[BBC六分钟英语] 手机应用能教你学习一门语言吗?

NeilHello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.大家好，欢迎收听BBC英语教学的《六分钟英语》。我是尼尔。

PippaAnd I'm Pippa. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel and Busuu all aim to help you learn a language, but do they really help? We'll be trying to answer that question in today's episode of 6 Minute English, and as usual we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary too.我是皮帕。像Duolingo、Babbel和Busuu这样的应用程序都旨在帮助你学习一门语言，但它们真的有用吗？我们将在今天的《六分钟英语》节目中尝试回答这个问题，并且和往常一样，我们也会学习一些有用的新词汇。

NeilYes, and don't forget to head to our website for a transcript of this episode and a free worksheet to test what you've learnt. It's all at bbclearningenglish.com.是的，别忘了访问我们的网站获取本集的文本稿和免费工作表来测试你所学的内容。都在 bbclearningenglish.com。

PippaOK. Neil, let's start with a quiz question. Which of these is not a language you can learn using Duolingo? Is it: a) Latin, b) Klingon, or c) Elvish?好的。尼尔，让我们从一个小测验问题开始。以下哪一项不是你可以用Duolingo学习的语言？是：a) 拉丁语，b) 克林贡语，还是 c) 精灵语？

NeilI'm going to say c) Elvish.我选 c) 精灵语。

PippaWell, we'll find out at the end of the programme. Now, people might be familiar with the app Duolingo. And then there are other apps which say they can help you learn a language quickly – Busuu and Babbel, for example.好的，我们将在节目结束时揭晓答案。现在，人们可能对Duolingo这个应用程序很熟悉。还有其他应用程序声称可以帮助你快速学习一门语言——例如Busuu和Babbel。

NeilAnd listeners might be familiar with how they tend to work. You get short lessons which test you on a repeated set of words.听众可能对它们通常的运作方式很熟悉。你会得到简短的课程，用一组重复的单词来测试你。

PippaRight. And many of these apps say they focus on teaching language for situations and implicit learning, rather than directly teaching language rules such as grammar. If something is implicit, it's suggested but not communicated directly.对。这些应用程序中有许多说它们专注于情境语言教学和隐性学习，而不是直接教授语法等语言规则。如果某事物是"implicit"，它是被暗示但没有被直接传达的。

NeilYes. So, if you think about how children learn to speak their first language, it's mostly implicit – they don't have lessons. But can this work for adults?是的。所以，如果你想想孩子们如何学习说他们的第一语言，那大多是隐性的——他们没有课程。但这能适用于成年人吗？

PippaBBC Radio 4 programme Sliced Bread has been investigating the evidence behind language learning apps. Presenter Greg Foot spoke to language learning expert Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott, or Liz, about implicit learning.BBC广播4台节目《Sliced Bread》一直在调查语言学习应用程序背后的证据。主持人格雷格·富特与语言学习专家伊丽莎白·沃纳科特教授（莉兹）讨论了隐性学习。

Professor Elizabeth WonnacottThere is a very big difference between being a child who gets constantly exposed to this world of language, compared with trying to learn a language a few hours a week. There is quite a bit of evidence that some explicit teaching of, for example, grammar and vocabulary is helpful.一个不断接触语言世界的孩子，与每周尝试学习几个小时的成年人相比，存在非常大的差异。有相当多的证据表明，一些显性的教学，例如语法和词汇教学，是有帮助的。

Greg FootGot you. So, it would be helpful to try to mimic what children do, which is full immersion, but realistically you're not going to get to those levels.明白了。所以，尝试模仿孩子们的做法——即完全的沉浸——会很有帮助，但实际上你达不到那种程度。

NeilLiz says that while children learn their first language implicitly by being constantly surrounded by the language, adults are often learning for only a few hours a week.莉兹说，虽然孩子们通过不断被语言包围来隐性学习他们的第一语言，但成年人通常每周只学习几个小时。

PippaYes. So, for adults trying to learn a new language, research has shown that some explicit teaching is helpful. Explicit is the opposite of implicit. So, for example, explicit grammar teaching would be somebody explaining a grammar rule to you.是的。所以，对于尝试学习新语言的成年人，研究表明一些显性教学是有帮助的。"Explicit"是"implicit"的反义词。例如，显性语法教学就是有人向你解释一条语法规则。

NeilRight. So, adults can't realistically achieve full immersion in a language like children do. Immersion means being completely surrounded by something.对。所以，成年人实际上无法像孩子那样完全沉浸在一门语言中。"Immersion"意思是被某物完全包围。

PippaOK. So, a mixture of the implicit teaching of the apps and some explicit teaching – for example, learning grammar rules – is useful. But Neil, there's limited research about just how effective these apps can be at teaching you a language.好的。所以，应用程序的隐性教学与一些显性教学——例如学习语法规则——相结合是有用的。但是尼尔，关于这些应用程序在教你语言方面到底有多有效的研究很有限。

NeilIndeed, Liz Wonnacott has seen one study she thinks could be interesting though, which compares two groups of Spanish speakers learning English – one using an app and one attending classes – for a similar amount of time. She explains more to BBC Radio 4 programme Sliced Bread.确实，莉兹·沃纳科特看到过一项她认为可能有趣的研究，该研究比较了两组学习英语的西班牙语使用者——一组使用应用程序，一组参加课程——学习时间相似。她在BBC广播4台节目《Sliced Bread》中做了更多解释。

