Teaching English as a Foreign Language Course

A learning style where students thrive in social and interactive environments, benefitting from group activities, discussions, and debates.

A software platform for creating interactive quizzes and games, often used for collaborative and competitive learning activities.

An individual who prefers working independently and in quiet environments, often focusing on internal thoughts and feelings.

An individual who enjoys social interactions, thrives in group settings, and gains energy from being around others.

A period of time in a learner's life where language acquisition is most effective and natural.

The desire or motivation to learn and improve in a particular area, such as language learning.

Learners who are skilled in using language effectively to communicate and achieve their goals.

Techniques and strategies used by successful language learners to enhance their learning.

Pairs of words that differ in one sound only, demonstrating the minimal difference between sound and meaning.

A method of teaching a language where the teacher speaks minimally, encouraging independent learning.

The belief that learning involves applying existing knowledge to new contexts.

The idea that providing feedback can interfere with a student's internal learning process.

A technique used in The Silent Way to visually represent sound relationships.

A technique used in The Silent Way to visually represent vocabulary.

A technique used in The Silent Way to visually represent sound structures through color-coded symbols.

A technique in The Silent Way where students actively reflect on their learning and identify areas for improvement.

Learning strategies are techniques used to influence a learner's motivation, emotional state, and help them organize and assimilate new knowledge effectively.

Memory strategies focus on helping learners remember information. They involve techniques like grouping, associating, creating images, and reviewing material effectively.

Cognitive strategies deal with how learners process and understand new information. They include techniques like practicing, receiving and sending messages, and analyzing and reasoning.

Compensation strategies are used when learners encounter difficulties with the target language. They involve techniques like guessing intelligently, overcoming limitations, and adjusting communication.

Metacognitive strategies involve taking control of your own learning process. They include techniques like planning, monitoring, and evaluating your progress.

Affective strategies address the emotional side of learning. They aim to reduce anxiety and create a positive learning environment. Examples include relaxation techniques and meditation.

Direct strategies directly interact with the target language. They include memory, cognitive, and compensation strategies.

Indirect strategies focus on the learner's overall learning process and emotional state. They include metacognitive and affective strategies.

A teaching approach where students learn by completing tasks and responding physically to commands before speaking, ideal for younger learners.

An instructional method that utilizes counseling techniques to create a safe and supportive environment for language learning, fostering trust and reducing anxieties.

A key principle of CLL where the teacher acts as a guide and facilitator, offering support, encouragement, and non-judgmental feedback to students.

In CLL, the teacher recognizes each student's unique individuality, considering their emotional, intellectual, and physical needs for a holistic learning experience.

In CLL, the emphasis lies on building a sense of belonging and trust among learners through collaboration and mutual support.

In CLL, the learning content is generated organically by the students themselves, based on their interests and experiences.

In CLL, students' native language is used by the teacher to bridge the gap between known concepts and new language, enabling students to understand the meaning before practicing the target language.

CLL emphasizes using language for genuine communication, encouraging students to interact and express themselves in meaningful ways.

The fundamental unit of the brain and nervous system, responsible for receiving sensory input, sending motor commands, and relaying electrical signals.

A type of cell in the nervous system that supports and protects neurons. They outnumber neurons and help create the right environment for neurons to function.

The creation of new neurons in the brain. This process can occur even in adults.

The small space between the end of one nerve cell and another cell, where chemical signals called neurotransmitters are transmitted.

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons in the nervous system.

The process where electrical signals in a neuron are converted into chemical signals at the synapse.

A neurotransmitter that promotes the generation of an electrical signal, enhancing the likelihood of a neuron firing.

A neurotransmitter that prevents the generation of an electrical signal, decreasing the likelihood of a neuron firing.

AI-powered tools help personalize the learning path and target individual needs, pace, and learning styles.

AI-powered platforms provide immediate feedback on written and spoken work, improving accuracy and fluency.

AI-driven systems engage learners in interactive conversations, answer questions, and provide explanations, mimicking a human tutor.

AI automates tasks like creating quizzes, flashcards, and reading materials, making learning more engaging.

