This document contains definitions and teaching examples for various English language teaching terms. It defines words related to accuracy, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, discourse, and language functions. For each term, it provides the definition, phonetic transcription, example usage, and a proposed way to teach the concept in the classroom. The purpose is to build teachers' understanding of key linguistic concepts and strategies for instruction.

1. Universidad Técnica de Ambato
Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y de La
Educación
Carrea de Idiomas
TKT Glossary
Mónica Moreta
9th “B”
Element 1

2. WORD:
ACCURACY
DEFINITION: The use of correct forms of
grammar, vocabulary, spelling and
pronunciation.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ӕˈkjurət/
EXAMPLE: Teachers and learners focus on using and producing
language correctly
HOW TO TEACH: I will provide students a short paragraph in
order to identify accuracy. It means the correct use of grammar,
vocabulary and spelling.

3. WORD:
AFFIX
DEFINITION: A meaningful group of letters
added to the beginning or end of a word to
make a new word, which can be a different
part of speech from the original word.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /əˈfɪks/
EXAMPLE: Affixation is a grammatical part
HOW TO TEACH: I will write on the board a list of adjectives and
students have to write affixes in the adjectives. In this way they can
identify how to add letters to make affixes

4. WORD:
APPROPIACY
DEFINITION: Language which is suitable in
a particular situation
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /əˈproʊ·pri·əsi/
EXAMPLE: Teacher uses an appropiacy language in the classroom
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a short conversation about daily
routines. After, I will teach them transition words. Then, I will ask
them to talk about their daily routines. Students have to use
appropiacy vocabulary and transition words

5. WORD:
CHUNK
DEFINITION: Any pair or group of words
commonly found together or near one another
as phrasal verbs, idioms, collocations, and
fixed expressions
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /tʃʌŋk/
EXAMPLE: Have a good trip, I´d like to , how about are examples
of chunk
HOW TO TEACH: I will provide students some examples about
chunks and after I will provide them a short reading in where they
can underline chunks.

6. WORD:
COHERENCE
DEFINITION: When ideas in a spoken or
written text fit together clearly and smoothly,
and so are logical and make sense to the
listener or reader
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /koʊˈhɪər·əns/
EXAMPLE: You have to be carefully to use coherence in your
essays
HOW TO TEACH: I will make a brainstorming in which students
can write their ideas about family. Then, students can write
sentences using the words that they wrote before.

7. WORD:
COHESION
DEFINITION: The way spoken or written
texts are joined together with logical grammar
or lexis, e.g. conjunctions (Firstly, secondly),
lexical sets, referring words (it, them, this)
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /koʊˈhi·ʒən/
EXAMPLE: You need to improve cohesion in your writings
HOW TO TEACH: I will give students an oral presentation in
which they can analyze the use transition words and the connections
of ideas

8. WORD:
COLLOCATION
DEFINITION: Words which are regularly
used together. The relation between the words
may be grammatical, for example when
certain verbs/adjectives collocate with
particular prepositions
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˌkɒl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/
EXAMPLE: Depend on, make photocophies, take a holiday, are
examples of collocations
HOW TO TEACH: I will use some sheet of paper in which
students can find examples of collocation. Then, I will write
sentences using collocation.

9. WORD:
COMPLEX
DEFINITION: Complicated, not simple
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /kəmˈpleks/
EXAMPLE: Reading is one complex skill for me
HOW TO TEACH: I will work on websites in order to practice
and improve complex vocabulary

10. WORD:
COMPOUND
DEFINITION: Nouns, verbs, adjectives or
prepositions that are made up of two or more
words and have one unit of meaning.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈkɑm·pɑʊnd/
EXAMPLE: I have some problems with compounds
HOW TO TEACH: I will use hot chair in where students can talk
about compound

11. WORD:
COMPOUND
NOUNS
DEFINITION: Compound noun is a
combination of two or more words, which are
used as a single word, e.g. a flower shop, a
headache
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈkɑm·pɑʊnd/
/nɑʊn/
EXAMPLE: Compund nouns can be really necessary and important
to use in the classroom
HOW TO TEACH: I will write on the board different compound
nouns and explain how to make and use in complete sentences

12. WORD:
CONFIDENCE
DEFINITION: The feeling someone has
when they are sure of their ability to do
something well.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈkɑm·pɑʊnd/
EXAMPLE: Teachers must find activities in order to have
confidence in students because they are so shy
HOW TO TEACH: I will teach students the most important values
as responsibility, respect, and confidence in themselves.

