Part I
Professor: Good afternoon, Alex. Can I help you with something?
Man: Well, I wanted to talk with you about the research project you assigned today. I, um, hope you could clarify a few things for me.
Professor: I'll certainly try.
Man: OK, all we have to do is do two observations and take notes on them, right?
Professor: Oh, that's a start, but you'll need to do some research, too. Then you'll write a paper that's not so much about the observations but a synthesis of what you observed and read.
Man: OK, and what about the children I am supposed to observe?
Professor: Not children, a single child observed twice.
Man: Oh, OK! So I should choose a child, with the permission of the child's parents, of course, and then observe that child a couple of times and take good notes, then?
然后你需要写一篇报告，不仅仅只写你的观察，而是你的观察和阅读内容的综合。
1. assign |əˈsaɪn|
verb. to give sb sth that they can use, or some work or responsibility 分配（某物）；分派，布置（工作、任务等）
E.g.: The teacher assigned a different task to each of the children.
老师给每个儿童布置的作业都不相同。
2. clarify |ˈklærəfaɪ|
verb. to make sth clearer or easier to understand 使更清晰易懂；阐明；澄清
E.g.: A bank spokesman was unable to clarify the situation.
一位银行发言人未能把情况解释清楚。
3. synthesis |ˈsɪnθəsɪs|
noun. the act of combining separate ideas, beliefs, styles, etc.; a mixture or combination of ideas, beliefs, styles, etc. 综合；结合；综合体
E.g.: His novels are a rich synthesis of Balkan history and mythology.
他的小说融合了大量巴尔干半岛的历史和神话故事。
4. permission|pəˈmɪʃn|
noun. the act of allowing sb to do sth, especially when this is done by sb in a position of authority 准许；许可；批准
E.g.: You must ask permission for all major expenditure.
一切重大开支均须报请批准。
Part II
Professor: Actually, after your first observation, you'll go back and look through your textbook or go to the library and find a few sources concerning the stage of development this particular child is in. And then, with that knowledge, you'll make a second observation of the same child to see if the expected developmental behaviors are exhibited.
Man: Can you give me an example?
Professor: Well, uh, if you observed a four-year-old child, uh, for example, my daughter's four years old, you might read up on Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development. We covered those in class.
Man: Uh huh.
Professor: Most likely, what stage would a child of that age be in?
Man: Um, the pre-operational stage?
Professor: Exactly! If that's the case, her language use would be maturing and her memory and imagination would be developed.
Man: So she might play pretend, like she can pretend when driving her toy car across the couch that the couch is actually a bridge or something.
Professor: That's right! In addition, her thinking would be primarily egocentric.
Man: So she'd be thinking mostly about herself and her own needs and might not be able to see things from anyone else's perspective?
Professor: Um hmm.
然后，有了这些知识，你需要对同一个孩子进行第二次观察，看看这个孩子是否表现出了预期的发育行为。
1. read up on
to read a lot about a subject （就某课题）广泛阅读，博览群书
E.g.: I'll need to read up on the case before the meeting.
在开会前，我需要看一些有关这件事的材料。
2. cognitive|ˈkɒgnətɪv|
adj. connected with mental processes of understanding 认知的；感知的；认识的
E.g.: As children grow older, their cognitive processes become sharper.
孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
3. operational|ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənl|
adj. ready to be used 可使用的
E.g.: The new airport is now fully operational.
新机场现在可全面投入运营。
4. mature|məˈtʃʊə(r)|
verb. to become fully grown or developed 成熟；长成
E.g.: This particular breed of cattle matures early.
这一品种的牛发育成熟快。
5. play pretend
make believe, also known as pretend play, is a loosely structured form of play that generally includes role-play, object substitution and nonliteral behavior 角色扮演，假装游戏，过家家
6. egocentric|ˌegəʊˈsentrɪk|
adj. thinking only about yourself and not about what other people need or want 以自我为中心的；自私自利的
E.g.: He was egocentric, a man of impulse who expected those around him to serve him.
他是个以自我为中心、易冲动的人，希望身边的人都为他服务。
7. perspective|pəˈspektɪv|
noun. a particular attitude towards sth; a way of thinking about sth 态度；观点；角度；思考方法
E.g.: He says the death of his father 18 months ago has given him a new perspective on life.
他说18个月前父亲的去世让他对人生有了新的认识。
Part III
Man: But, what if she doesn't? I mean, what if she doesn't demonstrate those behaviors?
Professor: That's fine. You'll note that in your paper. See, your paper should compare what is expected of children at certain stage of development with what you actually observe.
Man: OK. I have one more question, though.
Professor: And what's that?
Man: Where can I find a child to observe?
Professor: Um, I'd suggest you contact the Education Department secretary. She has a list of contacts of various schools and with certain families who are somehow connected to the University. Sometimes they are willing to help out students with projects like yours.
Man: OK, I'll stop by the Education Department Office this afternoon.
Professor: And if you have any trouble or any more questions, feel free to come by during my office hours.
她有一份各个学校的联系人名单，以及与大学有联系的一些家庭。有时他们愿意帮助学生完成像你这样的项目。
1. demonstrate |ˈdemənstreɪt|
verb. to show by your actions that you have a particular quality, feeling or opinion 表达；表露；表现；显露
E.g.: You need to demonstrate more self-control.
你应该表现出更强的自制力。
2. note|ˈwɒndə(r)|
verb. to mention sth because it is important or interesting 指出；特别提到
E.g.: It is worth noting that the most successful companies had the lowest prices.
值得指出的是最成功的公司价格最低。
3. stop by
to make a short visit somewhere 过去坐坐；顺路造访
E.g.: Could you stop by the store on the way home for some bread?
回家时你能不能顺路进那家店里买点面包？