AI-powered translation tools can create multilingual learning materials, making language accessible to a wider audience.

A student-generated collection of learning materials, like papers, projects, and reflections, focused on learning and growth.

An educational method where students are encouraged to actively engage with the language through tasks, games, and real-life scenarios, focusing on communication rather than grammar rules.

A standardized framework used to describe language proficiency and learning outcomes for different languages.

A document that helps students document and reflect on their language learning journey, highlighting achievements and setting future goals.

The process of acquiring a second language, influenced by factors like age, motivation, learning strategies, and the learning environment.

The different approaches and techniques used to teach a language, each with its own principles and focus.

The assessment component of the course, including an ePortfolio, presentation, attendance, and a final exam.

The individual differences and characteristics of language learners that influence their learning process, including learning styles, personality, and prior knowledge.

A hypothesis that suggests emotional factors, like anxiety or lack of confidence, can act as a barrier to language learning. This filter can prevent learners from fully absorbing language input, even if they are exposed to it.

The idea that a student's age can influence their language learning success. Younger learners often have an advantage in acquiring native-like pronunciation and fluency.

The personal preferences and strategies that an individual uses to learn a second language. These can range from visual and auditory learning to social interaction and logical problem-solving.

Learners with this style prefer hands-on activities, visual aids, and real-world applications.

This style emphasizes a structured, systematic approach to language learning. Learners with this style prefer clear explanations, logical progression, and independent study.

A standardized framework used to describe language proficiency and learning outcomes for different languages, providing a common reference for language learners and educators.

The ability to use language for effective communication, including the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

The process of building understanding and confidence in a language through meaningful interactions and authentic communication.

A person who can communicate in three or more languages.

The coexistence of multiple languages within a society or region.

The use of multiple languages in a single act of communication.

The ability to understand language through listening and reading.

The ability to use language through speaking and writing.

The ability to interact with others using language, involving both speaking and listening.

The ability to facilitate communication between people who speak different languages.

The ability to locate, evaluate, and produce clear information using various digital media.

A method of teaching a language that relies on memorization and repetition of dialogues and patterns. It focuses on oral skills and emphasizes behaving in a similar way to native speakers.

A technique where the teacher corrects a student's mistake by rephrasing their sentence in a correct way, without explicitly stating the error.

This approach aims to help students internalize the language without directly focusing on grammar rules. It involves providing examples and allowing students to naturally deduce the patterns.

These are various techniques that teachers use in the classroom to teach and practice a language.

This refers to a series of lessons based on real-life situations or topics, making the learning more relevant and engaging.

The goal is to create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable and confident to speak the target language, focusing on meaningful communication.

The teacher acts as a guide, introducing new language and creating an environment for students to practice and communicate.

Words that sound almost identical but differ in one sound, highlighting the minimal difference between sound and meaning.

Using silence as a tool to encourage student autonomy and initiative; the teacher speaks minimally and helps guide learners.

A method of teaching where the teacher mostly stays silent, with a focus on student independence and visual & auditory aids.

The belief that learning involves applying previous knowledge to new situations, transferring skills from familiar to unfamiliar contexts.

Feedback can sometimes disrupt a learner's internal learning process, potentially hindering their independent progress.

Visual representations of sound relationships, often using colors to connect sounds visually.

Visual representations of vocabulary, often used to display words and their meanings, aiding in language acquisition.

Visual representations of sound structures using color-coded symbols, aiding in pronunciation and recognizing sound patterns.

A teaching method where the teacher speaks minimally, relying on visual aids and student-led activities. It emphasizes independent learning.

A language learning method focusing on active participation through games, songs, and activities, emphasizing vocabulary acquisition and minimal explicit grammar teaching.

Involves using the student's native language to bridge the gap between known concepts and new language, facilitating understanding before practicing the target language.

A teaching method that uses relaxing music and visual aids to create a positive and stress-free learning environment.

The study of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and networks of neurons.

A learning environment where students are actively involved in their learning, using a variety of techniques like group discussions, debates, and projects.

A teaching approach where students learn a subject's content through a language that is not their native language.

