B2-U9-Confessions-of-a-Miseducated-Man.ppt

2Questions / ActivitiesCheck-on PreviewObjectivesWarming upConfessions of a Miseducated Confessions of a Miseducated ManMan3Questions / ActivitiesWhat is a confession? a formal statement that youve done sth. wrong or illegal; a private statement to a priest about the bad things youve done4 miseducated & uneducated An uneducated person is one who has received no formal school education while a miseducated person is one who has received formal education but is educated in a wrong way. 5Questions / Activities Did you well predict the topic of the essay? Why or why not? What would you see as the biggest difference among human beings, language, religion, or political /ideological system? What is their most important similarity? Do you agree if some people say that globalization is the strategy of cultural differences?6Questions / Activities What does the author want to say in the essay? Can you pick out the sentence(s) you think best express(es) his idea? According to the author, what is the most important similarity among human beings? Do you agree with him on that? What are those “superficial differences”? Is it true that there are more similarities than differences in human beings? 7Questions / Activities What are the basic lessons of a new education? And what is the importance of such a new education? How would you relate the issue of this essay to that of Another School YearWhat For? and The Green Banana?8BackgroundCulture TipsAuthorGenreTimeConfessions of a Miseducated ManConfessions of a Miseducated Man9Norman CousinsNorman Cousins1915-1990Author10Some of his life history possibly related to the essay Born in New Jersey, 1915 and deceased in 1990; Educated in and graduated from Columbia University Teachers College; Editor of Saturday Review for 35 yrs; Lifelong concerns including world peace, world governance, justice, human freedom, health, etc.; Proponent of world federalism and world government; Traveled extensively in Europe and Asia and then published Who Speaks for Man? in 1953;11What is world federalism? This is the essence of world federalism: to seek to invest legal and political authority in world institutions to deal with problems which can only be treated at the global level . World Federalism means having democratically accountable political institutions to deal with issues at the most appropriate level, according to the principle of subsidiarity, e.g. Thus local decisions should be taken at local level, national decisions at national level, and global decisions at global level. (http:/www.ucl.ac.uk/ucfbiac/World%20Federalism.htm)Background12世界联邦主义世界联邦主义 世界联邦主义是理想主义学派的一种解决国世界联邦主义是理想主义学派的一种解决国际冲突的模式。这种模式认为，要促进国际际冲突的模式。这种模式认为，要促进国际社会的合作与和谐，就必须自愿地拆除国家社会的合作与和谐，就必须自愿地拆除国家主权的藩篱，按照联邦与民主的原则，实现主权的藩篱，按照联邦与民主的原则，实现政府权力的集中化。换言之，世界各国应通政府权力的集中化。换言之，世界各国应通过法律程序，在全球层面上建立一个世界政过法律程序，在全球层面上建立一个世界政府。这个政府可以降低乃至消除战争，促进府。这个政府可以降低乃至消除战争，促进人类的幸福。人类的幸福。 (http:/ the book, Cousins expanded his arguments for world federalism and for a world no longer based on the supremacy of nationalism and other superficial differences as follows: “The new education must be less concerned with sophistication than compassion. It must recognize the hazards of tribalism. It must teach man the most difficult lesson of allto look at someone anywhere in the world and be able to see the image of himself. The old emphasis upon superficial differences that separate peoples must give way to education for citizenship in the human community. ” Cf. Para. 714And he continued, “With such an education and with such self-understanding, it is possible that some nation or people may come forward with the vital inspiration that men need no less than food. Leadership on this higher level does not require mountains of gold or thundering propaganda. It is concerned with human destiny. Human destiny is the issue. People will respond.” Cf. Para. 1115He concluded the book with: “War is an invention of the human mind. The human mind can invent peace with justice.”16DetailedAnalysisStructureThemeText AnalysisConfessions of a Miseducated Man17StructurePart I (para.1-4)In what way I was miseducated.Why this education was inadequate.What kind of education we need.What this new education may bring about.Part II(paras.5-7)Part III(paras.8-10)Part IV(paras.11)18Part I: Main IdeaWhat kind of test does the author suggest? What marks the differences between the world in 1850 and the world now?Why is “Asia and Africa” the best place to apply the test? What does the authors education teach him? Give examples.Why does he say that his education “protected me against surprise”?What does the education fail to teach him? Do you agree with him? What time doe it possibly refer to in “at a time” at the end of para.4?19Not that(para.3) Weve been happy together for half a centurynot that we never quarreled. I stopped and picked you upnot that I was not afraid. We will not include the chapter on constitutional law in this textbook. Not that it is irrelevant. Its just too difficult for the students to understand. 