Cambridge DELTA Module 1 / Terms/concepts for the Cambridge DELTA Module
1 Exam. ELT terms from an A-Z of ELT by Scott Thornbury/ 327 Q&A.| 2025
LATEST UPDATED
acculturation - SLA The process by which a person integrates into a particular culture. One of
the first theories of SLA that attempted to prioritize social factors over purely cognitive ones. It
has been partly rehabilitated under the name socialization.
accuracy - SLA The extent to which a learner's use of a second language conforms to the rules of
the language. Once thought to be a precondition for fluency.
achievement test - TESTING Designed to test what learners have learned over a week, month,
term or entire course. Because ___ ___s are directly related to the content of the teaching
program, they provide feedback on the teaching-learning process, and are therefore useful data
for course evaluation.
action research - METHODOLOGY A form of teacher-driven research, the twin goals of which are
to improve classroom practice, and to 'empower' teachers. Typically motivated less by the
desire to answer the 'big' questions than by the need to solve a specific teaching problem in the
local context.
planning->acting->observing->reflecting
adolescents - METHODOLOGY The ideal time to learn a second language. This age group tends
to outperform adults and to progress more rapidly than younger learners.
affect - PSYCHOLOGY The general word for emotion or feelings. These factors positively or
negatively influence language learning. Often contrasted with cognitive factors such as
intelligence and learning style. Low ___ive filter=emotionally well-disposed to processing input
High ___ive=won't process input so effecitively.
,affix, affixation - VOCABULARY An element that is added to a word and which changes its
meaning. The process of doing this.
affordance - LINGUISTICS The language learning opportunities that exist in a learner's linguistic
'environment.' Maximized with meaningful activities and giving learners feedback.
agency - METHODOLOGY Control of your own actions, including your mental activity. A notion
from critical pedagogy. Learners are not objects of the teaching process; they are subjects of the
learning process. A factor that contributes to motivation.
applied linguistics - LINGUISTICS Concerned with the application of linguistic theory to solving
language-related problems in the real world. Language planning, speech therapy, lexcography,
translation studies, forensic linguistics.
appraisal - LINGUISTICS Also called stance; the way speakers and writers use language to
express their personal attitude to what is being said or written; one of the main ways that
language's interpersonal function is realized; consists of 3 categories: affect (personal feelings),
judgment (social values and social esteem), appreciation (opinions). These can all be expressed
lexically, grammatically or through the use of paralinguistic devices.
appropriacy - SOCIOLINGUISTICS Using language in a way that is suitable for the context and in a
way that meets the expectations of the people you are communicating with. An aspect of
sociolinguistic competence, which is a component of a speaker's overall communicative
competence. (Dell Hymes)
appropriation - SLA To make something your own. Gaining ownership of a skill by first doing it
with someone who is more skilled than you are until you can control or regulate the skill
yourself. A key concept in sociocultural learning theory. Language is not simply a behavior that is
conditioned through repeated practice, but that it is one of collaborative construction, in which
skills are transferred in socially-situated activity.
,aptitude - PSYCHOLOGY The innate talent or predisposition for language learning. 3 kinds of
ability: auditory, linguistic, memory.
aspect - GRAMMAR The way the speaker's 'view' of an event is expressed by the verb phrase,
regardless of the time of the event itself. 2 of these in English: progressive and perfect.
contingency - PSYCHOLOGY The sense that what is happening is connected to what has just
happened and what is about to happen.
audiolingualism - METHODOLOGY Became widespread in the US in the 1950s and 60s.
Distinctive feature=drilling of sentence patterns. Came from a view of learning as habit
formation (behaviorism). Spoken language was prioritized; translation and the use of
metalanguage were discouraged; accuracy was considered a precondition for fluency. Shot
down by Chomsky in the early 60s and the birth of mentalism.
authenticity - LINGUISTICS Became a priority with the communicative approach. The idea of
"grade the task, not the text" was born. This kind of interaction is both more communicative
and offers more affordances for learning.
automaticity - PSYCHOLOGY The ability to perform a task without having to focus attention on it.
This frees a learner's limited attentional resources for more demanding activities. A process of
setting up chunks and associations that link one step with another. This doesn't mean a sacrifice
of accuracy. When chunks of language are produced in a pre-assembled form, the speaker has
much less chance of making mistakes.
autonomy - PSYCHOLOGY Also called self-directed learning. The capacity to take responsibility
for your own learning.
behaviorism - PSYCHOLOGY A psychological theory popular in the mid-twentieth century that
viewed learning as a sort of habit formation and positive reinforcement. Audiolingualism is the
teaching method that is associated with this. stimulus-response-reinforcement.
