Dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary

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Dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary

• It doesnt have to ruin your day.

Teachers See the normal or notes viewfor
teaching suggestions
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Context often allows you to avoid your dictionary

• Context, the words and sentences surrounding an
  unfamiliar word, can provide numerous clues to
  its meaning.

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How can we use context to understand a word we
dont know?

• There are many ways.
• Lets try a few

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Context means looking outside the word at the
surrounding text

• hobble
• Ever since the old man broke his leg, he has only
  been able to hobble
• Ever since the old man broke his leg, he has only
  been able to hobble around with the aid of a cane.

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What does throng mean?

• The crowd gathered at the city gates and at ten
  o clock it began to move. Reaching the church a
  half hour later, the throng stopped and waited
  patiently for the priests.

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• The crowd gathered at the city gates and at ten
  o clock it began to move. Reaching the church a
  half hour later, the throng stopped and waited
  patiently for the priests.

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Watch for synonyms

• The crowd gathered at the city gates and at ten
  o clock it began to move. Reaching the church a
  half hour later, the throng stopped and waited
  patiently for the priests.

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• Before the meeting the President appeared calm,
  but we all knew he was extremely agitated.

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• Before the meeting the President appeared calm,
  but we all knew he was extremely agitated.

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Watch for antonyms too

• Before the meeting the President appeared calm,
  but we all knew he was extremely agitated.

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• They marvelled at our dishwasher and dish-dryer.
  They fell in love with the automatic coffeemaker,
  the microwave oven, and the food blender. They
  wanted to take our rice cooker and toaster home
  with them. They had never seen such appliances
  before.

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• They marvelled at our dishwasher and dish-dryer.
  They fell in love with the automatic coffeemaker,
  the microwave oven, and the food blender. They
  wanted to take our rice cooker and toaster home
  with them. They had never seen such appliances
  before.

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• They marvelled at our dishwasher and dish-dryer.
  They fell in love with the automatic coffeemaker,
  the microwave oven, and the food blender. They
  wanted to take our rice cooker and toaster home
  with them. They had never seen such appliances
  before.

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Groups and Examples

• They marvelled at our dishwasher and dish-dryer.
  They fell in love with the automatic coffeemaker,
  the microwave oven, and the food blender. They
  wanted to take our rice cooker and toaster home
  with them. They had never seen such appliances
  before.

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• The Federal Aviation Administration concluded
  yesterday that the DC-10 pylon, the structure
  that attaches the engine to the wings, is
  fundamentally sound and does not need any major
  design changes.

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• The Federal Aviation Administration concluded
  yesterday that the DC-10 pylon, the structure
  that attaches the engine to the wings, is
  fundamentally sound and does not need any major
  design changes.

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Look for explanations

• The Federal Aviation Administration concluded
  yesterday that the DC-10 pylon, the structure
  that attaches the engine to the wings, is
  fundamentally sound and does not need any major
  design changes.

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• The enemy soldiers were able to cow the
  villagers by threatening to shoot anyone who
  refused to give them food.

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Is this about a cow? Clearly not.

• The enemy soldiers were able to cow the
  villagers by threatening to shoot anyone who
  refused to give them food.

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Picture the situation in your mind. Who is being
cowed?

• The enemy soldiers were able to cow the
  villagers by threatening to shoot anyone who
  refused to give them food.

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Who is doing the cowing? How?

• The enemy soldiers were able to cow the
  villagers by threatening to shoot anyone who
  refused to give them food.

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Use the overall context

• The enemy soldiers were able to cow the
  villagers by threatening to shoot anyone who
  refused to give them food.

One of those doing the cowing
One of those being cowed
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Using Context

• Watch for synonyms
• Watch for antonyms
• Notice groups and examples
• Look for explanations of technical terms
• Use the overall context