13. WORD:
CONSOLIDATE
DEFINITION: To return to something in
order to allow learners to understand and
remember it more completely.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /kənˈsɑl·əˌdeɪt/
EXAMPLE: Students can consolidate grammar part practicing
extra exercises
HOW TO TEACH: I will provide exercises about simple present in
order to help students to consolidate their knowledge about it

14. WORD:
CONJUNCTION
DEFINITION: A conjunction (or connector)
is used to connect words, phrases, clauses or
sentences
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /kənˈdʒʌŋk·ʃən/
EXAMPLE: My mother and my father are very happy
HOW TO TEACH: I will provide students a power point
presentation in which they can learn conjunction and how to use it in
paragraphs or essays

15. WORD:
CONSTRACTIVE
STRESS
DEFINITION: Is used to express an unusual
or emphatic meaning in a sentence. It involves
stressing the important word according to the
different meanings
PHONEMIC SCRIPT:
/kənˈtrɑː.stɪv/ /stres/
EXAMPLE: Constractive stress is a fundamental part to study
phonlogy
HOW TO TEACH: I will develop listening skill in where I can
provide a short script to analyze constractive stress of some words
and at the same time practice pronunciation

16. WORD:
CONTEXT
DEFINITION: The situation in which
language is used or presented.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈkɑn·tekst/
EXAMPLE: We have to write sentences using a vocabulary
according to the context
HOW TO TEACH: I can use a reading comprehension in which I
will teach vocabulary according to the context of the reading

17. WORD:
DETERMINER
DEFINITION: Determiner is used to make
clear which noun is referred to, or to give
information about quantity, and includes
words such as the, a, this, that, my, some
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /dɪˈtɜr·mə·nər/
EXAMPLE: “The computer is mine” is an example of how to use
determiner
HOW TO TEACH: I will use extra examples about how to use
determiners and ask students to write sentences with determiners

18. WORD:
DIPHTHONG
DEFINITION: A vowel combination which
is pronounced by moving from one vowel to
another
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈdɪf.θɒŋ/
EXAMPLE: Diphthong is a combination of vowels
HOW TO TEACH: I will give students a list of diphthongs on the
board and ask students to come to the front and write sentences
using the list of diphthongs

19. WORD:
DISCOURSE
DEFINITION: Spoken or written language
in texts or groups of sentences.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈdɪs·kɔr/
EXAMPLE: Discourse can be used in written and oral language
HOW TO TEACH: I will teach how to make sentences and I will
ask students to write a paragraph in which they can analyze
discourse in their paragraph

20. WORD:
DRAFT
DEFINITION: A draft is a piece of writing
that is not yet finished, and may be changed.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /dræft/
EXAMPLE: Draft is when students write for the first time and it
could be edited and changed
HOW TO TEACH: I will provide some models of draft using
recycled paper.

21. WORD:
DRILL
DEFINITION: A technique teachers use for
encouraging learners to practice language. It
involves guided repetition or practice.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /drɪl/
EXAMPLE: Drill is a technique which helps to improve our
pronunciation, especially when we have problems with some words
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a radio program that students have to
listen and take important verbs. After, I will use drills to improve
their pronunciation.

22. WORD:
ENCOURAGE
DEFINITION: When a teacher helps
learners to succeed by giving them confidence
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ɪnˈkɜr·ɪdʒ/
EXAMPLE: Teacher can have find some activities to encourage
students
HOW TO TEACH: I will do “ABC” activity to encourage
students.

23. WORD:
ERROR
DEFINITION: A mistake that a learner
makes when trying to say something above
their level of language or language processing
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈer·ər/
EXAMPLE: Students have some errors in their compositions.
HOW TO TEACH: : I will ask students to talk about their family in
front of the class. Students have to pay attention to the errors after I
will give them feedback

24. WORD:
EXPONENT
DEFINITION: An example of a grammar
point, function or lexical set
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ɪkˈspoʊ·nənt/
EXAMPLE: Exponent can express different functions at the same
time.
HOW TO TEACH: I will ask students personal information about
their lives and then, we will analyze how to use exponent in real life

25. WORD:
FALSE FRIENDS
DEFINITION: Word in the target language
which looks or sounds as if it has the same
meaning as a similar word in the learners’ first
language but does not
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /fɔls/ /frend/
EXAMPLE: False friends are very useful and important in
language teaching and learning
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a web page in where students find
examples of false friends. I will give a short explanation about how
to use it

