Module 3: innovations in psychology

MODULE 3: INNOVATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY

TEXT 1

Please, talk according to the question.

Question: What is the most embarrassing fact about the human brain? Please, describe it and explain why you think so.  

TEXT 2

Please, read and comprehend the text below and write out the vocabulary units and phrases you find the most appropriate to discuss the topic.

http://www.apa.org/action/resources/research-in-action/dyslexia.aspx

UNDOING DYSLEXIA VIA VIDEO GAMES

Psychologists and neuroscientists are using new techniques to identify the source of language and reading problems such as dyslexia in the brain and create innovative new therapies to significantly improve children's language learning and reading.

Findings

Certain letters sound very much the same when spoken - such as sounds "b" and "p," for example. In fact, the distinct sounds represented by these two letters occur exceedingly quickly, in only ten-hundredths of a second. The ability to distinguish between these ultrafast sounds and segment them out of words is known as phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness forms the foundation of language, affecting not only what we hear but also reading, spelling and speaking. For most of us, this ability is automatic, but for the estimated 15 to 20 percent of Americans who struggle to learn to read, difficulties with phonemic awareness can cause problems.

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability and is often severe enough to make it difficult for children to succeed academically. Treatment for language and reading impairments by speech therapists and reading specialists is often a slow, long, expensive and frustrating experience for professionals, parents and children.

Now, scientists are using technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to better understand the impairments in the dyslexic brain. Researchers at Yale University, for instance, have found that people with dyslexia have abnormal connections between brain regions. As a result, they must rely on alternate brain circuits for reading and use laborious "sounding-out" strategies to read.

Other research has pinpointed specific brain regions linked to dyslexia. One of those pioneering researchers is psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist Paula Tallal, PhD, at Rutgers University. Using FMRI, she found those with dyslexia have decreased activity in the brain's language-critical left temporoparietal region during phonological processing. Further studies showed that unlike children who are not impaired, children with dyslexia didn't show activation in the left prefrontal cortex when distinguishing between rapid and slow acoustic stimuli.

Using the findings from brain imaging, Tallal teamed up with neuroscientist Michael Merzenich, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco, to develop neuroplasticity-based computerized video games that can " rewire " the brains of children with this form of dyslexia and activate those areas of the brain critical to reading skills. With intensive remedial training, their brains begin to function more like those of normal readers.

The video training program, called Fast ForWord, provides intensive, highly individualized cross-training across a large number of attention, processing, cognitive, linguistic and reading skills, all of which are vital for academic success. For example, in one of the games, a child earns points by distinguishing the sounds "ba" from "pa." When a child masters the task, the game adjusts its playing level so the child is challenged on a more advanced level the next day, all while being monitored via the Internet by a professional. Other games are designed to improve the speed of brain processing and also train children in the rules of English grammar. The result: Treatment effects that formerly required years of intervention are reduced to a few weeks.

A groundbreaking 2003 study using functional MRIs by Elise Temple, PhD, of Dartmouth University, with Tallal and other colleagues showed changes in brain function in children with dyslexia after using the computer program. The study found increased activation in multiple brain regions during phonological processing, as well as significantly improved language and reading.

Meanwhile, other researchers are exploring the use of action-packed video games for treating dyslexia. Although researchers believe impairment in auditory processing is the primary factor underlying dyslexia, other deficits such as problems in attention may also play a role. Scientists at Oxford University, for instance, discovered that people with dyslexia showed delayed reactions when shifting their attention from sights to sounds. The researchers suggested that fast-paced action video games - rather than games tailored specifically for language learning - might help dyslexics improve reaction times. And Italian researchers reported in 2013 that action video game training improved attention abilities in dyslexic people. That improvement translated to better reading abilities, they found.

 

Significance

An estimated 13 percent to 14 percent of the school-aged population suffers from dyslexia, according to the International Dyslexia Association. Untreated, the disorder can have lasting effects on well-being. The National Center for Learning Disabilities reports that people with learning disorders, including dyslexia, have lower high-school graduation rates, lower college attendance rates and higher rates of unemployment than people in the general population.

New psychological knowledge and neuroscience-based learning methods, combined with new technology, are leading to applications that enhance the quality of life for children with language and reading problems such as dyslexia. Additionally, money and resources are saved when a child is able to become proficient in English and read at the appropriate grade level.

Practical Application

More than half a million students have used the Fast ForWord program in thousands of schools nationwide, and thousands of private practice professionals have also used the program in their clinics.

Meanwhile, psychologists and others are continuing to integrate new findings in neuroscience to develop other novel approaches to treat reading disorders.

 

Please, find sentences with Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous tenses in the text. Translate them and explain why such tense is used there.

