“Can you say that again (differently) please?” In this week’s webinar, we were joined by Anne Robinson, co-author of Fun for Starters, Fun for Movers, and Fun for Flyers 3rd Edition. Anne discussed how paraphrasing, rephrasing and adapting to any situation is an important part of learning a language, and how we can make paraphrasing a part of our young learner classes.
This webinar provides advice and practical demonstrations of classroom activities for use in the young learners’ classroom and includes lots of ideas for single word vocabulary use.
Consider the many ways in which we can greet one another – for example, ‘Hello’, ‘Hi’, and ‘How’s it going?’ Greetings can also change depending on what time of day it is: ‘Good Morning’, ‘Good Afternoon’, and ‘Good Evening’. As a learner of English, it is important to understand and be aware of how words can change but the meaning remains the same. Being able to use different words and expressions can also improve your learners’ speaking and writing skills, as well as increasing their vocabulary.
So, how can we teach paraphrasing to young learners?
Anne describes and demonstrates various tasks that enable and encourage paraphrasing. These include the use of audio, text, and images. One great way to get learners involved is to get them using information about themselves, as this can help them remember the different ways of paraphrasing. Another is to use definitions and word lists. It’s important to link new things you’re teaching your students to things they already know – drawing out similarities and differences.
Paraphrasing is an invaluable life skill, and it’s also tested in section 5 of the Cambridge English: Movers and Flyers tests. To listen to the full webinar for tips on teaching activities in a classroom environment, please click on the video below.