Microsoft Word Glossary March 2011 doc

 
Intensifier 
A word used to make the meaning of another word stronger, e.g. He’s much taller than his brother. I’m very tired. 
 
Intensive course 
A course which takes place over a short period of time, but which consists of a large number of hours. 
 
Intensive listening/reading 
One meaning of intensive listening/reading is reading or listening to focus on how language is used in a text. This is 
how intensive listening/reading is used in TKT. See extensive listening/reading. 
 
Interaction 
noun, 
interact 
verb,
 interactive strategies
 
Interaction is ‘two-way communication’ between listener and speaker, or reader and text. Interactive strategies are 
the means used, especially in speaking, to keep people involved and interested in what is said or to keep 
communication going, e.g. eye contact, use of gestures, functions such as repeating, asking for clarification.  
 
Interaction patterns 
The different ways learners and the teacher work together in class, e.g. learner to learner, in pairs or groups or 
teacher to learner, in open class, in plenary. When teachers plan lessons, they think about interaction patterns and 
write them on their plan. 
 
Interactive whiteboard (IWB) 
A special surface where a computer screen is displayed using a projector. Teachers and learners can use it by 
touching it or by using an interactive pen which acts like a mouse. 
 
Interference 
Interference happens when the learner’s mother tongue affects performance in the target language, especially in 
pronunciation, lexis or grammar. For example, a learner may make a grammatical mistake because they apply the 
same grammatical pattern as they use in their mother tongue to what they want to say in the target language, but the 
L1 grammatical pattern is not appropriate in L2.