Sentence completion

A task-type in which learners are given parts of a sentence, e.g. the beginning or the end, and are asked to complete the sentence, using specific target language, e.g. At the weekend, I love … ; In the evenings, I enjoy … .

 

Sentence transformation

A task-type in which learners are given a sentence and a prompt, and have to make a second sentence using the prompt so that it means the same as the first, e.g. It’s too cold to play tennis. It ____________ to play tennis. (enough) It isn’t warm enough to play tennis.

Silent period

The time when learners who are beginning to learn a first (or second) language prefer to listen (or read) before producing the language, e.g. babies have a silent period when they listen to their parents before starting to try to speak themselves.

 

Silent Way

Like Suggestopaedia, The Silent Way method rests on more cognitive than affective arguments for its theoretical sustenance. But the method lies in a problem-solving approach to learning. – Learning is facilitated if the learner discovers or creates rather than remembers and repeats what is to be learned. - Learning is facilitated by accompanying (mediating) physical objects. – Learning is facilitated by problem solving involving the material to be learned. The Silent Way method was fond of "discovery learning" activities.

 

Simplified texts

These are texts which have been made simpler so as to make it easier for learners to read them. The usual principles of simplification involve reduction in length of the text, shortening of sentences, omission or replacement of difficult words or structures, omission of qualifying clauses and omission of non-essential detail. It is arguable, however, that such simplification might make the words easier to understand but could make it more difficult for the learners to achieve global understanding of a text which is now dense with important information. It might be more profitable to simplify texts by adding examples, by using repetition and paraphrase and by increasing redundant information. In other words, by lengthening rather than shortening the text.

 

Skill

The knowledge and experience needed to perform a specific task or job. The four language skills are listening, speaking, reading and writing. See develop skills, subskills, receptive skills, productive skills.

 

Skim

To read a text quickly to get a general idea of what it is about. See detail, gist, global understanding.

 

SLA

This is an abbreviation for Second Language Acquisition and is normally used to refer to research and theory related to the learning of second and foreign languages.