An alternative A to Z of ELT Part 15
Innateness hypothesis- The theory that studying English is inherently boring, so why bother with games. See also “Inaneness hypothesis”*
Input- The theory that the language we expose students to should be as carefully chosen as when programming a computer or doing data input, although most experts agree that the metaphor works best if we picture the teacher trying to type with a couple of sledge hammers
Input enhancement- Using a gold plated jack on the classroom tape recorder
Intercambio de Lenguas- Spanish for “exchanging tongues”, often involving conversation exchange and its more literal translation
Interface- Also known as “innerface”, the internal cringing of a student who is seemingly happily taking part in a humanistic language teaching* game
KAL- Knowledge “About Language”- The absolute minimum you need in order to pass the DELTA, usually gained through only reading the Scott Thornbury book
Language acquisition device- Language school slang for a credit card
Learner independence- The political philosophy of the short-lived People’s Republic of Oxford Street, set up after the Oxford House revolution of 2001. Slogans of the movement included “A decent CD player for every classroom and a teacher’s book for every student!” and “Headway is the opiate of the masses”
Lexicogrammar- A deadly crossbreed created by the mad geneticist character in the movie “Prepositions from Outer Space”
Lexus- The singular of “lexis”*
Meaning-focused tasks- usually contrasted with “meaningless-focused tasks”
Metacognitive- A common misspelling of “megacognitive”, the ability to realize that you’ve just thought of something pretty damn cool
MOI- Medium of instruction- A teacher who has developed the supernatural powers necessary to work out what a low level or shy student is trying to say.
Monitor Model- Krashen’s theory that setting his minions loose to defend his ideas on TEFL forums like a bunch of classroom monitors doing the teacher’s dirty work was the best way to still get mileage out of his few ideas
Native-speaker fallacy (the)- The tendency of native speakers to make up reasons for why student errors are wrong, when actually all they know is that it doesn’t sound right
Natural Approach-working your way towards the grammar point of the day without your grammar-hating teenage students realizing it
The rest of my TEFL meisterwerk can be found here and here.
Tags: ELT jargon, Humour
