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STRATEGIES
VOCABULARY STRATEGIES | READING STRATEGIES | WRITING STRATEGIES | LISTENING STRATEGIES
Vocabulary strategies
Context
In publications like the Lexical Approach (M. Lewis) it was argued that words are best defined and learned within meaningful contexts of coherent semantic fields. Research showed that the words that have been acquired in an active way will be remembered for a longer time. With active way we mean that pupils are involved and eager to know more. Emotional involvement makes them remember the words for all times!
Defining words
When you
define a word, write down at least
two of these:
Looking up words
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Vocabulary Strategy
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How to list the words you do not know
READ THE TEXT AND HIGHLIGHT THE WORDS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND WITH A MARKING PEN IN YOUR TEXT. THEN WRITE THEM DOWN IN THE FIRST COLUMN OF THIS LIST. DO NOT FILL IN THE OTHER COLUMNS YET.
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WORD |
SAMPLE SENTENCE |
MEANING |
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How to find the meaning of words without a dictionary: guess from context and negotiate meaning
a) LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTED WORDS IN YOUR TEXTS AND TRY TO GUESS WHAT THEY MEAN IN THEIR CONTEXT. WRITE DOWN YOUR GUESS IN PENCIL IN COLUMN 3.
b) NOW COMPARE YOUR WORD LIST WITH WHAT YOUR NEIGHBOUR HAS WRITTEN DOWN. DECIDE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOUR WHAT MEANING THE WORDS CAN HAVE IN THE TEXT. YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE LIST BY DISCUSSING MEANING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
c) WRITE A SAMPLE SENTENCE WITH EACH WORD THAT YOU FOUND. YOUR NEIGHBOUR CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS.
How to find the meaning of words without a dictionary: contextual guessing
BEFORE CONSULTING A DICTIONARY, DO THE NEXT EXERCISE ON PREPOSITIONS: GUESS WHICH PREPOSITIONS ARE APPROPRIATE. DO NOT LOOK THEM UP IN A DICTIONARY. HIGHLIGHT THE PREPOSITION YOU THINK IS CORRECT.
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SELECT THE RIGHT PREPOSITION |
SOLUTION IN |
CORRECT? |
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Lack IN/OF sleep, lack IN/OF productivity |
p. 7, column 3 |
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Hard drugs are more detrimental TO/ON individuals than soft drugs. |
... |
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NOW CHECK WHICH PREPOSITION WAS USED IN THE TEXT. FIND THE LOCATION OF THAT PREPOSITION BY LOOKING AT COLUMN 2 AND CORRECT YOURSELF.
TICK OFF THE PREPOSITIONS YOU HAD CORRECTLY SELECTED. HIGHLIGHT THE ONES YOU HAD WRONG IN THE TEXT WITH SOME COLOUR AND STUDY THEM (= LEARN THEM BY HEART).
How to find the meaning of words by using the computer: Using Google to find sample sentences
Recommended browser: Google (http://www.google.be)
TYPE IN DETRIMENTAL IN THE GOOGLE SEARCH BOX AND LOOK AT THE SAMPLE SENTENCES THAT YOU FIND. THIS IS WHAT YOU COULD READ:
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WHICH OF THESE ARE USEFUL FOR YOU IN DECIDING ON THE MEANING OF THE WORD? DETERMINE (AFTER READING THE SAMPLE SENTENCES) WHETHER THE WORD DETRIMENTAL HAS A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE MEANING. WHAT IS THE WORD ASSOCIATED WITH? NOW TRY TO DEFINE THE WORD DETRIMENTAL WITH NUMBER 8: THE DETRIMENTAL ROBOT.
The robot that ….
