根据英语学习规律,模仿对话在英语学习模式中属简单模式,从学习阶段上分,属学习的初级阶段,初学时起重要作用的应该是模仿和机械识记,这是培养学生口语交际能力的必要途径,也是对话教学的基本手段。笔者运用交际法把学生分成"对子"或"小组",让学生在pair work中分角色表演对话。要求学生尽量模仿录音中的语音、语调,伴以手势、动作、表情等再现生活中的交际场景,通过对话表演,把"枯燥"的书本知识导入到"生动"的现实生活中,大大地增强了语言的生动性和感染力。
如SEFC Book 1A Unit 3 Lesson 9。本课对话教学要求学生会使用一些遇到困难时请求帮助的句型,并了解英国英语和美国英语的差异。学生分角色朗读对话后,笔者要求他们根据所给情景,进行模仿对话表演:
Situation: Charles is from England and is studying in the States. He meets his new classmate Tom for the first time. Tom is American. They are talking about the differences between American English and British English before the class begins.
Tom: So you are Charles. Nice to meet you.
Charles: How do you do? I have just come to the States. I have some difficulty in understanding some of the words and expressions here.
Tom: No, I think you are doing fine. You know, sometimes I also can’t understand what the English people say. By the way, where is your classroom?
Charles: On the ground floor.
Tom: Would you please say that again more slowly?
Charles:My classroom is on the ground floor.
Tom: I am sorry I can’t quite follow you.
Charles: OK, I’d like you to come with me to my classroom. Classroom 3 is next to my classroom.
Tom: You mean your classroom is on the first floor? I see. My classroom is on the third floor. I think we can meet again, but I have to go now. Bye!
由此可见,模仿并不只是机械的重复练习,而是在表面上重复校正的同时, 在深层上不断捕捉英美人使用英语的感觉,以及英语发展的内部规律,甚至能产生某种新鲜的修辞效果:诙谐幽默,不落俗套。