Glossary of terms E-H

For complete list see here.

E
elicit/elicitation: Getting ideas and/or language from somebody, e.g. teachers often start courses by eliciting personal information from the learners such as 'I'm _____ years old'.

ELT: English Language Teaching.

error: Incorrect form or use of language that a learner cannot correct because he or she does not know the correct form or use. Compare mistake and slip.

evaluation: Measuring of strengths and weaknesses. You can evaluate courses and teachers as well as learning and learners. See also test/testing.


F
feedback: Informative responses to what learners say or do, e.g. a nod, smile, puzzled frown, or clarifying question are all useful feedback to learners.

fill-in: Exercise with spaces for learners to put in a word or phrase.

flashcard: Card with a picture or word on it used as a cue.

fluency: Ability to communicate with little hesitation. Fluency practice is intended to promote the use of language for real communication. Compare accuracy.

fossilization: Fixing of certain mistakes and errors in a learner's English, especially intermediate and advanced learners.

function: Specific communicative use of language, e.g. accusing, denying, confessing, explaining, and apologizing are related communicative functions.

functional-grammatical item: Language structure with a typical function, e.g. 'I'd [+ verb], if I were you' for giving advice.


G
gist: General idea of a text. A teacher might ask a class to read a text quickly 'for gist' before studying it more closely.

goal: Long-term results aimed at, e.g. what you want the learners to know and be able to do at the end of a course or series of courses. Compare objective.

groupwork: Activity, usually communicative, done by groups of three or more.


H
highlight: Emphasize key grammatical elements, e.g. 'He's sleeping: He is sleeping.'