How to find the meaning of words by using the computer: Using Google define:
DID YOU GUESS RIGHT ABOUT THE MEANING OF DETRIMENTAL? LET’S CHECK. TYPE INTO THE GOOGLE BOX: define: detrimental AND PRESS ENTER. DOES GOOGLE GIVE YOU A TRANSLATION OF THE WORD IN FRENCH OR DUTCH? ASK GOOGLE TO SEARCH THE MEANING OF THIS WORD IN ENGLISH BY SELECTING THE LANGUAGE ON THE OPTIONS BAR BELOW. COPY THE DEFINITION OF DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR COPY-BOOK. ADD A SENTENCE OF YOUR OWN IN WHICH YOU USE THAT WORD. MAYBE YOU WON’T FORGET IT ANY MORE.
How to find the meaning of words by using the computer: Using Google web page counts
START FROM HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.BE/ AND TYPE IN THE CONSTRUCTION “DEPENDENT FROM” IN QUOTATION MARKS. ON HOW MANY PAGES DOES THE CONSTRUCTION “DEPENDENT FROM” OCCUR? NOW DO THE SAME WITH “DEPENDENT ON”. HOW MANY WEB PAGES THIS TIME? SO WHICH WILL BE THE CORRECT FORM? USE THIS TECHNIQUE TO DECIDE WHICH IS CORRECT:
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frequency |
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frequency |
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1. between quotation marks, between brackets |
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1. in quotation marks, in brackets |
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2. hot water tap |
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2. warm water tap |
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How to find the meaning of words by using the computer: Using Google Images
OPEN GOOGLE AND CLICK ON ‘IMAGES’ OR ‘AFBEELDINGEN/IMAGES’ ON THE SELECTION BAR. TYPE YOUR WORD(S) INTO THE SELECTION BOX AND SELECT THE IMAGE THAT FITS THE WORD IN YOUR CONTEXT. IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE WORD, PUT THE WORDS IN QUOTATION MARKS. DEVELOP A ‘PICTURE DICTIONARY’ WITH WORDS FROM THE TEXT SOFT ADDICTIONS ON PP. 8-9. BEFORE SELECTING A MATCHING IMAGE, LOOK AT THE WORD’S CONTEXT. YOU CAN’T JUST CUT AND PASTE ANY IMAGE!
Example:
Annelies De Grande (5 economics-modern languages, St.-Lodewijkscollege Brugge
How to find the meaning of words by using the computer: Choosing an e-dictionary
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Dictionaries on line · Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/) Advanced · Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (http://pewebdic2.cw.idm.fr/) Advanced · Encarta: (http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx) Higher intermediate · Merriam-Webster (http://www.m-w.com/) Higher intermediate · Interglot (http://www.interglot.com/) Lower intermediate
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HIGHLIGHT THE WORD BINGE IN BINGE DRINKING. LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF BINGE IN THE FOLLOWING DICTIONARIES. FILL IN THE GRID. WHICH ONE OF THESE DICTIONARIES DO YOU PREFER IN THE END?
A BINGE
Compare and give a description and/or a score from 1 – 4 for each item in the grid.
1 = awful 2 = unsatisfactory 3 = fine 4 = excellent
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Dictionary |
Is the interface clear or confusing? |
Do you get info on phonetics? Is there a sound file? |
Is there a link to a thesaurus and/or encyclopaedia? |
Do you need to register? |
Do you get information on where the word comes from (etymology)? |
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Merriam Websters |
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Dictionary.com |
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Longman |
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Encarta |
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Vocabulary extension
How to use a thesaurus for vocabulary extension
HIGHLIGHT THE WORD DEPRESSED. NOW LOOK UP THE WORD DEPRESSED IN THE E-ENCARTA THESAURUS. THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE:
LOOK AT THE WORD IN YOUR TEXT AND HIGHLIGHT THE WORDS IN THE THESAURUS BOX THAT FIT IN THAT CONTEXT.
- What is a thesaurus? What is an antonym?
- How can a thesaurus be useful to you?
- How do you select the appropriate synonym from your thesaurus (think of your vocabulary strategy!)
