Say the term 1
When a teacher assesses learners and then gives them a formal report or grade, to say how successful or unsuccessful they have been
Formal assessment
Information in the form of diagrams, lists or drawings often placed on the classroom wall for learners to use.
Chart
The ability to do something without making mistakes. The use of correct forms of grammar, vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation.
Accuracy
A classroom activity in which learners need to talk or write to other learners to complete the activity, e.g. a role play.
Communicative activity
When learners give their opinions on each other’s language or work.
Peer assessment
To repeat a phrase, sentence, rhyme, verse, poem or song, usually with others, in a regular rhythm.
Chant
It is what the teacher would like to improve in his/her teaching, e.g. to reduce the time I spend writing on the whiteboard.
Personal aim
A type of assessment done at the end of a course where the focus is on learners receiving a grade for their work rather than receiving feedback on their progress.
Summative assessment
It is the secondary focus of the lesson, less important than the main aim. It could be the language or skills learners use in order to achieve the main aim of the lesson
Subsidiary aim
To quickly think of ideas about a topic and also possibly note them down. This is often done as preparation before a writing or speaking activity.
Brainstorm
An approach to learning by doing activities and focusing on the activity rather than focusing on grammar and vocabulary.
Activity-based learning
A list of things that a learner or teacher needs to focus on or consider.
Checklist
Language which is suitable in a particular situation; e.g. it might be appropriate to say Hi in one situation but Good morning in another.
Appropriacy
A classroom activity used mostly with young learners which includes words and sentences which end in the same sound. For example ‘One, two, three, touch your knee.’
Action rhyme
When a teacher uses formal and informal assessment and information on learners’ progress during a course to give learners feedback on their learning or to change their teaching.
Formative assessment
Language normally used in informal conversation but not in formal speech or writing.
Colloquial language
Taking part and being involved and interested in something. When learners think about their own learning and what their own needs are and try to do things themselves to learn more.
Active role
This is about teachers giving equal attention to all of the learners in the class. This can involve encouraging quieter learners to participate by asking them to contribute an answer and ensuring that more enthusiastic learners do not dominate.
Attention spread
A task-type in which learners read a text with missing words and try to work out what the missing words are.
Cloze test
A sentence containing a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses, e.g. The learners stopped talking (main clause) when the teacher arrived (subordinate clause).
Complex sentence