Glossary

 

to identify – идентифицировать, определить

a source - источник

language and reading problems – проблемы, связанные с изучением языка и чтением

innovative new therapies – инновационные новые терапии (методы лечения)

a finding – вывод, умозаключение; находка

distinct sounds – здесь: чёткие, ясные звуки

to occur – возникнуть, появиться

to distinguish between – распознать между

ultrafast sounds – сверхбыстрые звуки

phonemic awareness – способность узнавать, распознавать звуки

the estimated 15 to 20 percent of Americans – примерно от 15 до 20 процентов американцев

to struggle to learn to read – с трудом учиться говорить

to cause problems – быть (стать) причиной проблем

a language- based learning disability – неспособность к обучению, в основе которого владение (знание) языком

severe illness (disease) – тяжёлый недуг (тяжёлая болезнь)

to succeed academically – демонстрировать академическую успеваемость

treatment for language and reading impairments – лечение неспособности к изучению языка и чтению

a speech therapist – логопед   

a reading specialist – специалист по обучению чтению

a slow, long, expensive and frustrating experience – медленный, длительный, дорогостоящий и полный разочарования опыт

FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) – функциональное магниторезонансное обследование

the impairments in the dyslexic brain – здесь: неспособность головного мозга, страдающего дислексией, к некоторым функциям

abnormal connections between brain regions – здесь: отклонения в функции соединительной ткани между левым и правым полушариями головного мозга

alternate brain circuits – альтернативные связи между участками головного мозга

laborious "sounding-out" strategies – трудозатратные стратегии произношения звуков

to pinpoint specific brain regions linked to dyslexia – здесь: выявить особые участки головного мозга, имеющие отношение к дислексии

pioneering researchers – исследователи-первопроходцы

psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist – психолог и нейроспециалист (когнитивное направление в психологии)

the brain's language-critical left temporoparietal region – левая височная область головного мозга, отвечающая за изучение языка

phonological processing – восприятие и обработка (узнавание) звуков

children with dyslexia – дети, страдающие дислексией

to distinguish between rapid and slow acoustic stimuli – распознавать быстрые и медленные звуки

brain imaging – сканирование головного мозга

to team up with smb – создать партнёрство с кем-либо

to develop neuroplasticity - based computerized video games – разработать компьютерные видеоигры, основанные на принципе нейропластики

to rewire – ‘пересоединить’ / ‘перенаправить’

areas of the brain critical to reading skills – участки головного мозга, ответственные за навыки чтения

intensive remedial training – здесь: интенсивная лечебная тренировка (головного мозга)

the video training program – лечебная видеопрограмма

to provide intensive, highly individualized cross-training across a large number of attention, processing, cognitive, linguistic and reading skills – здесь: обеспечить интенсивное, индивидуальное лечение многих участков головного мозга, отвечающих за внимание, восприятие, познавательную деятельность, изучение языка и развитие навыков чтения

to be vital for academic success – иметь большое значение для академической успеваемости

to earn points – заработать баллы

the game adjusts its playing level – здесь: игра настраивает свой уровень сложности

to be challenged – здесь: оказаться лицом к лицу с проблемой

to monitor via the Internet – вести наблюдение через сеть Интернет

to improve the speed of brain processing – улучшить скорость работы головного мозга

years of intervention – здесь: годы лечения

to reduce to a few weeks – сократить до нескольких недель

a groundbreaking study – исследование прорывного характера

changes in brain function in children with dyslexia – изменения в функции головного мозга у детей, страдающих дислексией

to increase activation in multiple brain regions – повысить активность во многих областях головного мозга

to significantly improve language and reading – здесь: в значительной степени улучшить навыки в усвоении языка и чтении

to explore the use of action- packed video games for treating dyslexia – здесь: исследовать эффект использования видео игр для лечения дислексии

impairment in auditory processing – частичная неспособность к восприятию (информации) на слух

the primary factor underlying dyslexia – первостепенный фактор, определяющий предрасположенность к дислексии

to show delayed reactions when shifting their attention from sights to sounds – здесь: демонстрировать задержку в реакции при переключении своего внимания с визуального образа на слуховое восприятие

fast-paced action video games – высокоскоростные видеоигры

to improve attention abilities in dyslexic people – улучшить способность к вниманию у страдающих дислексией

That improvement translated to better reading abilities – здесь: Это улучшение привело к улучшению навыков чтения.

significance - важность

… the school-aged population suffers from dyslexia … - население школьного возраста страдает от дислексии

the disorder can have lasting effects on well-being – здесь: нарушение может привести к длительному ухудшению качества жизни

learning disorders – нарушение способности к познанию / изучению

high- school graduation rates – показатель числа выпускников средней школы

college attendance rates – показатель посещаемости занятий в колледже

higher rates of unemployment – высокие показатели безработицы

to enhance the quality of life for children with language and reading problems – здесь: улучшить качество жизни для детей, испытывающих проблемы в изучении языка и развитии навыков чтения

to save money and resources – сохранить / сэкономить деньги и (другие) ресурсы

to become proficient in English and read at the appropriate grade level – здесь: стать успешным в изучении английского языка и демонстрировать навыки чтения, сопоставимыми с требованиями к выпускнику средней школы

practical application – практическое применение

private practice professionals – здесь: профессионалы-практики, занимающиеся частной врачебной деятельностью

to integrate new findings in neuroscience – здесь: внедрить новые методы в лечение заболеваний головного мозга

to develop other novel approaches – разработать другие инновационные подходы

to treat reading disorders – лечить нарушения в навыках чтения

 

Complete the table by matching the phrases on the left with the headings on the right. TWO of the answer choices will NOT be used.

