An inquiry into the existence of the gifted child
1. Let us start by looking at a modern ‘genius’, Maryam Mirzakhani… She was the only woman to win the Fields Medal – the mathematical equivalent of a Nobel prize. Mirzakhani was born in Tehran, Iran. She went to a highly selective girls’ school but maths wasn’t her interest – reading was. She did rather poorly at it for the first couple of years, but became interested when her elder brother told her about what he’d learned.
2. In adult life it is clear that she was curious, excited by what she did and also resolute in the face of schools. “Of course, the most rewarding part is the ‘Aha’ moment, the excitement of discovery… But most of the time, doing mathematics for me is like being on a long hike with no trail and no end in sight.”
3. Is her background unusual? Apparently not. Most Nobel prize winners were unexceptional in childhood. Einstein was slow to talk as a baby. He failed the general part of the entry test to Zurich Polytechnic… research is clear that brains are flexible, new neural pathways can be created, and IQ isn’t fixed.
4. While the jury is out on giftedness being innate, what is certain is that the behaviours associated with high levels of performance are replicable and most can be taught – even traits such as curiosity.
5. Prof Deborah Eyre suggests most individuals can reach levels of performance associated in school with the gifted and talented. However, they must be taught the right attitudes… curiosity, persistence and hard work. Critically, they need the right support at home as well as at school.
6. Prof Anders Ericsson doesn’t think unique and innate talents are at the heart of performance. Deliberate practice, that stretches you every step of the way, and around 10,000 hours of it, is what produces the goods.
7. Benjamin Bloom looked at extraordinarily high achieving people in varied disciplines. He found a pattern of parents encouraging and supporting their children, often in areas they enjoyed themselves. outstanding people worked very hard and consistently.
8. Some spin-off research found children succeeding despite difficult circumstances. Half were getting free school meals because of poverty. Interviews uncovered strong evidence of an adult or adults in the child’s life who valued and supported education.
9. Let us end with Einstein. He once wrote: ‘It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. Most people say it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong; it is character.’
Complete the summary using the list of phrases below.
33. Prize winners were often average when young:
34. Einstein’s failures were due to lack of confidence:
35. Agreement on whether children are born gifted is hard:
36. Einstein was upset by public view:
37. Einstein success due to speed:
38. What does Eyre believe children need?
39. Ericsson’s research result?
40. Key to success for deprived children?
20 Useful Vocabulary (The Gifted Child)
1. Genius (Noun)
Thiên tài, người có tài năng xuất chúng.
"Let us start by looking at a modern ‘genius’, Maryam Mirzakhani..."
2. Equivalent (Noun)
Sự tương đương, vật/điều tương đương.
"...the mathematical equivalent of a Nobel prize."
3. Selective (Adjective)
Có tính tuyển chọn cao, khắt khe.
"She went to a highly selective girls’ school but maths wasn’t her interest..."
4. Resolute (Adjective)
Kiên quyết, cương quyết, không nao núng.
"...she was curious, excited by what she did and also resolute in the face of schools."
5. Rewarding (Adjective)
Đáng giá, bổ ích, mang lại cảm giác thỏa mãn.
"Of course, the most rewarding part is the ‘Aha’ moment, the excitement of discovery..."
6. Trail (Noun)
Con đường mòn, lối đi.
"...doing mathematics for me is like being on a long hike with no trail and no end in sight."
7. Unexceptional (Adjective)
Bình thường, không có gì nổi bật/đặc biệt.
"Most Nobel prize winners were unexceptional in childhood."
8. Flexible (Adjective)
Linh hoạt, có thể thay đổi/uốn nắn được.
"...research is clear that brains are flexible..."
9. Neural (Adjective)
Thuộc về hệ thần kinh, nơ-ron.
"...new neural pathways can be created, and IQ isn’t fixed."
10. Innate (Adjective)
Bẩm sinh, thiên phú.
"While the jury is out on giftedness being innate..."
11. Replicable (Adjective)
Có thể sao chép, có thể lặp lại được.
"...the behaviours associated with high levels of performance are replicable and most can be taught..."
12. Trait (Noun)
Đặc điểm, nét tiêu biểu (về tính cách/hành vi).
"...and most can be taught – even traits such as curiosity."
13. Persistence (Noun)
Sự kiên trì, sự bền bỉ.
"...curiosity, persistence and hard work."
14. Deliberate (Adjective)
Có chủ ý, có tính toán, được chuẩn bị kỹ.
"Deliberate practice, that stretches you every step of the way... is what produces the goods."
15. Discipline (Noun)
Ngành học, lĩnh vực chuyên môn (ngoài nghĩa "kỷ luật").
"...looked at extraordinarily high achieving people in varied disciplines."
16. Consistently (Adverb)
Một cách kiên định, liên tục, đồng nhất.
"...outstanding people worked very hard and consistently."
17. Spin-off (Noun/Adjective)
Sản phẩm phụ, nghiên cứu phái sinh (từ một dự án lớn hơn).
"Some spin-off research found children succeeding despite difficult circumstances."
18. Circumstance (Noun)
Hoàn cảnh, tình huống.
"...found children succeeding despite difficult circumstances."
19. Intellect (Noun)
Trí tuệ, khả năng tư duy và hiểu biết.
"Most people say it is the intellect which makes a great scientist."
20. Character (Noun)
Tính cách, bản lĩnh, phẩm chất.
"They are wrong; it is character."
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