Background to Language Teaching Flashcards

In which approach does the teacher use a text or situation to help learners discover grammar rules for themselves?

Answer: Inductive approach

The inductive approach (discovery learning) presents learners with examples and encourages them to notice patterns and work out the rules themselves.

Which of the following is an example of a 'grammar-focused' activity?

Answer: A gap-fill exercise practising the use of the passive voice

A gap-fill practising the passive voice has an explicit grammatical focus, requiring learners to apply a specific structure accurately.

What is 'differentiation' in the context of language teaching?

Answer: Adapting teaching content, pace, and tasks to meet the varying needs of learners in one class

Differentiation involves adjusting teaching approaches, tasks, and support within the same class to address the varied proficiency levels, learning styles, and needs of different learners.

What is the main purpose of 'drilling' in language teaching?

Answer: To provide repeated oral practice to help learners achieve accurate and automatic production of a form

Drilling involves controlled repetition of a language item to build accuracy and automaticity, typically in the early stages of learning a new form.

What is the key principle behind 'communicative language teaching' (CLT)?

Answer: The primary goal of language learning is to develop the ability to communicate meaning effectively

CLT prioritises the development of communicative competence — the ability to use language effectively for real purposes — over the mastery of grammatical rules in isolation.

Which teaching technique involves learners listening to a text and answering questions before reading it?

Answer: Predicting content

Asking learners to predict the content of a text before reading or listening activates prior knowledge (schemata) and provides a purpose for the reading or listening task.