, ThisKtheoryKrejectedKanyKrole,KinKlearning,KforKmentalKprocessesKsuchKasKthoughtKandKreasoning.
bilingualismK-
KSLAKAtKoneKpointKitKwasKconsideredKaKhandicapKtoKsecondKlanguageKlearnersKsinceK(accordingKtoKb
ehavioristKtheory)KtheKfirstKlanguageKinterferesKwithKtheKsecond.KADDITIVE=secondKlanguageKadd
edKtoKfirstKwithoutKthreateningKtheKspeaker'sKfirstKlanguageKidentity;KSUBTRACTIVE=theKsecondKla
nguageKreplacesKtheKfirst,KthreateningKtheKspeaker'sKlanguageKidentity.
cognitiveKlearningKtheoryK-
KPSYCHOLOGYKAKlearningKtheoryKthatKdrawsKuponKideasKfromKcognitiveKpsychology,KtheKbranchKofK
psychologyKthatKdealsKwithKperceptionKandKthinking.KPiagetKfirstKproposedKtheKviewKthatKlanguage
KdevelopsKoutKofKtheKchild'sKthoughtsKandKgrowingKawarenessKofKtheKworld.KAKlaterKversionKsugges
tsKthatKtheKchildKacquiresKlanguageKbyKformingKandKtestingKhypothesesKaboutKtheKadultKlanguageKi
tKhearsKaroundKit.KHasKbeenKcriticizedKasKbeingKmechanistic,KandKforKignoringKsocialKandKaffectiveKf
actors.
coherenceK-KDISCOURSEKHowKtheKsentencesKinKaKtextKrelateKtoKeachKother.
cohesionK-
KDISCOURSEKTheKuseKofKgrammaticalKandKlexicalKmeansKtoKachieveKconnectedKtext.KLEXICAL:Krepet
ition,Ksynonyms,KgeneralKwords,KsameKthematicKfield,Ksubstitution,Kellipsis;KGRAMMATICAL:Krefer
ences,Ksubstitution,Kellipsis,Klinkers,Kparallelism
collocationK-
KVOCABULARYKWordsKthatKfrequentlyKoccurKtogether.KCanKbeKgrammaticalK(collocateKwithKspecific
Kprepositions:K"accountKfor")KorKlexical:K"narrowKescape."
communicationKstrategyK-
KSLAKWaysKthatKlearnersKgetKaroundKtheKfactKthatKtheyKmayKnotKknowKhowKtoKsayKsomething,KbutKt
hatKhelpKtheKlearnerKachieveKtheirKintendedKmessage:Kparaphrase,KwordKcoinage,KforeignizingKaKw
ord,Kapproximation,Kall-purposeKwords,Klanguage-switching,Kparalinguistics,KappealingKforKhelp.
1 Exam. ELT terms from an A-Z of ELT by Scott Thornbury/ 327 Q&A.| 2025
LATEST UPDATED
acculturation - SLA The process by which a person integrates into a particular culture. One of
the first theories of SLA that attempted to prioritize social factors over purely cognitive ones. It
has been partly rehabilitated under the name socialization.
accuracy - SLA The extent to which a learner's use of a second language conforms to the rules of
the language. Once thought to be a precondition for fluency.
achievement test - TESTING Designed to test what learners have learned over a week, month,
term or entire course. Because ___ ___s are directly related to the content of the teaching
program, they provide feedback on the teaching-learning process, and are therefore useful data
for course evaluation.
action research - METHODOLOGY A form of teacher-driven research, the twin goals of which are
to improve classroom practice, and to 'empower' teachers. Typically motivated less by the
desire to answer the 'big' questions than by the need to solve a specific teaching problem in the
local context.
planning->acting->observing->reflecting
adolescents - METHODOLOGY The ideal time to learn a second language. This age group tends
to outperform adults and to progress more rapidly than younger learners.
affect - PSYCHOLOGY The general word for emotion or feelings. These factors positively or
negatively influence language learning. Often contrasted with cognitive factors such as
intelligence and learning style. Low ___ive filter=emotionally well-disposed to processing input
High ___ive=won't process input so effecitively.
,affix, affixation - VOCABULARY An element that is added to a word and which changes its
meaning. The process of doing this.
affordance - LINGUISTICS The language learning opportunities that exist in a learner's linguistic
'environment.' Maximized with meaningful activities and giving learners feedback.
agency - METHODOLOGY Control of your own actions, including your mental activity. A notion
from critical pedagogy. Learners are not objects of the teaching process; they are subjects of the
learning process. A factor that contributes to motivation.
applied linguistics - LINGUISTICS Concerned with the application of linguistic theory to solving
language-related problems in the real world. Language planning, speech therapy, lexcography,
translation studies, forensic linguistics.
appraisal - LINGUISTICS Also called stance; the way speakers and writers use language to
express their personal attitude to what is being said or written; one of the main ways that
language's interpersonal function is realized; consists of 3 categories: affect (personal feelings),
judgment (social values and social esteem), appreciation (opinions). These can all be expressed
lexically, grammatically or through the use of paralinguistic devices.
appropriacy - SOCIOLINGUISTICS Using language in a way that is suitable for the context and in a
way that meets the expectations of the people you are communicating with. An aspect of
sociolinguistic competence, which is a component of a speaker's overall communicative
competence. (Dell Hymes)
appropriation - SLA To make something your own. Gaining ownership of a skill by first doing it
with someone who is more skilled than you are until you can control or regulate the skill
yourself. A key concept in sociocultural learning theory. Language is not simply a behavior that is
conditioned through repeated practice, but that it is one of collaborative construction, in which
skills are transferred in socially-situated activity.