Extending your vocabulary: word charts, word builders, word webs
READ THE ARTICLE. COMPLETE THIS GRID, USING DICTIONARIES AND ENCYCLOPAEDIAS:
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word |
pronunciation |
part of speech |
translation |
related words (+ derivations) |
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... |
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(Bron: SMITH S., SMITH J, Wordflo, (Longman), 1997)
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Leesstrategieën |
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Strategieën |
Deelstrategieën |
Kenniselementen |
Wijze van verwerken |
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Oriënterend lezen |
activeren van voorkennis, eliciting |
o kritische kennis van eigenschappen van verschillende bronnen. o kennis van tekstsoorten o kennis van opbouw van alinea’s o kennis van structurerende formuleringen o kennis van signaalwoorden o kennis van opbouwschema’s |
o schema’s opstellen o maken van een samenvatting o beantwoorden van vragen o presenteren o beoordelen |
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kennis van het onderwerp uitbreiden, opzoeken |
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kennis van leesstrategieën |
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koppen interpreteren |
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afbeeldingen interpreteren |
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Doorlezen |
begin en einde alinea’s afbakenen |
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| inleiding, kern slot zoeken | |||
| onderwerp en hoofdgedachte vaststellen | |||
| contextual guessing | |||
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Grondig lezen |
semantic mapping | ||
| signaalwoorden zoeken | |||
| letten op structurerende opmerkingen (bv. zinnen in de vraagvorm) | |||
Activity 1 Reading an article from a magazine
Portably Track (via GPS) Your Adventures via Google Earth or Mapquest!
This small GPS gadget can easily be placed in a car, boat, land speeder, or just about any moving object and will record its own time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude. The recorded information can then be downloaded to your computer through the USB port and optionally integrated with Google Earth or Mapquest. This feature allows you to 'playback' the location points of the Track Stick and see a visual mapped history of its travels.
Containing 1MB of memory it can store up to 4,000 records allowing for months of travel. When the Track Stick is not moving, memory is not used. The record interval is adjustable to anything between 1 and 15 minutes (this is used to save memory and will not extend the battery life). It’s so small you can hide it for covert applications: you can determine the exact locations of where your son, daughter, boyfriend or girlfriend have been and how much time they spent at these locations. Leave it in one’s car and it will record where the driver has been and how long he or she has stayed at all stops.
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Records time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude
- Works with Google Earth, Mapquest, maps.google.com, Virtual Earth
- Location points are downloaded into its software and then mapped
- Battery duration is 5 to 7 days of typical operation (low power mode)
- Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included)
- Dimensions: 4″ x 1 1/4″ x 3/4″
- Comes with Track Stick, lanyard, software CD
Activity 2 Writing a synthesis
o Write a synthesis of the article on the computer in only 10 lines. Write it in British English. Use your own words.
Activity 3 Writing a commentary
o Now write down what you feel and think after having read this story. Write down your first emotional responses concerning the subject of the article in these terms:
this is ridiculous, wise, interesting, moving, sensible, irresponsible, funny, great, dismal, disgusting, educational, a great commercial idea, an absolute disgrace, a crazy idea …
o Use at least three expressions such as:
I think... I understand… I reckon … I feel... In my opinion... If you ask me... To my mind, … As I see it … In my view … As far as I’m concerned …
Activity 4 Explaining
Explain why you feel or think this. Use at least three expressions such as:
It’s evident/(crystal) clear that … As a matter of fact, … To be honest … It seems to me that …
I would argue that …
I do not believe that … I am unconvinced that… I do not agree that… Of course, a lot of/some people argue…
It is sometimes argued… By this I mean…
Here I'm referring to…
To be more precise…
That is to say…
Activity 5 Writing an article
Join your description and both commentaries into one text.
Use two parts in your article.
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. What, where, who, for whom … |
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2. What you think about this |
It should be 25 lines long.
You can use words from the original article, but do not copy phrases from it.
Important: in the second part you should express your opinion in a neutral way, even when it is about your own, personal opinion. Although you do not need to change the way you think about the subject, you still will need to change the way you express yourself.
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Don’t write: |
But write: |
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I think… I believe... My father always says that… I always used to say that…
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It is clear/manifest/that... Evidently... It seems that… Clearly… Doubtless… Apparently… |
o Avoid sentences in the passive voice.
o Start a new paragraph with each new idea.
o Type your article on the computer.