 

Answer Choices   A Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability.   B Treatment for dyslexia is often a slow, long and expensive.   C Intensive remedial training makes the brain function normally.   D It significantly improves language and reading skills.   E This method of treatment requires a lot of time and effort.   F It enhances the quality of life for children with language and reading problems.   G It uses the findings from brain imaging   H It’s frustrating experience for professionals, parents and children.   III It’s designed to improve the speed of brain processing.

Traditional method ● ● ● Innovative method ●   ●   ●   ●

SAMPLE TALK.

- Do you have any problems with language-learning and reading? And my question goes to …

- Oh, thank you so much for your question! As far as I remember from the text, people with dyslexia may have such problems. As for me, I never had alike problems in my life. I wish people could never experience such a severe disease like dyslexia.

- How nice of you to be such a kind person! Like you I wish we could change their lives for better.

- Thank you so much for your support.

- Not at all. You are welcome!

DISCOURSE PRACTICE EXERCISE

Коммуникативная задача Report problem ‘Подготовка сообщения / доклада’ (вопрос 1, 2)после ознакомления обучающегося с источником (устным или письменным текстом) может быть сформулирована следующим образом:

X expresses an (his/her) opinion of the Y. Report the (his/her) opinion and explain the reason(s) that X gives for having that opinion.

 

Процесс подготовки решения этой коммуникативной задачи проходит в два этапа: 1. обучающийся формирует топик-фрейм высказывания в соответствии с поставленным вопросом 2. и, опираясь на структуру вопроса, разрабатывает сценарий ответа, где последовательно представлены констативы, позволяющие аудитории узнать о точке зрения X и понять причины, определяющие такую точку зрения, и не более того. В данном случае целесообразно следовать и реализовать на практике следующую дискурсивную формулу:

 

Report the author’s opinion and

The main idea of the text is presented briefly (1-2 sentences)

explain the reason(s) that the author gives for having that opinion.

The main reasons / circumstances are presented in brief: Circumstance 1; Circumstance 2; Circumstance 3; Circumstance 4 (and no more) is the final one and looks like a resume.

 

 

Please, consider the main points in the text presented in this module and develop a talk according to the following communicative tasks:

1. According to the information in the text “Undoing dyslexia via video games”, please, report on the nature of the disease.

1. According to the information in the text “Undoing dyslexia via video games”, please, report on the methods to treat dyslexia.

1. Describe the problem presented in the text “ UNDOING DYSLEXIA VIA VIDEO GAMES” and the two solutions for the problem. What solution do you think should be taken, and why?

Your response should comply with the following:

 

ü Your response answers the topic question.

ü The point of view or position is clear.

ü The response is direct and well-organized.

ü The sentences are logically connected.

ü Details and examples support the main idea.

ü The thoughts you express are complete.

ü The meaning is easy to comprehend.

ü A wide range of vocabulary is used.

 

 

SAMPLE ANSWERS

SUPPLEMENT

SAMPLE LETTER

 

To: John Smith,

3491, Cherry Lane

Arlington, 28301, Virginia

USA

From: Marina Nikonova,

Apart. 54, Bldng 119, Sovetskaya Str.,

Izhevsk, 426102, Udmurt Republic

Russia

 

September 02, 2015.

 

Dear John!

 

It has been a while since I received your letter. I am so happy to have such a friend abroad. You told me so many interesting facts about your country and the place you live in, so it took me some time to digest everything…

 

I was very much impressed with the fact that Arlington is actually a suburban part of the US capital, so close it is to Washington, DC. It is so nice of you to have such an opportunity to visit the capital any time you wish. Moreover, I find the Underground transportation system very convenient, as you have described it, to use and get to any place of interest like art galleries, museums, the Capitol, the White House and many other sites in the downtown area … You might feel a lucky man to have all those sights within your reach!

 

On my side I can tell you that my city, perhaps, is not as big and nice as Washington, DC, yet I may say it is sure to catch the eye of a visitor when sightseeing is concerned. The history of Izhevsk roots back to 1800s and accumulated plenty of the national heritage in terms of culture and industry. Many of the sights have been executed in churches and cathedrals, monuments, names of the streets and squares; … in particular, the design of the City of Izhevsk is very interesting as well since it is similar to Saint Petersburg’s because one the same architect developed the city plans. Like in Washington, DC we have many recreational areas nearby the water bodies and fountains… Like in Washington, DC you may find quite a few skyscrapers in Izhevsk, yet many more appear in the City Hall area.

 

The ground transportation system in Izhevsk is something we can be proud of like you are over there in Washington, DC. It is well-developed and makes it possible for every resident to get to any place in the city within less than an hour. In my opinion, Izhevsk has a great potential for growth when urban development and tourism are concerned.

 

Well, so many people, so many opinions on our sweet homes …

 

Looking forward to receiving your note on many more interesting facts about your country and people.

 

Sincerely,

 

Marina.

 

 

MODULE 3: INNOVATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY

TEXT 1