TEFL Grammar and Vocabulary Teaching 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a concept question (CCQ)?
- A question that checks understanding of meaning without using the target language in the question (Correct answer)
- A quiz question
- A grammar test
- A comprehension question from a textbook
Correct answer: A question that checks understanding of meaning without using the target language in the question
CCQs verify that students truly understand the meaning and use of new language items using simple yes/no or short-answer questions.
Question 2: What is the difference between teaching vocabulary actively and passively?
- Active vocabulary students can use productively; passive vocabulary they can recognize but not necessarily produce (Correct answer)
- Active is in class; passive is homework
- No difference
- Active means louder practice
Correct answer: Active vocabulary students can use productively; passive vocabulary they can recognize but not necessarily produce
Active vocabulary is language students can produce, while passive vocabulary is language they understand when they encounter it.
Question 3: What are functional exponents?
- Phrases and expressions used to perform specific communicative functions like requesting, apologizing, or suggesting (Correct answer)
- Mathematical functions
- Grammar exercises
- Reading comprehension questions
Correct answer: Phrases and expressions used to perform specific communicative functions like requesting, apologizing, or suggesting
Functional exponents are the actual phrases people use to accomplish communicative purposes in real-life situations.
Question 4: How should a teacher deal with false cognates?
- Highlight them explicitly, as they are words that look similar across languages but have different meanings (Correct answer)
- Ignore them
- Translate them directly
- Avoid teaching them
Correct answer: Highlight them explicitly, as they are words that look similar across languages but have different meanings
False cognates (false friends) can cause confusion because students assume they know the meaning based on similarity to their first language.
Question 5: What is spaced repetition in vocabulary learning?
- A technique of reviewing vocabulary at increasing intervals to improve long-term retention (Correct answer)
- Repeating words in quick succession
- Spacing words evenly in a text
- A classroom seating arrangement
Correct answer: A technique of reviewing vocabulary at increasing intervals to improve long-term retention
Spaced repetition exploits the spacing effect in memory, reviewing material at increasing intervals for optimal long-term retention.
Question 6: What is a word family?
- A group of words that share the same root or base word (e.g., employ, employer, employment, employable) (Correct answer)
- A family that studies vocabulary together
- Words from the same language
- Words with the same number of letters
Correct answer: A group of words that share the same root or base word (e.g., employ, employer, employment, employable)
Understanding word families helps learners expand their vocabulary efficiently by recognizing how prefixes, suffixes, and word forms relate to a base word.
TEFL Grammar and Vocabulary Teaching 2
What is a concept question (CCQ)?