U.+Language+Terms

Mrs. Jorge's Classroom Language Terms



In this class we will work to improve our English language skills in two areas: **1) conversational English** and **2) academic English**. Below you will find a list of key terms for this semester that will help you to succeed in our classroom and outside of it in interactions with you classmates and teachers.


 * Language Terms for Conversation **


 * 1) Slang - **These are the informal words that students use in language that are not considered part of Standard English. These words are often difficult for English language learners to interpret in conversation because they do not usually find such words in their reading or on vocabulary lists.

Below are a few examples of the common slang expressions used here in Tennessee. See the resource links below for more information on slang.

beat- exhausted, tired //After a long day at school, I'm really **beat.**//

cheesy- excessively emotional //The principal's speech this morning was really **cheesy**. //

ditch- to leave //He got suspended from school for **ditching** class.// 

[|Dave's ESL Slang Page] This site organizes slang alphabetically, randomly or in list format. This alphabetical list has both meanings and examples.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">More Slang Resources: **

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|The Slang Dictionary] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site includes slang, web speak, made up words, and other phrases.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">2) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Idioms - **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Idioms are often referred to as figures of speech or figurative language. They are expressions that are not meant to be taken literally, but, instead, represent an idea not expressed by the individual words.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Here are a few examples of idiomatic expressions common in the English language. See the resource links below for more information on idioms.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">come up- to happen unexpectedly //<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Something **came up** and I wasn't able to go to the party. //

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">on the other hand- however, in contrast, looking at the other side of the matter //<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">I would like to go to the movies, but **on the other hand** going to the park might be fun. //

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">work out (for the best)- end successfully //<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Even though the day was difficult, I think it all **worked out** in the end. //

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|IdiomSite.com] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site explains the meanings of many common idiomatic expressions in English.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">More Idiom Resources: **

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|The Idiom Connection] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site lists idioms by categories and even has a list of the 100 most commonly used idioms. The site provides quizzes for practice.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Animated Idioms] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site explains several common idioms using cartoon illustrations.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Conversational Fillers - **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">You can use these words or phrases in conversation to pause to think, create transitions or clarify your meaning. Conversational fillers will help you develop fluency when speaking English.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Here are a few conversational fillers that you can use in the classroom. See the resource links below for more information conversational fillers.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//I'm sorry?//- Indicates that you did not hear the speaker, requests repetition

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Well-// Gives you time to think and delay your response

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//You mean,...//- Allows you to repeat or rephrase the question in a conversation

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Hesitation Strategies- Conversational Time Fillers] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This page from EnglishPond.com includes sound files and examples of conversational fillers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">More Conversational Filler Resources: **

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Let's Talk] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site provides resources for conversational fillers and transitional statements in the classroom and in interactions with other students.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Academic English Terms**

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">These terms are used in the classroom and other academic settings most often. They will help you to be successful in your classes beyond ELD and prepare you for college after you graduate. Terms used in class are often difficult to understand because they are not used in regular conversations with your classmates, but they are so important to improving your Academic Language skills and doing well in school.



<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">We will begin with some vocabulary that will help you improve your writing skills, but throughout the semester we will add content words from math, science, social studies and other subjects.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">rhetoric - the persuasive aspect of writing <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//It is important to use **rhetoric** in your writing to convince others of your opinions.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">marginalized - refers to voices, texts, histories or interpretations that are generally left out of discussion <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Native Americans have often been **marginalized** in American history.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> ideology - the way we look at the world including our values, beliefs and way of thinking <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//His **ideology** was so different from mine that we hardly agreed on anything.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> canon - a group of texts that make up a sort of whole on a subject <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//The **canon** of American literature always includes Nathaniel Hawthorne.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> criticism - close evaluation or interpretation <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Literary **criticism** involves evaluating the author's use of writing techniques.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> contextualize - giving important perspective by citing similar examples or relevant background <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//You can help your reader understand your point of view by **contextualizing** your statements.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> genre - kind, sort, style <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Science fiction is his favorite literary **genre**.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> thesis -a subject for a composition or essay <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//A well organized essay always contains a **thesis** statement that tells the reader what the essay is about.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> hyperbole - obvious and intentional exaggeration <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//The poet's use of **hyperbole** when describing the size of the fish made the poem more dramatic.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> register - a variety a language typically used in a specific type of communicative setting <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//She lost ten points on her essay because she didn't use the formal **register**.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> expository -serving to expound, set forth, explain <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//The **expository** essay explained how the author decided to travel to India.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> symbolism - the practice of using an image to represent a word or idea <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//The novel used the color white to represent purity. The **symbolism** was easy to understand.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> plagiarism - the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//**Plagiarism** in English class is considered dishonorable and results in a zero for the assignment.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> paraphrasing - a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//To avoid plagiarism my teacher suggests **paraphrasing** the author's words and then citing the author's work.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> foreshadowing - to show or indicate beforehand; prefigure <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">//Scary movies often use music to **foreshadow** what will happen next in the film.//

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Click here] to take an online quiz over these academic vocabulary words.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Additional Resources for Academic Vocabulary: **

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|The Tennessee Academic Vocabulary Project] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site lists words used in math, science, social studies and language arts classes that will help students be successful in the classroom.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Academic Word List] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This site has games and practice activities from the Academic Word List.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Classroom Wiki

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Jessica de Araujo Jorge <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Graduate Student <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> [|Middle Tennessee State University] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> jlm2w@mtmail.mtsu.edu <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Foreign Language Department Chair <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> [|Hendersonville High School] <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> jessica.dearaujojorge@sumnerschools.org