Passage 2 Spot Dictation

English learners can improve their ability to use different words by practicing. One way to

practice 1.______ is through repetition – doing something over and over again.

Repetition, however, does not mean repeating a new _2._____ word the same way every

time. It 3._____ repeating the word while using it in 4._____ contexts or situations.

This idea comes from Sarah Lynn, who works as an 5._____consultant and teacher at

Harvard University's Bridge Program. She says that English learners often have 6._____

using new words in different situations. They are unable to put their knowledge and 7._____

to use in new ways. If you are like many students learning a 8._____language, you have

probably faced a situation like the one Sarah Lynn 9._____ here:

"We learn a new word, and then, when the moment comes to actually use it, we

can't retrieve it or we can't use it in a new situation and in a new 10._____."

The problem, she 11._____, is that the learner's language is not alive yet. He or she is not

able to transfer what they have 12._____ to a new situation.

In an 13._____ Education story, we discussed the importance of dendrites（神经轴突）.

Dendrites are connections in the 14._____. They grow thicker and stronger with practice.

Lynn 15._____ that better dendrite connections can improve retrieval, the ability to

remember and use vocabulary words. One way to 16._____ dendrite connections in the brain

is to make connections to what you already 17._____ Another way to grow dendrite

connections is to practice. "They say practice makes 18._____" says Lynn, "but actually,

practice makes permanent."The 19._____ for effective practice, she says, is repetition.

However, repetition does not mean what many people think it does: "And it's not just about

repeating it the same way every time...you 20._____ to repeat, but not just mimicking but

actually thinking about it and putting it in next contexts and new situations."
Passage 2 Script

English learners can improve their ability to use different words by practicing. One way to

practice effectively is through repetition – doing something over and over again.

Repetition, however, does not mean repeating a new vocabulary word the same way every

time. It means repeating the word while using it in different contexts or situations.

This idea comes from Sarah Lynn, who works as an educational consultant and teacher at

Harvard University's Bridge Program.

She says that English learners often have trouble using new words in different situations.

They are unable to put their knowledge and skills to use in new ways.

If you are like many students learning a foreign language, you have probably faced a

situation like the one Sarah Lynn describes here:

"We learn a new word, and then, when the moment comes to actually use it, we

can't retrieve it or we can't use it in a new situation and in a new expression."

The problem, she explains, is that the learner's language is not alive yet. He or she is not able

to transfer what they have learned to a new situation.

In an earlier Education story, we discussed the importance of dendrites. Dendrites are

connections in the brain. They grow thicker and stronger with practice.

Lynn suggests that better dendrite connections can improve retrieval, the ability to remember

and use vocabulary words. One way to grow dendrite connections in the brain is to make

connections to what you already know.

Another way to grow dendrite connections is to practice. "They say practice makes perfect"

says Lynn, "but actually, practice makes permanent."The solution for effective practice, she

says, is repetition. However, repetition does not mean what many people think it does:
"And it's not just about repeating it the same way every time...you need to repeat, but not just

mimicking but actually thinking about it and putting it in next contexts and new situations."