1.4 - How to teach VOCABULARY online - Test-Teach-Test Summary

Choose between 5 - 15 words to teach as the Target Language.

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Choose the TEST-TEACH-TEST framework if you have close to 15 words to teach.

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• It is expected that Ss might probably already know some of the TL.

• That’s what the Diagnostic Test will show what words the Ss don’t know and which ones they do know.

• You can then focus the lesson on the words the Ss actually need help with; you won’t be teaching them something they already know.

TEST-TEACH-TEST

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LEAD- IN

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to set context and engage students in the lesson

LEAD- IN

No need to bring up the Target Language yet.

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Pose a discussion question or other technique to
get students interested in the topic of the lesson and to let them warm up.

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This provides a real-world context for the target language students are going to learn.

TEST-TEACH-TEST

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DIAGNOSTIC TEST

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to check students' current knowledge of the TL

DIAGNOSTIC TEST

Give students a controlled activity that requires them to use the
target language (before you teach it!).

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This allows you to see what they already know and
what you need to teach in the next stage.

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This should be an easier/ less involved exercise
than the controlled practice.

TEST- TEACH-TEST

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CLARIFICATION (ie: Teach)

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to clarify the meaning, pronunciation, and form of the TL

CLARIFICATION

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Teach the target language by highlighting the aspects of
meaning, pronunciation and form that students need to know
in order to use it.

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Keep this as student-centered as possible with a
guided discovery exercise or plenty of eliciting.

TEST - TEACH- TEST

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CONTROLLED PRACTICE (ie: Test)

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to give students practice using the TL accurately

CONTROLLED PRACTICE

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Provide a controlled (accuracy-focused) exercise
to check whether the students can use the Target Language correctly.

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Provide additional clarification during feedback as needed.

TEST-TEACH-TEST

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FREER PRACTICE

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to give students practice using the TL fluently

FREER PRACTICE

Allows students to practice the Target Language in a more fun, personalised way.

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Freer Practice: Give Ss a communicative speaking or writing exercise

in pairs/ groups that lets them use the TL more freely.

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Avoid interrupting the activity.

Provide error correction as needed afterwards.

Note:

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Text-based tends to work better for grammar and functional

language lessons as it incorporates more context.

Note:

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Test-teach-test is a good option for vocabulary, particularly when you suspect the students may already know a few of the words.