The idea that the more you are exposed to a language, the better you will learn it.

Strategies that help learners manage their own learning, including planning, monitoring, and evaluating their progress.

Strategies that deal with how learners process and understand new information, such as repetition, translation, and organizing materials.

Strategies that involve interacting with others to improve language learning, such as asking for clarification, cooperating, and understanding cultural perspectives.

This strategy involves actively listening to your body's signals, recognizing when you are tired or stressed, and taking breaks or adjusting your learning approach accordingly.

This strategy refers to the process of creating a schedule or plan for your language learning, including setting goals, breaking down tasks, and allocating time for different activities.

This strategy involves reflecting on your language learning journey by recording your progress, challenges, and insights in a journal.

This strategy encourages learners to actively seek out and interpret information from their environment, considering context to enhance language comprehension.

This strategy involves connecting new information to existing knowledge, providing a framework for understanding and remembering.

English used in daily life in an English-speaking country.

A formal approach to language learning, focusing on grammar rules.

The theory that language acquisition is innate and children are born with a predisposition for language.

The theory that language is learned through imitation and reinforcement.

This involves students taking turns to repeat and build on a dialogue, creating a chain of interaction. Imagine a chain reaction, where each person adds a link.

A game where students take turns to name food items starting with each letter of the alphabet. This creates a fun way to practice vocabulary and use the target language.

Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) is a method where language learning is centered around completing meaningful tasks, focusing on communication and real-world applications. It emphasizes using language for a purpose rather than just learning grammar rules.

TBLT emphasizes tasks that have a clear purpose and outcome, engaging students in activities that simulate real-life scenarios.

TBLT focuses on learners using language for communication rather than just memorization. The goal is to build fluency and confidence in using the language.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) involves teaching subjects like history, science, or math through a foreign language, promoting both content learning and language acquisition.

CLIL emphasizes the interconnectedness of content and language, where language is used to understand and communicate about the subject matter.

The European Union recommends CLIL to be widely adopted as a methodology for teaching English in 2005, promoting multilingualism and intercultural understanding.

The Madrid Community is actively promoting CLIL as a significant pedagogical approach for teaching English. They aim to create a more effective and engaging learning environment.

The CLIL method aims to make language learning relevant and engaging by connecting it to meaningful content, improving both language skills and understanding of subject matter.

Neuromodulators are chemicals that influence the activity of large groups of neurons, rather than just a single synapse. They regulate neuron populations and work over longer time scales compared to excitatory and inhibitory transmitters.

The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls vital functions like breathing, heart rate, and balance.

Neurolinguistics explores how the brain processes and stores language. It investigates the neurological mechanisms behind language.

Aphasia is a neurological condition where language ability is impaired or lost.

Small-molecule neurotransmitters are small chemical messengers, like dopamine and acetylcholine, responsible for transmitting signals between neurons.

Neuropeptides are larger neurotransmitters made up of chains of amino acids, they play a role in a wide range of functions, including pain perception, mood, and memory.

Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood of a neuron firing by depolarizing the cell membrane.

Inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing by hyperpolarizing the cell membrane.

The ability of the brain to adapt and rewire itself, especially in response to injury or experience. For example, after a stroke, the brain may reorganize itself to regain lost functions.

A field of study that combines neuroscience and education to improve teaching and learning. It focuses on understanding the brain's processes to make better decisions about teaching and learning.

These are emotional responses that humans experience in reaction to events or situations. They are functional states of the brain that explain certain complex behaviors.

The eight primary emotional dimensions, according to Plutchik, are joy vs. sadness, anger vs. fear, trust vs. disgust, and surprise vs. anticipation. These can combine to create more complex emotions.

A non-conscious experience of intensity that we feel physically, before we name it or categorize it. This refers to how we feel physically and subjectively.

How we understand and label our sensations based on our personal experiences. It is our individual interpretation of our feelings.

How we project our emotions socially, through facial expressions, body language, and communication. It is the outward expression of our feelings.

These are techniques we use to influence our motivation, emotional state, and help us organize and understand new knowledge effectively.