她没买那件外套，并不是不喜欢，而是觉得太贵了。 She did not buy the coatnot that she did not like it. She just felt that it was too expensive. 20Part I: Sentence Paraphrase 1In short, my education protected me against surprise. (para.3)Paraphrasing: In a word, the education I had had taught me enough about the differences among people so that I wouldnt feel surprised at what I saw, no matter how different they might be. 21to protectagainst(para.3) to keep sb./sth. safe against / from Kids should be protected from all that violence. Its skin protects it against predators. Take these vitamins to protect against minor infections. 我们已做好了一切准备以防营地被偷袭。 Weve done all the preparations to protect the base against surprise attacks. 22Part I: Sentence Paraphrase 2But what my education failed to do was to teach me that the principal significance of such differences was that they were largely without significance. (para.4)Paraphrasing: The education I had did not teach me to see the fact that the main meaning of recognizing such differences was that they were not meaningful in a great measure (if compared with the meaning of understanding the similarities).23all but(para.4) almost completely Their screams all but drowned out the music. I all but got attacked by the two timber wolves when Maheegun came to my rescue. 我们差一点儿就输掉了比赛。 We all but lost the game. 24to wipe out(para.4) to destroy, remove, get rid of sth. Completely Half the population was wiped out by plague. The heat has wiped me out. (informal, to make sb. feel extremely tired/exhausted)Compare: The price will wipe the smile off his face. In a few years this species could be wiped off the face of the earth. 25Part I: Sentence Paraphrase 3My education had by-passed the similarities. (para.4)Paraphrasing: The education I had had did not teach me/avoided dealing with the similarities among peoples. 26Part I: Words & expressions to put it to the test adequate, enough, sufficient a birds-eye view to protect sb.against sth. all but be at home to wipe out to build on to get through 27Key Words and Expressions Fill in the following blanks with enough, sufficient and adequate. He was not tall _ to carry a rifle. We lacked_ funds to finish the project. I dont think she is _ as the team leader. enoughsufficientadequate28What is “the idea” in the first sentence of para.5? What are the things “I had to forget” in para.5 ?When was possibly “only a few years ago”?What does “an education in differences of references” possibly mean?Part II: Main Idea29Part II: Main IdeaPara. 7 What is “the great compression” that “came overnight”?What can we get to know about the evolution of tribalism in intercultural communication in “tribalism had persisted from earliest times, though it had taken refined forms”? What are those “refined forms”?Compared with the education mentioned in Para. 6, what can be expected from “an education in self-recognition”?30to act on (para.5) to do sth. because of the one making no distinctions of good and evil, acting on no principles She is acting on the advice of her lawyers. Police say they acted on information received. 他凡事都凭自愿。 He acted on his own initiative all the time.31to turn out (that) (para.5) to happen in a particular way to see if they had any decent wines in that country. As it turned out, they hadnt. I was a bit doubtful at first, but it turned out to be a really good idea. 32Part II: Sentence Paraphrase 4It turned out that my ability to get along with other peoples as my comprehension of the things we had in common. (para.5)Paraphrasing: I finally realized that whether I can get along with other peoples is not determined by the differences I have been taught, but by what we have in common.Text Analysis33Part II: Sentence Paraphrase 5It was the mark of a rounded man to be well traveled(para.6)Paraphrasing: One sign/indication of a person who has had a well-rounded (not one-sided), complete education is that s/he has been to many places or countries Text Analysis34Part II: Sentence Paraphrase 6 Far-flung areas which had been secure in their remoteness suddenly became crowded together in a single arena. (para.7) Paraphrasing: Remote areas which had maintained their separateness suddenly became closely connected as if they all came crowding into a single place of activity.35Part II: Sentence Paraphrase 7 The old emphasis upon superficial differences had to give way to education for mutuality and for citizenship in the human community. (para.7) Paraphrasing: The traditional education with the emphasis on the superficial differences between different peoples, different cultures, etc. should be replaced by a new type of education focusing on mutual respect, mutual understanding, equality interdependence and how to be a citizen in the whole human community. 