Activity 6 Language review (pair work)
When your article is ready, review your language. This is the way to do it:
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Read it aloud to a fellow classmate and listen to their comments on it. |
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Did you make yourself clear? Yes/no |
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Was the text written in a neutral, objective style, as in a magazine? Yes/no |
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Next ask your fellow classmate to read your article in silence. Ask them to correct it. |
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Activity 7 Correction and proofreading
o Find out whether your grammar and spell checker are ON (controleren, Spelling- an grammaticacontrole).
o Check whether the language of your spelling control is set on English (British) or English (American). You can check that in the tool bar below your text.
o Look through your article on the screen. Look for words that are underlined in red. What does the underlining mean?
o Make a list of the words that are underlined in red.
o Correct yourself.
o Then check it out by clicking the right-hand button on your mouse and see what your spell checker suggests. Then use the left-hand button to click on the word that you select and see what happens: the correct word substitutes the incorrect one.
o Try out this mode on a phrase like this: vieuwing area*.
* incorrect spelling!
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Words in your text that were underlined in red |
Correct spellings |
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Correct the whole text in this way. Your fellow student can help you. Even the best journalists need a lot of proofreading.
Activity 8 Correction and proofreading
o Do the same with the words that are underlined in green. What does the green wavy line mean?
o Try out the correction mode on phrases like these:
§ The girls buys lots of accessories.*
§ the girls buy dolls.*
*incorrect spelling!
o If you feel insecure about certain words or constructions, look them up in a dictionary or in a grammar.
o If you still feel insecure after that, ask your teacher.
Activity 9 Finishing touches
Your text is nearly ready now. It has two parts: a descriptive one and a part in which you express your opinion. It has been proofread, corrected by a fellow classmate and by the computer.
Check this:
Use a few alternatives from these lists:
Chronology
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after |
finally |
next |
afterward |
immediately |
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preceding |
as soon as |
initially |
first(ly), second(ly), third(ly) |
before |
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later |
until |
during |
meanwhile |
when |
Contrast
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although |
as well as |
as opposed to |
but |
compared with |
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despite (in spite of) |
different from |
even though |
however |
instead of |
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on the other hand |
otherwise |
similar to |
still |
yet |
Cause
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because |
consequently |
for this reason |
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in order to |
is caused by |
leads/led to |
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may be due to |
so that |
therefore |
Generalisation
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actually |
as a matter of fact |
evidently |
generally |
in fact |
typically |
Concluding
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to conclude… |
to sum it up… |
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in the end we wonder if… |
we can summarize the argument by expressing our concern about … |
Activity 10 REFLECTION What have you learned about your writing?
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no |
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· Have you learned a lot from your neighbour? |
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· Are your spelling and grammar good? |
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o If not, why not? § You don’t know the spelling and grammar rules |
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§ You never use the spell checker |
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§ You don’t care |
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· Did you have problems with vocabulary? |
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o Have you worked efficiently in looking up words? |
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o Have you put in enough effort to find the right words? |
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o Was a thesaurus useful for you? |
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o Was the online translator useful for you? |
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· Style: in your honest opinion, could the text you have written be an article for a magazine? |
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· Are you happy with your text? |
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If you are not happy … · Write down your language problems in your portfolio. · What action will you take in order to improve your level of writing?
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We advocate image support with listening strategies. Here are some quests as examples. For answers to the exercises: click on the last word of the home page.
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| AIDS | A quest on anti-AIDS campaigning with two short video clips, one on medical approach and prevention and one from a prevention campaign for young Hispanics. Anti-AIDS posters. | * |
| Obama | One video clip focusing on body language in public speeches. | ** |
| Solar two | A series of listening and watching exercises on short clips about a carbon-neutral house in New York. | *** |
| Liverpool | 4 pages of exercises on various aspects of Liverpool, each with video clips. Answers: click on the last word of the evaluation sheet. | ** |
| Darwin | 6 video clips on Darwin and Intelligent Design | *** |
