A tool for learning English vocabulary
How to Use Thesaurus to Expand Vocabulary and Improve Word Choice in Writing
How to Learn New Vocabulary
68 CIRCULAR ROAD #02-01 SINGAPORE info@pinataedu.com Facebook Twitter Youtube Home Work With Us About Us X Book a Trial 中文 Home Single Blog How to Learn New Vocabulary Learn new vocabulary effectively by using visual clues while reading. Share Post : Many students feel confused when encountering unfamiliar words during reading, which in turn affects their comprehension of the entire text. This is largely due to their previous reading and learning habits: whenever they come across an unfamiliar word, students tend to immediately look it up in the dictionary, find the corresponding meaning in their native language, and annotate it in the margins. Many teachers also encourage students to pre-read the text before class, identify unfamiliar words, consult a dictionary, and record the definitions in their native language. This reading approach may seem easy and effective for both teachers and students, as consulting a dictionary allows them to quickly grasp the meaning of words and thus better understand the text. However, students miss out on an important learning opportunity: using context clues from the text to infer the meaning of new words. This not only limits their ability to develop language thinking skills but also weakens their ability to enhance their language sense and long-term memory. The following video demonstrates how a teacher uses the cover illustration of a book to guide students step-by-step in extracting information from the image to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words. By observing details from the scene or objects, the teacher encourages students to think about the connection between the image and the words. This approach not only improves students’ vocabulary comprehension but also helps them learn how to rely on contextual and visual clues to understand new words during reading. https://youtu.be/rrmii6fLmNo 20/10/2024 How to Learn New Vocabulary 10/02/2018 What is a placement test/trial lesson? 10/01/2018 Homework Ideas for Beginner Level Classes An online school that provides students with personalized English and Spanish course solutions. Quick Links Homepage Work With Us About Us Teacher Portal Contact Us Reach us by email or WhatsApp info@pinataedu.com +44 7418377296 Allright Reserved – PINATA EDUCATION 2016-2024 Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest
What is a placement test/trial lesson?
68 CIRCULAR ROAD #02-01 SINGAPORE info@pinataedu.com Facebook Twitter Youtube Home Work With Us About Us X Book a Trial 中文 Home Single Blog What is a Placement Test? Find out how we conduct a placement test. Share Post : A placement test (PT) is also arranged as a trial lesson. It provides a great opportunity for students and teachers to get to know each other. During the session, the student’s English level is assessed, the teacher generates a report, and the student along with their parents can decide whether they want to proceed with regular classes. Pre-Lesson Preparation Before the PT, the teacher receives the student’s background information via email, including their age, English level, personality, and learning experience. Based on this information, we recommend that teachers prepare one or two lesson plans in advance. Observations During the Introduction The introduction helps the teacher identify key details about the student’s language skills, such as: The type of teacher talk and the appropriate level of questions to ask. Whether the student can speak in complete sentences. How extensive their vocabulary is. If the student’s level is higher or lower than expected. The introduction is also an opportunity for the teacher to build rapport, helping the student feel comfortable before starting the lesson. Plan A for Beginners(Pre A1-A1) Definition of Beginner: Based on parental feedback, beginner students may be able to have basic conversations using short sentences or one-word answers. They may be able to read simple texts. Lesson Material: For beginners, we use the story “Monkey Tricks” as lesson material. After greeting the student, we begin with a “picture walk.” How to Adjust Questions: If the student struggles with basic questions (e.g., about their age or hobbies), stick to simpler questions focused on colors or animal names. If the student demonstrates proficiency with basic language, ask “Why?” questions to encourage deeper thinking. Plan B for Movers (A1-A2) Definition of Movers: Movers can usually have conversations in complete sentences, sometimes offering descriptive answers or expressing opinions. Lesson Material: For Movers, we use the story “The Magic Key” as lesson material. How to Adjust Questions: Avoid Yes/No questions or basic questions like “What color is it?” Instead, ask questions that test the student’s descriptive skills, prediction abilities, and encourage them to make connections to their life. Example questions: “What do you think will happen next?” “What would you do if you had the magic key?” Choosing Between Plan A and Plan B In some cases, it may be difficult to decide which plan to use before meeting the student. It’s recommended to have both plans ready and decide after a short conversation at the beginning of the lesson. Example Video Here is an example video that demonstrates how to approach these lessons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ebaJQjj240 20/10/2024 How to Learn New Vocabulary 10/02/2018 What is a placement test/trial lesson? 10/01/2018 Homework Ideas for Beginner Level Classes An online school that provides students with personalized English and Spanish course solutions. Quick Links Homepage Work With Us About Us Teacher Portal Contact Us Reach us by email or WhatsApp info@pinataedu.com +44 7418377296 Allright Reserved – PINATA EDUCATION 2016-2024 Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest
Homework Ideas for Beginner Level Classes
68 CIRCULAR ROAD #02-01 SINGAPORE info@pinataedu.com Facebook Twitter Youtube Home Work With Us About Us X Book a Trial 中文 Home Single Blog Homework Ideas for Teachers Two Homework Ideas for Teachers to Help Students Maximize Learning Outside the Classroom Share Post : The primary goals for beginner-level students are to consolidate target vocabulary and sentence structures through repetitive practice in class and to reinforce learning with tasks outside of class. Most beginner students are between 6-8 years old. Since drawing and coloring come naturally to children at this age, incorporating these activities can inspire creative homework ideas. Homework Ideas Idea #1: Draw and Label Students can draw objects (target vocabulary) learned in class and label them. For example, when covering the topic of “classroom items,” students could draw or design their dream pencil case and label each item inside. This activity helps students match concepts with objects and reinforces the correct spelling of the vocabulary. Example:Here is a sample drawing from a student in Teacher Erica’s class: Idea #2: Make Video Clips While the Draw and Label idea works well for nouns, a different approach may be more effective for verbs. I suggest assigning interactive games for students to play at home, with parents helping to create short video clips as part of the assignment. For instance, when teaching the topic “Playground Activities” from Big English, students need to practice sentence structures like “He/She likes to play on the slide/skate/dance…”. At home, students can act out the activities while their parents guess what they are doing. Afterward, they can switch roles so that the parents perform the actions and the child guesses. If a parent or relative can record a video clip, they can send it to the teacher to review during the next class. This makes homework fun, engaging, and effective while reinforcing both vocabulary and sentence structures. These activities not only make learning enjoyable but also provide students with opportunities to practice English in a natural and interactive way outside the classroom. 20/10/2024 How to Learn New Vocabulary 10/02/2018 What is a placement test/trial lesson? 10/01/2018 Homework Ideas for Beginner Level Classes An online school that provides students with personalized English and Spanish course solutions. Quick Links Homepage Work With Us About Us Teacher Portal Contact Us Reach us by email or WhatsApp info@pinataedu.com +44 7418377296 Allright Reserved – PINATA EDUCATION 2016-2024 Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest