Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Teaching & Education

Text Linguistics and Communication

Defining Text Linguistics

Text Linguistics is the discipline that studies the text as a unit of communication.

Understanding the Text Unit

The Text refers to the unity of all oral or written communication intentionally issued by a speaker, with a particular communicative purpose and functioning as a complete unit of communication.

Essential Properties of Text

Consistency in Text

Consistency refers to the logical relationship between all parts of the text. We perceive it as a unit of meaning that:

• Presents a logical progression of ideas.
• Ensures the theme is always the same.
• Contains enough information, with facts related to the real world.

Cohesion: Unifying Text Units

Cohesion is the union or articulation of the units... Continue reading "Foundations of Text Linguistics and Literary Analysis" »

Assessing Written Expression: Product and Process

Evaluating the Written Product

The evaluation of the written product is a standard technique for testing students. To ensure the assessment is valid and reliable, consider the following logical elements:

• Objectives: Define the specific skills to be assessed. Written expression involves a diverse range of cognitive, procedural, and attitudinal factors.
• Test and Text Type: Once objectives are set, select the appropriate exercise. Drafting a complete text remains the most valid and comprehensive technique for evaluating expression.
• Success Criteria and Scoring Scales: Before testing, design clear success criteria and a scoring scale. Success criteria define the linguistic or communicative aspects required

... Continue reading "Effective Strategies for Assessing Written Expression" »

Evaluation Method

Knowledge Assessment

According to the "General Principles on Evaluation of Knowledge," the rules for the assessment of knowledge in the discipline of Oral and Written Communication are:

Continuous Assessment

This evaluation process is based on the work developed by students throughout the semester. Therefore, it requires presence (it is obligatory to attend at least 75% of classes planned for the semester) and participation in classes, in addition to performing the assigned work and exercises.

Consideration of the following forms of assessment in this model (exam waiver):

• Presence and participation in class (includes the carrying out of work and exercises) (30%)
• Presentation of a public work (40%)
• Written proof (30%)

Work and/or exercises... Continue reading "Oral and Written Communication: Evaluation and Course Outline" »

Verbal Periphrasis

A periphrasis consists of two verbs in one sentence where one acts as an auxiliary. Key types include:

• Infinitive: Indicates future character. Types: Mandatory (have to, be to, duty), Inchoative (go to, start, made to), Duda (duty, come), Reiteration (again, soler), and Perfecta (finish, reach).
• Gerund: Expresses an ongoing action by insisting on its duration or continuity. Verbs: be, go, come, follow, continue.
• Participle: Indicates the result of an action. Verbs: have, leave, go.

Pronouns and Determiners

Demonstrative: this, these, that, those.

Possessive: mine, yours, hers, ours, theirs.

Indefinite: one, some, none, all, other, much, little, pretty, too.

Punctuation/Relative Marks: that, who, which.

Personal Pronouns: I, me, us,... Continue reading "Essential Spanish Grammar and Literary Devices" »

This type of project continues to follow the traditional mode of social researchers' work. The project's openness is low. Roles between researcher and observed are not exchanged. The researcher remains the synthesizer and the observed are passive actors in this task.

Project in Participatory Action Research (IAP)

In practice, the heterogeneity of goals and approaches in open investigation results in conceptual differences between projects (projects in institutional environments: enterprises, schools, etc., or projects with socially transformative movements, NGOs, etc.).

Phases

1. Self-diagnostics.
2. Negotiated programming.
3. Formulation of proposals and outreach to other levels.
4. Development of proposals.
5. Assessment.

Self-Diagnosis

The self-diagnosis identifies

... Continue reading "Participatory Action Research Projects: Phases and Self-Diagnosis (IAP)" »

Unit 5 Vocabulary: Key Terms and Definitions

Attitudes and Authority

Liberal

(Lliurepensador/a): My parents are very liberal, and I can do what I want.

Referee

(Àrbitre): He works as a referee every weekend.

To be on your side

(Estar al teu costat): The referee is on your side.

Strict

(Estricte/a): My parents are very strict, and I can’t do what I want.

Neutral

(Ser neutral): The referee is never neutral.

Settle for

(Conformar-se): She settled for that job.

Actions and Events

Overhear

(Escoltar quelcom per accident): I overheard my parents' conversation.