26. WORD:
FEATURE
DEFINITION: A feature of something is an
interesting or important part or characteristic
of it
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈfi·tʃər/
EXAMPLE: English has different features that can be very
interesting
HOW TO TEACH: Students can have the opportunity to learn
some functions about English language through role plays

27. WORD:
FORMAL
LANGUAGE
DEFINITION: Language used in formal
conversations or writing
PHONEMIC SCRIPT:
/ˈfɔr·məl//ˈlæŋ·ɡwɪdʒ/
EXAMPLE: When we have to talk with important authorities we
must use formal language
HOW TO TEACH: I will use flashcards to use some expressions
about formal language

28. WORD:
FUNCTION
DEFINITION: The reason or purpose for
communication
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈfʌŋk·ʃən/
EXAMPLE: Asking for clarification and making suggestion are
examples of fucntion
HOW TO TEACH: I will use commands in the classroom and ask
students some functions and importance to use commands in the
classroom

29. WORD:
HESITATE
DEFINITION: A pause before or while
doing or saying something.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈhez·ɪˌteɪt/
EXAMPLE: Students always hesitate because they do not have the
ideas or they need more time to think before to answer a question
HOW TO TEACH: To teach the word hesitate I will give students
a conversation and ask some questions about it. Also, students
analyze how hesitations involve in the language learning

30. WORD:
HIGHLIGHT
DEFINITION: To mark words on paper, on
the board or on a computer screen using a
colour or underlining so that they are easier to
notice
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈhɑɪˌlɑɪt/
EXAMPLE: During a reading process you can highlight some
important information using different colors in order to have a better
idea about it
HOW TO TEACH: Students have to read a short paragraph and
they must highlight the main verbs that contain the paragraph

31. WORD:
HOMONYMS
DEFINITION: A word with the same
spelling and pronunciation as another word,
but which has a different meaning
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈhɑm·əˌnɪm/
EXAMPLE: (embarazado) and embarrassed are examples of
homonys
HOW TO TEACH: I will make jigsaw reading it can be very
useful for students because they can identify homonyms and use in
sentences

32. WORD:
HOMOPHONES
DEFINITION: A word which sounds the
same as another word, but has a different
meaning or spelling
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈhɑm·əˌfoʊn/
EXAMPLE: We use homophones to refer the words that have the
same pronunciation, but different spelling and meaning
HOW TO TEACH: I will use write sentences using homophones.
Then, I will use short role play in where they can identify
homophones

33. WORD:
INFORMAL
LANGUAGE
DEFINITION: Informal language. Language
used in informal conversations or writing
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ɪnˈfɔr·məl/
/ˈlæŋ·ɡwɪdʒ/
EXAMPLE: When we are with our closed friend we usually use
informal language
HOW TO TEACH: I will use some expression that are used in
informal situations so students can know how to use informal
language between them

34. WORD:
INTERACTION
DEFINITION: The different ways learners
and the teacher work together in class
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˌɪn·tərˈækt/
EXAMPLE: Interaction is a useful tool to practice speaking skill
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a short conversation and ask students
to discuss about the conversation in pairs

35. WORD:
INTONATION
DEFINITION: The way the level of a
speaker’s voice changes to show meaning
such as how they feel about something.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˌɪn·təˈneɪ·ʃən/
EXAMPLE: In a conversation we can find rising and falling
Intonation according to the situations
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a radio program where they have to
practice the correct intonation of some information questions

36. WORD:
LAYOUT
DEFINITION: The way in which a text is
organized and presented on a page.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈleɪˌɑʊt/
EXAMPLE: There are texts that have special layouts as magazines,
and letters
HOW TO TEACH: I will bring some magazines to let students the
different layouts that the magazines have

37. WORD:
LEAD- IN
DEFINITION: A lead-in is activities that
includes an introduction to the topic of the text
or main task
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /lid/ /ɪn/
EXAMPLE: Teachers need to do lead-in activities in order to
introduce a topic and encourage students attention
HOW TO TEACH: I will use different activities about colors in
order to practice it.

