I came across an interesting idea for working on vocabulary: Make a Wordle and have students guess the common theme or category. The idea came from David at EFL Classroom 2.0 – Teacher Talk. He got it from Jen at Guess the Wordle Wiki. Basically you create a word list and then make a Wordle of it. It could have a lot of potential. I think.
I was looking at the academic vocabulary I am going to ask students to work on in the fall. It doesn’t seem to lend itself to this real well. But maybe I could have students create wordles with words related to some of the academic vocabulary. Then we could guess the vocabulary word these words are related to. I might be able to do something with this. Gotta do some thinking!
Dear Sir
I wondered if you might like a mutual link to both my Foreign word site and my English word website or press release details of my ensuing book with Penguin Press on amusing and interesting English vocabulary?
http://www.thewonderofwhiffling.com
with best wishes
Adam Jacot de Boinod
(author of The Meaning of Tingo)
(www.themeaningoftingo.com)
adamjacot@fastmail.co.uk
or wish to include:
1) THE MEANING OF TINGO
When photographers attempt to bring out our smiling faces by asking us
to “Say Cheese”, many countries appear to follow suit with English
equivalents. In Spanish however they say patata (potato), in Argentinian Spanish whisky, in French steak frites, in Serbia ptica (bird) and in
Danish appelsin (orange). Do you know of any other varieties from around the world’s languages? See more on http://www.themeaningoftingo.com
2) THE WONDER OF WHIFFLING
The Wonder of Whiffling is a tour of English around the globe (with fine
coinages from our English-speaking cousins across the pond, Down Under
and elsewhere).
Discover all sorts of words you’ve always wished existed but never knew,
such as fornale, to spend one’s money before it has been earned; cagg, a solemn vow or resolution not to get drunk for a certain time; and
petrichor, the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a
dry spell.
Delving passionately into the English language, I also discover why it
is you wouldn’t want to have dinner with a vice admiral of the narrow
seas, why Jacobites toasted the little gentleman in black velvet, and
why a Nottingham Goodnight is better than one from anywhere else. See
more on http://www.thewonderofwhiffling.com
with best wishes
Adam