Flee

(Fugir): The thief decided to flee.

Get away

(Marxar): The thief didn’t want to get away.

Bury

(Entarrar): They buried their treasure.

Nod

(Afirmar amb el cap): George nodded his head in agreement.... Continue reading "Essential English Vocabulary: Actions, Family, and Status Terms" »

The Essence of Literature

Literature is an art expressed through language. It is characterized by using words in a special way, distinct from everyday usage. Literary language is provocative and creative, aiming to surprise and please the reader or listener.

The Aesthetic Function

In literary texts, the aesthetic function of language dominates: the author seeks to create beauty through words. Consequently, they utilize expressive resources to develop their art.

Literary texts employ connotative language, where words acquire meanings beyond their usual definitions, such as a "duel of biting lilies."

Literary Figures and Expressive Resources

Literary figures are expressive resources that manipulate language to make it beautiful and inspiring. They... Continue reading "Understanding Literature and Verb Conjugation" »

English Verb Tenses: A Comprehensive Look

Past Simple

• Usage: For definite or concrete moments in the past.
• Positive Form: Subject + Verb (2nd form or -ed)
• Negative Form: Subject + did not + Verb (base form)
• Question Form: Did + Subject + Verb (base form)?

Past Continuous

• Usage: For actions in progress at a specific time in the past, or actions of ongoing duration in the past.
• Positive Form: Subject + was / were + Verb + -ing
• Negative Form: Subject + was not / were not + Verb + -ing
• Question Form: Was / Were + Subject + Verb + -ing?

Past Perfect

• Usage: To express actions that happened before another action in the past.
• Positive Form: Subject + had + Verb (past participle / 3rd column)
• Negative Form: Subject + had not + Verb (past participle / 3rd column)
• Question

... Continue reading "Mastering English Grammar: Tenses, Modals, and Conditionals" »

Listening Comprehension Answer Key

General Topics

• Are insects the future of food? 1.C, 2.A, 3.D, 4.B, 5.B, 6.B, 7.A, 8.A
• Does handwriting have a future? 1.D, 2.C, 3.C, 4.B, 5.D, 6.C, 7.B, 8.D
• Salvador Dalí's cookbook: 1.D, 2.C, 3.A, 4.C, 5.A, 6.D, 7.B, 8.C
• Interview with a scriptwriter: 1.B, 2.B, 3.B, 4.C, 5.C, 6.A, 7.D, 8.C
• Food in space: 1.B, 2.D, 3.C, 4.A, 5.C, 6.C, 7.D, 8.B
• Building for a better world: 1.A, 2.A, 3.C, 4.C, 5.B, 6.D, 7.A, 8.C
• An interview with a champion: 1.B, 2.B, 3.B, 4.C, 5.C, 6.D, 7.A, 8.C
• Telepathy: 1.C, 2.D, 3.B, 4.D, 5.C, 6.D, 7.C, 8.A
• Hearing dogs: 1.A, 2.B, 3.D, 4.C, 5.B, 6.B, 7.C, 8.D
• Do schools destroy creativity? 1.D, 2.C, 3.B, 4.D, 5.D, 6.D, 7.A, 8.A
• Are we alone in the universe? 1.C, 2.D, 3.A, 4.C, 5.A, 6.A, 7.D, 8.A
• The

... Continue reading "Comprehensive Listening Comprehension Answer Key" »

Modal Clauses

Modal clauses (menderakuntza modalak) are subordinate clauses that explain how an action in the main sentence is performed.

Modal Conjunctions

• -(e)n bezala: Used to replace adverbial phrases; answers the question "How?".
• -(e)n bezala / -(e)n bezalakoa: Equivalent to "as" or "like".
• -(e)n bezalakoa: Indicates similarity.

In these structures, the auxiliary verb is often removed, and the main verb is associated with the participle. The verb can sometimes be deleted entirely to create a summary form.

Purpose Clauses

Purpose clauses (helburuzko perpausak) indicate the objective, intention, or purpose of the main action, answering the question "For what purpose?".

Purpose Conjunctions

These are typically used with non-finite verb forms (jokatugabeak)... Continue reading "Basque Grammar: Modal and Purpose Clauses Explained" »