching Is a Fruitful Way to Learn

For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to 

explain it to someone else.

幾千年來，人們都知道理解一個概念最好的方法就是把它解釋給其他人。

"While we teach, we learn," said Roman philosopher Seneca.

羅馬哲學家塞涅卡說：“我們一邊叫別人，一邊學習。”

Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date.

現在，科學家們正在將這一古老的智慧帶入現代。

They're documenting why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn, and designing innovative

ways for young people to engage in instruction.

他們正在證明為什麼教學是一種卓有成效的學習方式，並設計創新的教學方式讓年輕人蔘與到教學中。

Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material,

recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively.

研究人員發現，那些報名輔導別人的學生會更加努力地理解學習材料，更準確地回想起，更有效地應用這些材料。

Student reachers score higher on tests than pupils who's learning only for their own sake.

相比那些職位自己學習的學生，充當老師的學生在考試中的得分更高。

But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids.

但是，那些自己還處在學習階段的孩子們，怎麼能教別人呢？一個答案是：他們可以輔導更小的孩子。

Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings.

一些研究發現，長子長女比後生的弟弟妹妹們更聰明。

This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings.

這表明他們較高的智商源於他們花在教育弟弟妹妹上的時間。

Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this model to academic subjects.

現在，教育工作者們正在用一些方式實驗將這種模式應用於學術科目。

They engage college undergraduates to reach computer science to high school students,

who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.

他們聘請大學本科生為高中生教授電腦科學，這些高中生轉而給中學生進行這方面的指導。

But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the "teachable agent" - a computerized 

character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil.

但是，正在開發的最尖端的工具是“可教代理”--一個計算機化的角色，它能夠學習、嘗試、

犯錯並提出問題，就像一個真實世界的學生。

Computer scientists have created an animated figure called Betty's Brain, who has

been "taught" about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students.

電腦科學家們已經創造了一名為“貝蒂的大腦”的動畫人物，她被數百名學生“教授”了環境科學知識。

Student reachers are motivated to help Betty master certain materials.

充當老師的學生受到刺激去幫助貝蒂掌握某些材料。

While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their own understanding.

在準備教學時，他們組織自己的知識並提高自己的理解力。

And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.

當他們向貝蒂解釋資訊時，他們發現了自己想法中的問題。

Feedback from the teachable agents further enhances the tutor's learning.

可教代理的反饋進一步加強了老師們的學習。

The agents' question compel student tutors to think and explain the materials in different

ways, and watching the agent solve problems allows them to see their knowledge put into action.

代理的問題促使充當老師的學生用不同的方式思考和解釋材料，同時看著代理解決問題，

讓他們看到自己的知識運用到實際。

Above all, it's the emotions one experiences in teaching that facilitate learning.

最重要的是，一個人在教學中所經體會的情感會促進學習。

Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtual

pupils succeed as they derive pride and satisfaction from someone else's accomplishment.

當可教代理失敗時，充當老師的學生會感到沮喪，但當這些虛擬學生成功時，他們會感到高興，

因為他們從別人的成就中獲得了自豪感和滿足感。

2018年6月CET4真題

解析：

1、up to date : 最新的；現在的

　　keep someone up to date(on something)

　　過時的：out of date ; out of fashion ; outdated

2、fruitful 成果豐碩的；富饒的

　　近義詞：productive ; effective 非常有成效的；非常有效率的

　　反義詞：fruitless ; unsuccessful ; unproductive.沒有成果的；沒有效率的

3、engage in 參與

　　engage someone 使參加；僱傭；吸引

4、sign up 報名；僱用；簽約

　　sign up for something 報名參加、、、

　　sign someone up (for something): 給、、、報名

　　例：This isn't what I signed up for .

　　預期與現實不同

5、master something 精通

6、compel 激勵

　　require / persuade someone to do something.

　　強迫/要求某人做某事

7、put into action 實施；實行；行動

8、derive、、、from、、、 ： 從、、、中獲得

　　derive inspiration from life

　　從生活中獲得靈感