36to give way to(para.7) to give its place to sth. better, to be replaced by The traditional extended family has now given way to the nuclear family. Coal is dirty and will have to give way to gas or other cleaner energy. 37Part II : Words & Expressions all at once in liberation from to persist refined forms to give way to to take a form to take in to count notbut be capable of to respond to to seek to do sth. to threaten to do sth. to alter the balance to concern to come forward thundering propaganda human destiny38Part III: Main IdeaPara. 8 What is the fact exactly in “we begin with the fact that universe itself does not hold life cheaply”?1.What sort of faculty or gift is “a creative intelligence”? What does it enable man to do in the authors view? Can you explain “to reflect and foresee, to take in past experience, and also to visualize future needs”?39Part III: Main IdeaPara. 10 How would you understand “Next in order would be instruction in the unity of human needs”? Why does the author say “However friendly the universe may be, it has left the conditions of human existence precariously balanced”? What are “the conditions of human existence”? How can we use “self-understanding in the cause of human welfare”?1. What are “the engines we have created that threaten to alter the precarious balance on which life depends”? Can you give some examples?40Part III: Sentence Paraphrase 8 Life is a rare occurrence among the millions of galaxies and solar systems that occupy space.(para.8) Paraphrasing: (So far weve not yet found any sign of life in outer space.) Human life may well be the only life form in the universe, so it is more than precious ( It thus implies that the respect for the only and precious life is the very basis on which we build the future world community.41to take in(para.8) to understand and remember I told Grandpa we were going away, but I dont think he took it in. 小孩子很难理解社会责任的全部意义。 It is hard for children to take in the full meaning of social responsibility. 42 to respond to(para.9) to react to sth. that has been said or done Clive responded to my suggestion with a laugh. The US responded to the challenge by sending troops into Iraq. 至今还没有人对我们的抱怨作出回应。 No one has yet responded to our complaints. Her cancer failed to respond to treatment. ( to improve as a result of a particular kind of treatment) 43 to concern (para.10)1. If sth. concerns you, it affects/involves you The price of water will concern many people. (not in passive)to make sb. feel worried /upset; That Bess did not work to save for her old age really concerned Lottie. 2. If a story/book/report concerns sb./sth., it is about them This essay concerns (is about) how the author thinks of his education in the past years.44 Many people are concerning themselves with environmental problems. (becoming involved) Ross is never particularly concerned about what other people think of him. (worried) The officials seem to be far more concerned with getting selected than with making people feel satisfied with their work. (meaning “believing sth is important”; Notice: this concerned with should never be used before a noun)Related phrasal verbs:45Part IV: Main IdeaPara. 11 What does “some nation or people” possibly refer to in the text?1.What sort of “leadership” is the author talking about? 46to come forward (with/as/to do sth.)(para.11) to offer yourself for a job, election, etc. More women are coming forward as candidates than even before. 我们需要更多的志愿者提供帮助。 We need more volunteers to come forward to help. A girl has come forward with (offer help to sb. who needs or has asked for it) a description of the murderer.47to rise to the occasion/challenge to deal successfully with a difficult situation or problem（成功地）应对，得体地）应付e.g. We are calling on all our employees to rise to the occasion and become more efficient and productive.1.The team rose to the challenge and fought back to produce another goal.48ReinforcementConfessions of a Miseducated Confessions of a Miseducated ManMan49DiscussionWork in groups and discuss the following questions: Is it true that there are more topics on similarities among people? Or just vice versa? What do you think is the proper attitude towards the differences and similarities among peoples? 1. Can you see any significance in proposing such an issue now?