換句話說
"I don't know how to say this..."
(學生常常因為一個字不會,就直接卡住。)
"Try! Use the words you know."
(我都會鼓勵他們用自己會的字盡量去形容。)
其實用自己會的字,換句話說,是一個很重要的技能。
以下是我跟某位大人學生的真實課堂對話 💬
學生: "I went to Korea for hmm...beauty...for the face!"
(很好!其實這樣我就聽懂了!她是去做醫美。)
我: "Oh, I see! Was it a surgery or just a treatment?"
(我進一步問是「手術」或是「療程」?)
學生: "Just a treatment! But the doctor put something in my face...with a needle."
(好的,這樣我聽得懂學生想說醫生「注射」東西進去臉裡面,但不知道怎麼說。)
我: "Oh, so the doctor 'injected' something into your face?"
(這時候我就會把她在找的字講出來。)
學生: "Yes! He injected hmm... a thing. That thing, hmm you can also eat it."
(好,這個東西也可以吃,那應該是維他命吧?)
我: "Vitamins? You can also 'take' vitamins. So you went to Korea for an aesthetic treatment, and you got a Vitamin injection. Correct?"
(我還是會 double check 一下我的理解有沒有錯。)
學生: "Yes! Yes, that's it!"
(學生覺得老師很會猜意思,但其實沒有,是她講得已經夠清楚了!)
以上這個故事告訴我們,即便你要說「我去韓國做醫美,打了維他命針。」這樣看似複雜的英文,你都可以形容到讓別人九成理解,所以千萬不要直接放棄。語言是用來溝通的,只要你達到這個目的,你要用什麼樣的創意去形容你想說的話,想要怎麼「換句話說」都可以。
Taboo 遊戲:最佳的「換句話說」練習 🎲
這邊跟大家介紹一個好玩的遊戲,你可以不斷地練習「換句話說」的技巧!
遊戲規則
- 分成兩隊,輪流派人當描述者
- 描述者要讓自己的隊友猜出卡片上的主要單字
- 不能說出:
- 主要單字本身
- 卡片上的禁用詞(taboo words)
- 禁用詞的所有變化形式(單複數、其他詞性、時態等)
範例說明
Word to guess: piano
Taboo words: black, white, instrument
(所以你在描述的時候,以上四個字都不能講到,但又要想辦法讓隊友猜出「piano」這個字。)
可能的描述:
"You sit on a bench and press keys with your fingers to make music. Mozart played this. It has 88 keys, and you can press the pedals with your feet."
教學建議 👩🏫
如果你是老師,很推薦在班上玩這個遊戲,訓練學生的口說和思考能力。可以請 Team A 的學生寫下 Team B 應該猜的字跟 taboo words,這樣就是一個很棒的互動遊戲了。如果你是想練習英文的學生,也可以買現成的 taboo 遊戲卡,或在網路找題目,自己練習「換句話說」的能力。
Taboo 遊戲開始 🚀
下面我出了幾個題目,一起玩玩看吧!
- Word to guess: Paris
Taboo words: Eiffel Tower, France, baguette
點我看範例描述 👀
"This city is the capital of a European country, and it's known for romance and fashion. People say it's the city of love. You can visit the Louvre Museum there and see the Mona Lisa."
- Word to guess: Taylor Swift
Taboo words: singer, musician, "Love Story"
點我看範例描述 👀
"She's an American celebrity who performs on stage and writes her own songs. 'I Knew You Were Trouble', 'Blank Space' and 'Shake It Off' are some of her most famous songs."
- Word to guess: ramen
Taboo words: Japan, noodles, soup
點我看範例描述 👀
"It's a hot meal you eat with chopsticks from a bowl. It has long thin pieces in broth, often with an egg, vegetables, and meat. Many people like to eat the instant version because it's quick and easy to make. People like to try this dish when they visit the country near Korea."
以上只是可能的描述方式,只要你能表達到你想表達的意思,就已經 100 分囉!下次只要遇到「不知道怎麼說」的單字或是情況,就把它當成一個 taboo 遊戲,用盡你的字彙和想像力來解釋吧!💪✨