Teaching English Online Glossary

An emotional barrier (anxiety, low motivation, low self-esteem) that can block language acquisition even when comprehensible input is present.

Real-world texts and media not originally designed for language teaching, used to expose learners to natural language in context.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, an international standard describing language proficiency on six levels from A1 to C2.

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, an internationally recognized qualification issued by Cambridge Assessment English.

The ability to use language effectively and appropriately in real communication situations, including grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence.

Language input that learners can understand, ideally at a level slightly above their current proficiency (i+1), facilitating acquisition.

Questions designed to verify that students understand the meaning of new language without simply asking 'Do you understand?'

A controlled practice technique involving repetition of target language to build accuracy and automaticity.

English as a Foreign Language, referring to the teaching and learning of English in countries where English is not the primary language.

A correction technique where the teacher guides the student to self-correct through prompts, pauses, or questions rather than providing the answer.

English as a Second Language, referring to the teaching and learning of English in countries where English is the dominant language.

English for Specific Purposes, teaching English tailored to a particular professional or academic field such as business, medicine, or aviation.

An instructional model where students study content independently before class, and class time is devoted to interactive practice and application.

A communicative activity where participants hold different pieces of information and must communicate to complete a shared task.

Errors in the target language caused by transfer of patterns, structures, or sounds from the learner's native language.

A software platform used to deliver, track, and manage educational content and student progress in online learning environments.

Two words that differ by only one phoneme, used to help learners distinguish and produce similar sounds.

The process of assessing a learner's goals, current proficiency, and specific language needs to inform course and lesson design.

A lesson framework where the teacher presents new language, students practice it in controlled activities, and then produce it freely.

An error correction technique where the teacher naturally rephrases a student's incorrect utterance in correct form without explicit correction.

Providing structured, temporary support to help learners accomplish tasks they cannot yet do independently, gradually reducing assistance.

Student Talking Time vs. Teacher Talking Time. Effective lessons maximize STT to give learners more practice using the target language.

Task-Based Language Teaching, an approach where lessons are built around a communicative task, with language learning emerging from task completion.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language, a certification and practice area focused on teaching English to non-native speakers in non-English-speaking countries.

Total Physical Response, a method where learners respond to language commands with physical actions, linking language to movement.