,aptitude - PSYCHOLOGY The innate talent or predisposition for language learning. 3 kinds of
ability: auditory, linguistic, memory.
aspect - GRAMMAR The way the speaker's 'view' of an event is expressed by the verb phrase,
regardless of the time of the event itself. 2 of these in English: progressive and perfect.
contingency - PSYCHOLOGY The sense that what is happening is connected to what has just
happened and what is about to happen.
audiolingualism - METHODOLOGY Became widespread in the US in the 1950s and 60s.
Distinctive feature=drilling of sentence patterns. Came from a view of learning as habit
formation (behaviorism). Spoken language was prioritized; translation and the use of
metalanguage were discouraged; accuracy was considered a precondition for fluency. Shot
down by Chomsky in the early 60s and the birth of mentalism.
authenticity - LINGUISTICS Became a priority with the communicative approach. The idea of
"grade the task, not the text" was born. This kind of interaction is both more communicative
and offers more affordances for learning.
automaticity - PSYCHOLOGY The ability to perform a task without having to focus attention on it.
This frees a learner's limited attentional resources for more demanding activities. A process of
setting up chunks and associations that link one step with another. This doesn't mean a sacrifice
of accuracy. When chunks of language are produced in a pre-assembled form, the speaker has
much less chance of making mistakes.
autonomy - PSYCHOLOGY Also called self-directed learning. The capacity to take responsibility
for your own learning.
behaviorism - PSYCHOLOGY A psychological theory popular in the mid-twentieth century that
viewed learning as a sort of habit formation and positive reinforcement. Audiolingualism is the
teaching method that is associated with this. stimulus-response-reinforcement.
, ThisKtheoryKrejectedKanyKrole,KinKlearning,KforKmentalKprocessesKsuchKasKthoughtKandKreasoning.
bilingualismK-
KSLAKAtKoneKpointKitKwasKconsideredKaKhandicapKtoKsecondKlanguageKlearnersKsinceK(accordingKtoKb
ehavioristKtheory)KtheKfirstKlanguageKinterferesKwithKtheKsecond.KADDITIVE=secondKlanguageKadd
edKtoKfirstKwithoutKthreateningKtheKspeaker'sKfirstKlanguageKidentity;KSUBTRACTIVE=theKsecondKla
nguageKreplacesKtheKfirst,KthreateningKtheKspeaker'sKlanguageKidentity.
cognitiveKlearningKtheoryK-
KPSYCHOLOGYKAKlearningKtheoryKthatKdrawsKuponKideasKfromKcognitiveKpsychology,KtheKbranchKofK
psychologyKthatKdealsKwithKperceptionKandKthinking.KPiagetKfirstKproposedKtheKviewKthatKlanguage
KdevelopsKoutKofKtheKchild'sKthoughtsKandKgrowingKawarenessKofKtheKworld.KAKlaterKversionKsugges
tsKthatKtheKchildKacquiresKlanguageKbyKformingKandKtestingKhypothesesKaboutKtheKadultKlanguageKi
tKhearsKaroundKit.KHasKbeenKcriticizedKasKbeingKmechanistic,KandKforKignoringKsocialKandKaffectiveKf
actors.
coherenceK-KDISCOURSEKHowKtheKsentencesKinKaKtextKrelateKtoKeachKother.
cohesionK-
KDISCOURSEKTheKuseKofKgrammaticalKandKlexicalKmeansKtoKachieveKconnectedKtext.KLEXICAL:Krepet
ition,Ksynonyms,KgeneralKwords,KsameKthematicKfield,Ksubstitution,Kellipsis;KGRAMMATICAL:Krefer
ences,Ksubstitution,Kellipsis,Klinkers,Kparallelism
collocationK-
KVOCABULARYKWordsKthatKfrequentlyKoccurKtogether.KCanKbeKgrammaticalK(collocateKwithKspecific
Kprepositions:K"accountKfor")KorKlexical:K"narrowKescape."
communicationKstrategyK-
KSLAKWaysKthatKlearnersKgetKaroundKtheKfactKthatKtheyKmayKnotKknowKhowKtoKsayKsomething,KbutKt
hatKhelpKtheKlearnerKachieveKtheirKintendedKmessage:Kparaphrase,KwordKcoinage,KforeignizingKaKw
ord,Kapproximation,Kall-purposeKwords,Klanguage-switching,Kparalinguistics,KappealingKforKhelp.
