ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types

Recognise and understand vocabulary associated with texts of different levels of accessibility, formality, complexity, and of different purpose

  • Know that the choice of lexis contributes to the style of a text and relates to context, purpose and audience
  • Form opinions about style by considering the author's choice of lexis
  • Understand the concept of synonyms and antonyms and that different words can express similar or related ideas and qualities, often at different levels of formality, or for different registers
  • Understand that words have different connotations, which are exploited in persuasive and descriptive texts (
  • Understand that some English words have a range of meanings, and apply the correct meaning to different contexts, e.g. battery belongs to motorcar technology, animal farming, and the military
  • Use a thesaurus with understanding
  • Understand the importance of context and use this in determining the meaning of a word, if the meaning is unclear
  • Use the phonemic alphabet to work out the pronunciation of unfamiliar words
  • Recognise how words change to form different parts of speech, and how their phonology may change as they change word class, e.g. medicine, medicinal; economy, economical
  • Understand that the meaning and use of some words changes over time, and that new words can be coined or borrowed from other languages
  • Recognise and understand the use of similes, metaphors, idioms and clichés

Source: Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, DfES (2001): https://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/content/etf1194

Our Street

A poem on the theme of neighbourhoods.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around housing, traffic, local communities or recycling.

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes suggested questions and discussion prompts.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport
Family and relationships

Walking Through the Woods

A descriptive poem on the theme of Nature.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion about the seasons, local environments, the life cycle of animals and plants, global warming or the benefits of outdoor exercise.

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes suggested questions and discussion prompts.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Context
Animals, animal care, farming & equine
Gardening & Horticulture
Science, Nature & Weather
Mental health, awareness & psychology

A Seaside Holiday

A poem on the theme of holidays.  Can be used as a reading and punctuation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around traditional British holidays, ways to spend leisure time or enjoying new experiences by using different senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch).

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes suggested questions and discussion prompts.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.1a Read and understand technical vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

The Runner

A light hearted poem on the theme of exercise.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around exercise, diet and fitness or the Education System.

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes a list of suggested questions/prompts.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.1a Read and understand technical vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Context
Sport and fitness

What makes you feel ... ?

A poem on the theme of  feelings.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around personal emotions and wellbeing.

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes a list of suggested questions/prompts.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.1a Read and understand technical vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Context
Mental health, awareness & psychology

The Windrush Scandal

These two lessons explore the Windrush Scandal. 

The video gives an opportunity to listen for gist and detail, and is followed by a focus on sentence stress and intonation.

The article gives an opportunity for learners to analyse the purpose of the text and look at persuasive techniques, and is accompanied by a vocabulary from context exercise.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L2.1 Identify relevant information from extended explanations or presentations
FE L2.2 Follow narratives & lines of argument
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
ESOL
ESOL Lr/L1.1a Extract information from texts of varying genre, e.g. radio, TV
ESOL Lr/L1.2e Listen for phonological detail
ESOL Lr/L1.6b Follow a discussion without participating e.g. on TV
ESOL Lr/L2.1a Extract information from extended texts in a non-face-to-face context, e.g. radio
ESOL Lr/L2.2a Listen to a narrative or conversation
ESOL Lr/L2.2e Listen for phonological detail
ESOL Rw/L1.2a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different types of text, using appropriate strategies to work out meaning
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
ESOL Rt/L2.2a Identify the purposes of a wide range of texts, whether inferred or explicitly stated
Context
News, Politics & Government items

A Thesaurus is NOT a Dinosaur

Intro to using a thesaurus to find synonyms and antonyms.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
AL Rw/L2.3 Vocabulary (language features, synonyms, formality)
Rw/L1.3
ESOL
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary

Dictionaries and thesauri

A complete lesson to help students in using these reference books. Look at and compare the features of different dictionaries, look up words in a dictionary, order words alphabetically and rewrite a text (in aprs) using a thesaurus to replace every instance of “good” with a more appropriate woprd

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
AL Rw/L2.3 Vocabulary (language features, synonyms, formality)
ESOL
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types

Formal and informal language

Set of 12 sentences to complete. The 12 missing words are 6 pairs of synonyms such as sorry / apologise, need / require, etc. Makes a good starting point for further discussion and/or further speaking and written work.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
SLc/L2.1
SLc/L1.2
SLc/E3.2
AL Rw/L2.3 Vocabulary (language features, synonyms, formality)
ESOL
ESOL Wt/L2.5a
ESOL Wt/L1.4a Choose language suitable for genre, purpose and audience
ESOL Sc/L2.1c Use formal language and register where appropriate
ESOL Sc/L1.2a Make requests
ESOL Sc/E3.2a Use formal language and register when appropriate
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types

Vocabulary builder

Challenging multiple choice quiz of vocabulary “borrowed” from other languages such as French, Greek and Italian. Words and phrases include: fait accompli, deja vu, ad hoc, bric-a-brac and many more. Makes a good warm up and could be used with small groups or individually.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Word origins
AL Rw/L2.3 Vocabulary (language features, synonyms, formality)
Rw/L1.3
ESOL
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
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