英國人解析劍橋雅思12 Test8 大作文

02-12

Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters (such as food, clothes and entertainment) is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that afffect them. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

這類題目的立場選擇靈活，寫法多樣，但是有一條根本的原則，一定要兩個觀點都討論（建議一個主體段討論一個觀點，這也是劍橋雅思書中考官範文的做法）。

這裡談談立場的選擇

1. 可以完全贊同「這會形成一個人們只顧自己的社會」

2. 可以完全贊同「應該讓孩子自己做決定」

3. 可以結合這2個觀點，「只在一定限度內讓孩子自己做決定，自己做決定的前提是遵守基本的規則」（下文英國人的分析中採用的觀點。這要求批判地看待問題，會比較難寫）

另外，我很想聊聊「自私」。

自私，是無罪的，每個人都有自私的權利。只是，在我們身處的社會中，人們都很喜歡給別人加一項「自私」的罪行。除了監護人，誰也沒有義務幫助你；監護人的「責任」也僅限被監護人成年之前。以「自私」為理由，指責沒有無償幫助自己的人，這既自私又無恥。

一個英國人的觀點

The extent to which a child can or should be able to make their own choices is shaped by parental ideas on freedom and choice, but is also dependent on the age, maturity level, and personality of that child.
孩子自己做決定的自由程度，是依據其家長對自由和選擇的觀念形成的，但是也依賴孩子的年紀、成熟度和個性。

1. All children need boundaries – they need to understand what they can and cannot do.
所有的孩子都需要知道界限。他們得清楚他們可以做什麼，不能做什麼。（可以用於討論題目中的前一個觀點：先承認有可能形成人們只顧自己的社會，但是給孩子設定了界限就會好很多）
2. Children learn by experimenting and doing things of their own initiative.
孩子通過實驗和自主行動的方式來學習

舉例

If a child can choose from a range of food options, they are likely to be more motivated to eat what they have chosen, and also perhaps more willing to try out new foods.
如果孩子可以在一系列食物中做自己的選擇，他們很可能會更有動力去吃他們自己選擇的，或者會願意去嘗試新的食物。

Conversely, if parents adopt a disciplinarian approach to food, then they may be successful in ensuring that their children eat healthily, but less successful in developing young adults.
相反地，如果家長採用了規範的食譜，那麼家長也許能成功地確保孩子吃得健康，但是在讓孩子變成熟方面就沒有那麼成功了。

總結

Giving children greater amounts of freedom is a delicate task and mistakes are likely to be made along the way. However, I believe that as long as parents are flexible and have in mind the goal of raising their children to be happy and well-rounded young adults, then their children will grow up to be constructive members of society.
給孩子更多的自由，是一項精細的任務，一路上會犯很多錯。然而，只要家長能靈活處理，確保撫養孩子的目標是讓他們快樂，讓他們綜合地發展，那麼孩子就會成長為有用的社會成員。