Microsoft Word Glossary March 2011 doc

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A subjective test is marked using the examiner’s opinion about the quality of the answer. The answer is not 
simply right or wrong, e.g. marking written stories, compositions, interviews, conversations, story-telling.
A summative test is used at the end of a course. The focus is on the mark or grade given and feedback is 
not usually provided. See formative assessment. 
 
Test-teach-test 
A way of teaching new language. The teacher asks learners to do a task to see how well they know a certain piece of 
language (this is the first test). The teacher then presents the new language to the learners (teach), then asks the 
learners to do another task using the new language correctly (this is the second test). This way of approaching 
teaching target language can be helpful if the teacher thinks the learners may already know some of the target 
language. It helps the teacher diagnose what the learners need to learn so that s/he can focus only on what learners 
need to learn in the presentation (teach) stage. 
 
Text level 
The discourse features of a text. In an instruction text, for example, these would include: a statement about what is to 
be made, a list of items needed, steps written in chronological order, use of visuals or diagrams, etc. See word level 
and sentence level. 
 
Text structure 
The way a text is organised. For example, an essay typically has an introduction, a main section and a conclusion. 
 
Text type 
Texts that have specific features, e.g. layout, use of language, that make them part of a recognisable type of text,
e.g. letters, emails, news reports. 
 
Textbook: see book. 
 
Theme 
noun,
thematic 
adjective 
The main subject of a conversation, a text or a lesson.