Syntactic priming is the process that takes place when we make predictions upon hearing certain grammatical patterns which guide us to guess the string of words that are more likely to be uttered next based on our previous encounters with those patterns. Basically we are constantly building sentences based on what we hear, which are next confirmed or then reformulated. We hypothesise. We fill gaps. … Continue reading syntactic priming
The year is coming to an end and KIS Activities will be taking a two-week break. It is very comforting and encouraging to have seen this blog grow exponentially this year. In the meantime, here are the three most visited blog posts in 2018: At number three: Articles in English. Students do some practice on definite and indefinite articles from songs you play in class. … Continue reading top three posts of 2018
Here is an alternative way to check answers after you have played a listening extract to your class of students. Find a listening extract from your current textbook series. Play it (twice) and have the students check understanding by letting them compare their answers to the questions. Here is a task for a listening exercise from English File Third Edition Upper-Intermediate (page 20). Listen and … Continue reading prove me wrong: checking answers from listening passages
It’s easy enough to welcome state-of-the-art technology, if our school can afford it. Whether the technology is used or used wisely is up to us. I have been using interactive whiteboards for well over ten years now and I find them an incredible tool for any language teacher. I talk and write far and wide about the kinds of benefits they bring. Today, however, I … Continue reading mini whiteboards 1
A practically zero preparation way of reviewing vocabulary with your students is to compile a list of lexical items you would like to review (ten to fifteen seems to be a fine number) and then ask them to get a piece of paper and draw three columns in it headed: I know, Not sure and I don’t know. Then dictate the words. As you dictate … Continue reading co-hyponyms in songs
I have been listening to Sting’s last album 44/876 quite a lot recently and there are two songs that have particularly called my attention as an English teacher/teacher trainer/materials writer. The first one is Crooked Tree, for which I wrote a blog post last week dealing with co-hyponyms and how that song presents itself well for exploiting them and exploring the topic area of crime … Continue reading connotation in songs
I am a big fan of Padlet and similar web-based noticeboards. Basically these digital noticeboards allow users to place text, images, upload and embed videos or audio recordings and do team work on a given noticeboard. There are many tutorials on the Internet on how to use Padlet. I have my own but I’d rather not share here as you can find more updated ones … Continue reading Padlet: practical use #295
