Dealing with unknown words in the text

We tend to think that “now knowing” the meaning of a certain word is never a serious issue. Usually, an ESL teacher is always there to help. Plus, modern technologies have significantly eased the students’ hardships. One might even think something along the lines of why do we even need to master various strategies of dealing with unknown words in the text. 

In this article, we are going to talk about both reasons and strategies you should know to make your students prepared for anything.

There is nothing scary or complicated about not knowing something during the lesson. Every ESL teacher is used to answering dozens of questions during a single class. 

However, there are such cases when it is indeed important to be less teacher-dependent as:

During individual practice

Coming across an unknown word happens all the time when the teacher is not around, especially when students are reading or watching something on their own.

Sure, there is Google instead, however, if the student is aware of certain methods, they may never need googling.

At the exam

This is the occasion where not knowing what to do about unknown words might have some serious consequences. Here, the student doesn’t have any help as well as resources that could give a hint.

We have already mentioned strategies that are meant to give some clues even in the most complicated situations. And now, it is time to look at them one by one.

Break the word into pieces

It is important to make sure that students understand how to deal with long words. Every time students, and especially beginners, see a long word they tend to panic and ask for help or translation instantly.

For example, a student struggles with the word “worldwide”. Instead of explaining it straight away, you may advise them to break this world into smaller pieces which are the following “world” and “wide”.

Let’s look at another example and let it be “unfortunately”.

Prefix “un–” normally adds some negative meaning. “ly” gives a hint that we are dealing with an adverb. The suffix “-ate-” is used to form adjectives and normally means something along the lines of being “full of” or “expressing/showing”. 

Therefore, we may conclude that the relatively easy word “fortune” turns into a negative adjective to eventually become an adverb which means “in a regrettable, unlucky, or unsuitable manner, in an unfortunate manner”.

Search the clues in the context

If the text is appropriate to the students’ level, not all the words in the sentence may be unknown. 

Therefore, the context can really help to understand the meaning.

Try comparing

If neither of the previous strategies works, students may try reflecting on what the worlds remind them of.

What if they can recall another word with the same root? Such a comparison can provoke some new associations and ideas.

Try to guess the meaning

It might sound obvious but during the examination it is better to guess than leave a blank space.