38. WORD:
LEARN BY HEART
DEFINITION: To learn something so that
you can remember it perfectly
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /lɜrn/ /bɑɪ/ /hɑrt/
EXAMPLE: Learn by heart is a strategy or activity that help to
remember something you learned before
HOW TO TEACH: I will give students a continuously feedback
about animals that they have been studying during all week

39. WORD:
LEXICAL SET
DEFINITION: A group of words or phrases
that are about the same content topic or
subject.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈlek.sɪ.kəl/ /set/
EXAMPLE: Lexical set is a group of words or phrases that share a
similar feature
HOW TO TEACH: I will give a reading in which students have to
practice and match lexical sets. After, students have to write
examples using lexical sets from the reading

40. WORD:
LEXIS
DEFINITION: Individual words or sets of
words
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈlek.sɪs/
EXAMPLE: Homework, study, whiteboard, get dressed, be on time
are example of lexis
HOW TO TEACH: I will used a warm up “the alphabet”. Students
have to write nouns using 10 letters of the alphabet

41. WORD:
LINKING
DEFINITION: The way different sounds can
link into each other in connected speech
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈlɪŋ·kɪŋ/
EXAMPLE: Linking is a strategy that helps to connect your ideas
HOW TO TEACH: I will ask students to write a short paragraph
about their family using transition words. Then, students have to
share their paragraph with their classmates

42. WORD:
MEANINGFUL
DEFINITION: Something which shows the
meaning of language
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈmi·nɪŋ·fəl/
EXAMPLE: An activity can be very meaningful if it is useful for
students in real life
HOW TO TEACH: I will give students sheet of paper in order to
practice some exercises about can and can´t. This activity can be
very meaningful for students

43. WORD:
MEMORIZE
DEFINITION: To learn something so that
you can remember it later; something which is
easy to remember
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈmem.ə.raɪz/
EXAMPLE: Memorize is a process in which information is
encoded. It could be in a short or long memory
HOW TO TEACH: I will write numbers on the board and ask
students to memorize the numbers from the board. Students come to
the front and tell all numbers

44. WORD:
MINIMAL PAIRS
DEFINITION: Two words which differ from
each other by only one meaningful sound (or
phoneme)
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈmɪn·ə·məl/
/peər/
EXAMPLE: In phonology, minimal pairs are pairs of words or
phrases in a particular language as e.g. hit / hˆt / ; heat / hˆÄt /.
HOW TO TEACH: I will use flashcard. Students have to repeat
minimal pairs. Then they have to come to the front and write extra
examples on the board

45. WORD:
MOTIVATION
DEFINITION: Motivation is the thoughts
and feelings which make us want to do
something and help us continue doing it.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈmoʊ·t̬ɪv/
EXAMPLE: Motivation is very important in language learning
HOW TO TEACH: : I will use an article about fashion style in
order to motivate students to learn about it, because they enjoy
reading about styles of clothes.

46. WORD:
NEUTRAL
DEFINITION: A style of speaking or writing
that is neither formal nor informal, but in
between.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈnu·trəl/
EXAMPLE: There are neutral exponents that we use when we
want to show a great respect.
HOW TO TEACH: I will develop a debate about wild animals and
ask students who are against, favor or neutral about reason to protect
wild animals

47. WORD:
PARAPHRASE
DEFINITION: To state something written or
spoken in different words, esp. in a shorter and
simpler form to make the meaning clearer
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈpær·əˌfreɪz/
EXAMPLE: Paraphrase is a restatement of the meaning of a text
or passage using own words
HOW TO TEACH: I will tell students some quotes about
education and ask students to paraphrase the quotes.

48. WORD:
PHONEME
DEFINITION: The smallest sound unit
which can make a difference to meaning e.g.
/p/ in pan, /b/ in ban.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈfəʊ.niːm/
EXAMPLE:Words can have different phoneme script
HOW TO TEACH: I will use examples of phonemes and ask
students to write words with their phonemes

49. WORD:
PREFIX
DEFINITION: A prefix is a letter or group of
letters added to the beginning of a word to
make a new word
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈpri·fɪks/
EXAMPLE: Prefixes and other affixes, can change the syntactic
category. For example, it can change positive to negative or formal
to informal
HOW TO TEACH: I will use prefixes worksheet in where
students write correct prefix next to the root word to match the
meaning

50. WORD:
PROCESS
DEFINITION: To actively think about new
information in order to understand it
completely and be able to use it in future.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈprɑs·es/
EXAMPLE: Writing process includes different stages as planning,
drafting, re-drafting, editing and proofreading
HOW TO TEACH: I will explain the writing process and ask
students to write a short paragraph

51. WORD:
PHONOLOGY
DEFINITION: The study of sounds in a
language or languages.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /fəˈnɒl.ə.dʒi/
EXAMPLE: Phonology is a field of linguistics that study the
system of sounds
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a short dialogue in which they can
write the phonology of some words

52. WORD:
READING
DEFINITION: The skill or activity of getting
information from written words
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈri·dɪŋ/
EXAMPLE: Reading has some stages in order to help learners and
people
HOW TO TEACH: I will provide a reading about animals and
students have to answer some questions about it

