2. buzzwords Flashcards
Meta-language
A language related to the teaching of English/specialist language
specific to a certain area/topic
Lexical set
A group of words from the same topic area
Lexical item
A word in isolation, part of a word, or a sequence of words with
one whole meaning. Examples include nouns, verbs, idioms,
phrasal verbs and phrases
IPA
The International Phonetic Alphabet – reference to all sounds in
the English language. There are forty-four sounds in the Phonetic
Alphabet separated into three sections - consonants, vowels and
diphthongs
L1
L1 is synonymous with ‘native language’. It refers to the language
spoken by the student
Mother tongue
Mother tongue is synonymous with native language and L1
L1 interference
When the student’s first language interferes with their English in
some way, e.g., grammatical differences, mistranslations or
incorrect sounds being used
L2
A second language, e.g., a Tunisian student may speak both Arabic
and French
Functional
language
Language used to focus on a particular function – agreeing,
disagreeing, complaining
Elicit
Drawing out information from students. Strategies include the use
of images and realia. Eliciting information increases student talk
time and participation
Realia
A teaching resource - use of props or objects in the classroom.
Particularly useful for visual learners, tactile & kinaesthetic learners
and young learners
Authentic
Materials
Items such as news reports, articles, TV clips or YouTube videos.
Used to steer away from worksheets and course books
Talk-Based
Learning
Students do a task to create a specific language outcome
PPP
Presentation, Practice and Production. The teacher presents a
language/grammar point to the students, they practice it with
guidance from the teacher and then produce something with the
language/grammar point learnt
Teaching
Practice
Teaching practice – learning how lessons are planned/delivered.
Useful for trainees/trainers to learn/offer constructive advice
Concept
Checking
Checking students understand content delivered - an essential
teaching tool. Ask questions that elicit answers, ensuring
comprehension
Fillers
Mini classroom activities to consolidate a language point, create an
atmosphere or just for fun (word association game with a ball)
Free Practice
Stage in a lesson where students can use language in question
freely
Drilling
Repetition – students need to hear/see something in several ways
for it to become active learning
Choral Drilling
Repeating something in a class – this should be done first
Individual
Drilling
Done once choral drilling has been done
A Safe Learning
Environment
Being constructive in a positive but not critical way, always smiling
and engaging and motivating students with interesting lesson
material creates a safe learning environment
Error
Correction
The correction of errors. It is important to correct mistakes but only
in the correct way – e.g., not overcorrecting
Communicative
Approach
An approach that focuses on speaking skills. A good way to
encourage student to student participation and talk time
STT
Student talk time – students talking and participating
TTT
Teacher talk time
