Articles
Read articles written by expert teachers and English language professionals about a wide range of current English language teaching topics and issues. All of our articles feature ideas and suggestions about how you can develop your teaching and bring new ideas into your English language classroom.
Diagnostic test
A diagnostic test is a test that helps the teacher and learners identify problems that they have with the language
Dictogloss
Dictogloss is a classroom dictation activity where learners are required to reconstruct a short text by listening and noting down key words, which are then used as a base for reconstruction.
Diglossia
Diglossia is a situation where a language that has two forms, one a ‘higher’ and more prestigious form used by educated speakers in formal situations, and the other a ‘lower’, vernacular form used more commonly.
Diphthong
A diphthong is a one-syllable sound that is made up of two vowels.
Direct method
The direct method of teaching was developed as a response to the Grammar-Translation method. It sought to immerse the learner in the same way as when a first language is learnt.
Discourse
Discourse is one of the four systems of language, the others being vocabulary, grammar and phonology.
Discourse management
Discourse management refers to the ability to produce extended written and spoken texts, for example conversations.
Discourse markers
Discourse markers are words and phrases used in speaking and writing to 'signpost’ discourse.
Discrete item
A discrete item is an item of language isolated from context.
Display questions
Display questions are questions you ask to see if the person you are speaking to knows the answer.