Professor Elizabeth WonnacottThe key finding was that in some of the tests, written grammar tests, the Duolingo learners actually improved a bit more, while actually in a test where they were looking at listening the classroom learners appeared to improve more. So, it's really promising, but of course it's one particular language, in one particular app, against one particular school.关键发现是，在某些测试中，即书面语法测试中，Duolingo学习者实际上提高得更多一些，而在听力测试中，课堂学习者似乎提高得更多。所以，这真的很有前景，但当然，这只是一种特定的语言，在一个特定的应用程序中，与一所特定的学校对比。

PippaLiz says the key finding from the research is that the app users improved more on written tests, but the classroom learners improved more on listening tests. A key finding is the most important conclusion of a piece of research.莉兹说，这项研究的关键发现是应用程序使用者在书面测试中提高得更多，但课堂学习者在听力测试中提高得更多。"Key finding"是一项研究最重要的结论。

NeilLiz says the study is promising, which means it shows signs of being positive.莉兹说这项研究很有前景，意思是它显示出积极的迹象。

PippaYes. However, Liz points out the limits of the study. It's only looking at one particular language, one particular app and one particular language school. The repetition of one particular here means specific or individual, and Liz would like to see research on more apps, more types of teaching and also more different languages.是的。然而，莉兹指出了这项研究的局限性。它只研究了一种特定的语言、一个特定的应用程序和一所特定的语言学校。这里重复使用"one particular"意思是特定的或个别的，莉兹希望看到关于更多应用程序、更多教学类型以及更多不同语言的研究。

NeilApps can help us learn some parts of a language, but in this study they weren't as successful at improving listening skills, and so Liz concludes that combining learning in apps with some other ways of studying is the best way to try to improve your language skills.应用程序可以帮助我们学习语言的某些部分，但在这项研究中，它们在提高听力技能方面并不那么成功，因此莉兹得出结论，将应用程序学习与其他一些学习方式相结合是尝试提高语言技能的最佳方式。

Professor Elizabeth WonnacottProbably moving forwards, some combination of human teaching and these platforms to give us that repetition is probably going to be the right direction.可能往前看，人类教学与这些平台相结合来给我们提供那种重复，可能是正确的方向。

NeilAs teachers, we'd also suggest doing things that help you improve different skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing. So, listening to podcasts or trying to practise speaking with a language exchange partner could be things to combine with learning in apps. Find what works for you.作为老师，我们也会建议做一些帮助你提高不同技能的事情——说、听、读、写。所以，听播客或尝试与语言交换伙伴练习口语，可以是与应用程序学习相结合的事情。找到适合你的方法。

PippaI think it's time to find out the answer to the quiz question, Neil. I asked you which language you can't learn on Duolingo... and you were right. It's c) Elvish, but you can learn Latin and Klingon, the fictional language from the TV series Star Trek, on Duolingo. And if you did want to improve your Elvish, we did find an app specifically for that.我想是时候揭晓测验问题的答案了，尼尔。我问你哪种语言你不能在Duolingo上学习……你答对了。是 c) 精灵语，但你可以在Duolingo上学习拉丁语和克林贡语，即电视剧《星际迷航》中的虚构语言。如果你确实想提高你的精灵语，我们确实找到了一个专门为此的应用。

NeilRight. Let's recap the vocabulary we learned in this episode. Implicit means suggested but not communicated directly.对。让我们回顾一下在本期节目中学到的词汇。"Implicit"意思是暗示的但没有直接传达的。

PippaExplicit is the opposite of implicit. It means something is communicated directly."Explicit"是"implicit"的反义词。它意味着某事物被直接传达。

NeilImmersion is the state of being fully surrounded by something."Immersion"是被某物完全包围的状态。

PippaThe key finding of a research study is the most important conclusion of the research.一项研究的"key finding"是这项研究最重要的结论。

NeilAnd the phrase one particular means specific or individual.短语"one particular"意思是特定的或个别的。

PippaOnce again, our six minutes are up. Test what you've learned with the worksheet on our website.我们的六分钟又到了。用我们网站上的工作表测试你所学的内容。

NeilAnd if you're interested to hear the full episode of Sliced Bread about language-learning apps and the science behind them, there's a link in the notes below this episode. Try listening on 0.5 speed or in short sections if you find it too difficult to keep up.如果你有兴趣收听《Sliced Bread》关于语言学习应用程序及其背后科学的完整节目，本集下方注释中有链接。如果你觉得太难跟上，可以尝试用0.5倍速或分段收听。

PippaBye for now!暂时再见了！

NeilGoodbye!再见！

Vocabulary

1. implicit/ɪmˈplɪsɪt/(adj.) suggested or understood without being directly stated(形容词) 隐性的；含蓄的；不言明的There was an implicit warning in her tone that we shouldn't ignore.她的语气中有一种含蓄的警告，我们不应忽视。

2. explicit/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/(adj.) communicated clearly and directly(形容词) 显性的；明确的；直言的The teacher gave explicit instructions on how to complete the task.老师就如何完成这项任务给出了明确的指示。

3. immersion/ɪˈmɜːʃn/(n.) experience of being completely surrounded by something(名词) 沉浸；浸入式体验Language immersion programmes help students learn faster by surrounding them with the language all day.语言沉浸式课程通过让学生全天处于语言环境中来帮助他们更快地学习。

4. key finding/kiː ˈfaɪndɪŋ/(n. phrase) most important conclusion or discovery from a piece of research(名词短语) 关键发现；主要研究结论The key finding of the study was that regular exercise improves memory.这项研究的关键发现是定期锻炼可以改善记忆力。

5. promising/ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/(adj.) showing signs of being positive(形容词) 有前景的；有希望的The initial results of the experiment are very promising.实验的初步结果非常有前景。

6. one particular/wʌn pəˈtɪkjələ(r)/(phrase) one specific individual thing or person(短语) 某一个特定的There is one particular café in town that I always visit.城里有一家特定的咖啡馆，我总会去。