There is general agreement today that the communicative approach to the teaching and learning of English is the correct one and that we learn English for the purpose of communicating with other English-speakers. Howev...There is general agreement today that the communicative approach to the teaching and learning of English is the correct one and that we learn English for the purpose of communicating with other English-speakers. However, this is a comparatively recent development. This paper begins with an historical overview outlining the origins of the communicative approach in Europe and the United States and noting that they arrived at a consensus for entirely different historical reasons. In China English replaced Russian as the most important foreign language a generation ago but even then the emphasis was on receptive skills. The thorny question of authenticity is then discussed. While everyone agrees that in theory authenticity is a key consideration there is considerably less agreement on how to convert theory into practice. Finally the paper goes on to note how recent practice has abandoned the teacher-centered approach in favor of the learner-centered approach and the exercise-based approach in favor of the task-based approach, The task-based approach emphasizes integrated as opposed to individual skills acquisition. Examples of integrated tasks are given in the Appendix.展开更多
Background:Athletes tend to have better visuo-motor performance than do sedentary individuals.However,several basic visual-function and perceptual parameters remain unexplored to date.In this study,we investigated whe...Background:Athletes tend to have better visuo-motor performance than do sedentary individuals.However,several basic visual-function and perceptual parameters remain unexplored to date.In this study,we investigated whether differences exist in visual function,performance,and processing between basketball players and individuals without a sport-involvement background.Methods:A total of 33 healthy men with no visual impairment or pathology were divided into 2 groups,depending on the involvement in sport(semi-professional basketball players and sedentary individuals).We tested their baseline heart-rate variability in the resting position apart from subjective questionnaires to determine their physical fitness level,and we checked their visual function,performance,and processing through an extended battery of optometric tests.Results:The 2 groups differed in resting heart-rate variability parameters(p<0.001),confirming their dissimilarities in regular time practising sports per week.The basketball players showed a closer breakpoint and recovery nearpoint of convergence,a higher fusional-vergence rate,better discriminability halos,and better eye-hand coordination(all p values<0.05).Conclusion:These results show evidence that athletes,basketball players in this case,exhibit better performance in several visual abilities in comparison to a group of individuals without sporting backgrounds,suggesting an improvement due to the systematic involvement of those skills during basketball practice.展开更多
文摘There is general agreement today that the communicative approach to the teaching and learning of English is the correct one and that we learn English for the purpose of communicating with other English-speakers. However, this is a comparatively recent development. This paper begins with an historical overview outlining the origins of the communicative approach in Europe and the United States and noting that they arrived at a consensus for entirely different historical reasons. In China English replaced Russian as the most important foreign language a generation ago but even then the emphasis was on receptive skills. The thorny question of authenticity is then discussed. While everyone agrees that in theory authenticity is a key consideration there is considerably less agreement on how to convert theory into practice. Finally the paper goes on to note how recent practice has abandoned the teacher-centered approach in favor of the learner-centered approach and the exercise-based approach in favor of the task-based approach, The task-based approach emphasizes integrated as opposed to individual skills acquisition. Examples of integrated tasks are given in the Appendix.
文摘Background:Athletes tend to have better visuo-motor performance than do sedentary individuals.However,several basic visual-function and perceptual parameters remain unexplored to date.In this study,we investigated whether differences exist in visual function,performance,and processing between basketball players and individuals without a sport-involvement background.Methods:A total of 33 healthy men with no visual impairment or pathology were divided into 2 groups,depending on the involvement in sport(semi-professional basketball players and sedentary individuals).We tested their baseline heart-rate variability in the resting position apart from subjective questionnaires to determine their physical fitness level,and we checked their visual function,performance,and processing through an extended battery of optometric tests.Results:The 2 groups differed in resting heart-rate variability parameters(p<0.001),confirming their dissimilarities in regular time practising sports per week.The basketball players showed a closer breakpoint and recovery nearpoint of convergence,a higher fusional-vergence rate,better discriminability halos,and better eye-hand coordination(all p values<0.05).Conclusion:These results show evidence that athletes,basketball players in this case,exhibit better performance in several visual abilities in comparison to a group of individuals without sporting backgrounds,suggesting an improvement due to the systematic involvement of those skills during basketball practice.
