Essential ESL Teaching Terms and Classroom Activities
Key Terms for ESL Instruction
For Special Attention
Syllabus: A short-term plan for a semester, term, or course.
Content: The theme, topic, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, etc., focuses of a lesson.
As many… as (one) can: The maximum number that one can manage.
Language skills: Usually listening, speaking, reading, writing; sometimes also grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation.
As much as possible: The maximum amount that one can manage.
Teacher’s room: Special room where teachers relax, talk, work, and keep materials.
Teaching aid: An object the teacher uses to support a learning activity.
Warm-up activity: A fun and engaging way to start a class that should tie into the main content of the lesson.
One another: Each other.
On task: Focused on work.
According to: Depending on some condition.
Make a face: Put a funny or silly expression on your face.
Lineup: A row of students organized according to particular criteria.
Scrambled sentence: Words of a sentence arranged out of order.
Take turns: Do something one person at a time, in order.
Minimal pair: Two words or utterances that differ by only one sound.
Model: Demonstrate how something should be done.
Jazz chant: A short rhyme or poem designed to be read aloud, and focusing on particular aspects of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, structure, or function of English.
Rhyme: Two or more words ending in the same sound.
Rhythm: A regular beat that you can keep time to.
Keep a secret: Not tell anyone something you know.
Guessing game: A game where people ask and answer questions to guess the right answer.
Uh-huh: A very casual way of saying “yes” (The opposite is uh-uh).
Felt board: Portable display covered with fuzzy cloth for sticking cutout figures on.
Realia: Real objects; this is a specialized word for teaching.
In pairs: Two students working together.
New readers: People just learning to read.
Giggle: To laugh quietly in a silly way.
Special letter: The first letter of a child’s name.
Sound out: Say a word by making the sound of each letter in it.
Story time: A specific time each day for storytelling.
Big Book: An oversized storybook with colorful illustrations and large text.
Yeah: An informal way to say “yes”.
Reader response sheet: A student’s written reaction to a story.
Shared writing: Students and teacher produce a joint piece of writing.
Brainstorm: Think of as many ideas as possible about a topic.
Writing frame: An outline used to help students organize and record their ideas for a writing task.
Art-and-craft activity: An activity that involves using art to make something.
Workspace: The area in which to work.
Step-by-step instructions: Instructions that explain every step in sequence.
Supervise: Watch over.
Portfolio: A collection of samples of classwork showing a student’s development.
Shape “n” color cards: Cards of different shapes and colors used to assign group work.
Groups of four: Four members in each group.
According to: On the basis of.
Beside, By, Next to: These three prepositions have a very similar meaning: very near.
Phonetics: Pronunciation of Past Tense Verbs
Use /t/: f, k, p, s, ch, sh, th.
Use /d/: b, g, j, l, m, n, r, th, v, z plus vowels.
Use /ɪd/: After /d/ and /t/.
/z/: b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, vowels, th (think)
/s/: f, k, p, t, th
/ɪz/: s, x, ch, z, ge, /casual/
Two-Word Verbs
Find a two-word verb in the Key Vocabulary (Module 17) list for each of the meanings:
- Become quiet: Calm down
- Sit on your heels: Squat down
- Say aloud to a group: Call out
- Return something to its place: Put back
- Keep something lifted: Hold up
English Vocabulary: Translations
Translate into English the following words:
- Haya: Beech
- Vena: Vein
- Bosquecillo: Grove
- Embarcadero: Pier
- Vanidoso: Vain
- Diarrea: Diarrhea
- Oso: Bear
- Barba: Beard
- Cerveza: Beer
- Apagar fuego: Fire off
- Judío: Jewish
- Pandereta: Tambourine
- Bosquejo: Sketch
- Alabar: Praise
- Salto a la pata coja: Hop on one foot
- Tamaño: Size
- Oveja: Sheep
- Suave, esponjoso: Soft/Fluffy