53. WORD:
REGISTER
DEFINITION: The formality or informality
of the language used in a particular situation
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈredʒ·ɪ·stər/
EXAMPLE: There different kind of registers according to each
situations
HOW TO TEACH: I will use some examples of register and ask
students to write sentences with each register and after work in pairs
to compare their sentences

54. WORD:
RHYTHM
DEFINITION: The rhythm of speech is the
way that some words in a sentence are
emphasised or stressed to produce a regular
pattern.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈrɪð·əm/
EXAMPLE: Rhythm is the stress, way or emphasis that we put of
some words
HOW TO TEACH: I will do a short activity in which students have
to practice falling and rising intonation and identify different rhythm
of some adjectives

55. WORD:
SCAN
DEFINITION: To read a text quickly to pick
out specific information, e.g. finding a phone
number in a phone book
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /skæn/
EXAMPLE: Scan is a strategy for reading
HOW TO TEACH: Teacher ask students to scan the text and after
answer some questions about the reading

56. WORD:
SILENT PERIOD
DEFINITION: The time when learners who
are beginning to learn a first (or second)
language prefer to listen (or read) before
producing the language
PHONEMIC SCRIPT:
/ˈsɑɪ·lənt/ /ˈpɪər·i·əd/
EXAMPLE: Silent period is very necessary and useful during
reading process
HOW TO TEACH: I will ask students to read an article in silent
and understand the text.

57. WORD:
SKIM
DEFINITION: To read a text quickly to get a
general idea of what it is about.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /skɪm/
EXAMPLE: We use skim strategy to read a text quickly to get a
general idea
HOW TO TEACH: Students have to skim a reading in order to get
a general idea. Then, ask students to share their knowledge about the
reading

58. WORD:
SIMPLIFY
DEFINITION: To make something easier.
Simplifying language or tasks is a common
scaffolding strategy
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈsɪm·pləˌfɑɪ/
EXAMPLE: Simplified texts can help students to get confidence to
learn eg: “close the window”
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a poem in which students have to
identify all main verbs

59. WORD:
SUBSKILL
DEFINITION: Each of the four language
skills can be divided into smaller subskills that
are all part of the main skill
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /sʌb/ /skɪl/
EXAMPLE: Reading, writing, speaking and listening have
different subskills
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a power point presentation to teach
students the subskills for each skill as reading, writing, listening and
writing.

60. WORD:
SUFFIX
DEFINITION: A suffix is a letter or group of
letters added at the end of a word to make a
new word
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈsʌf·ɪks/
EXAMPLE: Suffix is a small part, or letters that must added at the
end of a word
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a chart in where students have to
write suffixes and they have to write sentences with each suffix.

61. WORD:
UTTERANCE
DEFINITION: A complete unit of speech in
spoken language. An utterance can be shorter
than a sentence
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈʌt̬·ər·əns/
EXAMPLE: Conversations can have utterances, general
vocabulary, simple grammar to lead students to understand better
HOW TO TEACH: I will write on the board some questions about
technology and ask students to answer the questions

62. WORD:
WORD
BOUNDARY
DEFINITION: Where one word ends and the
next one begins, especially in connected
speech.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /wɜrd/
/ˈbɑʊn·dri/
EXAMPLE: Word boundaries are supported by most regular
expression flavors
HOW TO TEACH: I will use an e-mail in order to identify the use
of word boundary

63. WORD:
WORD FAMILY
DEFINITION: A group of words that come
from the same root or base word
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /wɜrd/ /ˈfæm·ə·li/
EXAMPLE: Real, really, realistic and unreal are examples which
refer to word family
HOW TO TEACH: I will give students a list of words in which
they can write word family

64. WORD:
WORD STRESS
DEFINITION: Is the pronunciation of a
syllable with more force or emphasis than the
surrounding syllables which are said to be
unstressed, e.g. umbrella / √m«brelW /.
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /wɜrd/ /stres/
EXAMPLE: Word stress has a relation with the structure of
morphological system
HOW TO TEACH: I will use a role play. Students have to analyze
how the stress can be added in the words

65. WORD:
WRITING
DEFINITION: A person’s style of forming
letters and words with a pen or pencil, or
something written
PHONEMIC SCRIPT: /ˈrɑɪ·t̬ɪŋ/
EXAMPLE: Writing is a skill in which students have some
problems with the punctuation
HOW TO TEACH: I will give them a sheet of paper in which
students have to write a short paragraph about their last vacation