Language teaching and learning

a psychological factor that can help or hinder language learning

a method of language teaching inspired by behaviourism and based around the repetition of correct sentences

CLIL (noun)

content and language integrated learning: the use of a language that is not the students' first language to teach another subject such as science or history

CLL (noun)

community language learning: a teaching method based on counselling therapy developed in the 1970s. It places the learners at the centre of activity with the teacher acting as a consultant.

cognitive learning theory (noun)

a theory of learning based on the ways in which the mind processes and stores knowledge

communicative approach (noun)

a style of language teaching that focuses on using language for real communication rather than learning the systems of grammar and vocabulary

community language learning (noun)

a teaching method based on counselling therapy developed in the 1970s. It places the learners at the centre of activity with the teacher acting as a consultant.

content-based learning (noun)

another name for CLIL

contrastive analysis (noun)

analysis of the language systems of two or more languages, looking at their differences and similarities. Contrastive analysis is sometimes called CA.

controlled practice (noun)

a type of language practice in which either the content (language control) or the type of participation (interactional control) is restricted

developmental error (noun)

an error that occurs as a natural part of the learning process

dialogue (noun)

education a conversation between people that is used for teaching languages

dictogloss (noun)

a form of dictation in which students hear a complete text then try to reconstruct it from memory

direct method (noun)

a way of teaching a foreign language to someone in which you only use the foreign language

discovery learning (noun)

a method of language teaching in which students are presented with examples from which they work out rules

extensive reading (noun)

the reading of longer texts, mainly for pleasure or to increase vocabulary

first language acquisition (noun)

the way in which children learn their first language

fossilization (noun)

linguistics the way in which some errors become a permanent feature of a language learner's language

functional syllabus (noun)

a syllabus that is based around a list of language functions such as making requests or greeting people

grammaring (noun)

the process by which a learner acquires the ability to use grammar structures accurately, meaningfully, and appropriately

grammar translation method (noun)

a method of language teaching based on learning grammatical rules and practising them by doing translations from and into the target language

idiomaticity (noun)

the extent to which a learner's language resembles that of a native speaker

immersion (noun)

education a method of teaching a foreign language in which teachers and students use only the foreign language during classes

input (noun)

linguistics spoken or written language that a learner is exposed to

intercultural competence (noun)

the ability to deal with cultural contact and differences in a second, third or other language

L1 (noun)

first language: the first language that someone learns to speak

L2 (noun)

second language: a language that someone can speak or is learning to speak that is not their first language

LAD (noun)

the language acquisition device: a mental capacity that has been suggested as enabling children to learn and produce language

language acquisition (noun)

the non-conscious and natural process of learning a language in the way that children do, as distinct from conscious and deliberate study

the lexical approach (noun)

an approach to language teaching that has vocabulary or lexis as the main focus

the natural approach (noun)

an approach to language teaching that attempts to imitate the process of learning a first language, for example by exposing learners to meaningful language from the start and not explicitly teaching grammar

naturalistic language acquisition (noun)

language acquisition that takes place in places other than the classroom

the natural order hypothesis (noun)

the theory that people learn the rules of language in a predictable order regardless of the order in which they are taught

negotiation of meaning (noun)

the process by which speakers work together to resolve communication problems

noticing (noun)

the act or fact of noticing a piece of language, which is a necessary part of learning it according to cognitive learning theory

order of acquisition (noun)

the order in which people are thought to acquire grammar items when learning a language

overgeneralization (noun)

linguistics the application of a rule that does not in fact apply and thus leads to errors, for example adding a regular verb ending to a verb that is irregular

personalization (noun)

education the use of language to talk about your own knowledge, experiences and feelings

process writing (noun)

an approach to teaching writing that focuses on the creative process of producing a text

productive skills (noun)

the skills of being able to speak and write a language

receptive skills (noun)

the skills of being able to understand a language when you listen to it or read it

silent period (noun)

a long period spent listening to language and not saying anything when children are learning their first language; some people believe this also applies when learning a second or other language

the Silent Way (noun)

a method of language teaching in which the teacher speaks very little and uses coloured sound charts and Cuisenaire rods to create basic sentence patterns for students to reflect on

substitution table (noun)

a way of showing how the different elements of a language structure relate to one another. The horizontal axis shows the order of the elements and the vertical axis shows items that can be substituted for one another.

task-based learning (noun)

an approach to learning and teaching based on the performance of tasks; also called TBL

TBL (noun)

task-based learning: an approach to learning and teaching based on the performance of tasks

Total Physical Response (noun)

a teaching method in which learners are exposed to input in the form of commands that require a physical response; also called TPR

TPR (noun)

Total Physical Response: a teaching method in which learners are exposed to input in the form of commands that require a physical response

usage-based acquisition (noun)

any of the theories of language learning which argue that acquisition occurs mainly through communication, or usage

whole language learning (noun)

an approach to language teaching based on the idea that the best way to learn is in real, meaningful situations rather than by focusing on separate items or skills

the zone of proximal development (noun)

in sociocultural learning theory, a state where a student cannot yet solve a problem independently but can do so with the help of others; also called ZPD

Synonyms and antonyms of Language teaching and learning in British Thesaurus