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ARRESTED TECHNIQUES

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If English is not your first language, you may find this padlet useful.

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Free videos and downloadable worksheets to help adult learners improve their reading, writing, spelling and grammar.

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Different types of questions
Reading test advice

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Standard English is formal - it does not include informal language. We use informal language in situations where Standard English is not necessary or might not be appropriate.

For example, we might use informal language like when we are with our friends or family. Your might include slang words and phrases that are particular to your age or social group. For example, think of the following words you might use to describe your sports shoes. Perhaps you would use one of the following:

Most speakers would understand the word 'trainers', but the other words could be considered more informal or slang words.

When using informal language it is also common to use contractions - shortened versions of phrases such as 'gonna' for 'going to', 'innit' for 'isn't it' and 'I ain't' for 'I am not'. These contractions are not appropriate for formal speaking situations, but it would still be acceptable to use contractions like 'I'm' and 'don't'.

Here is an example of Catherine Tate's comedy character Lauren Cooper using informal language to speak to her teacher. Notice how her language seems out of place.

Dialect is the form of language used by a group that live in a particular area. If a speaker is using a dialect, they may use different words, spellings or even order their sentences in different ways. For example, in Newcastle the word 'gadgie' means man.

These non-standard English words and forms are easily understood by certain groups of people, but might be unfamiliar to other groups. Although dialect words can be acceptable in formal English, it's important to think about your audience and when deciding whether to use them or not.

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Standard English - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Standard English is formal - it does not include informal language. We use informal language in situations where Standard English is not necessary or might not be appropriate. For example, we might use informal language like when we are with our friends or family.

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During a group discussion it's important to use and speak in a clear and fluent way.

It might be useful to prepare some possible sentence starters to use whilst contributing to the discussion, or when responding to questions that you might be asked.

Here is a list of possible sentence starters for your discussion:

Another perspective is...

On the other hand...

I fully believe that...

It has been suggested that... however...

This particular piece of evidence implies that...

It has been put forward that... but I believe...

Having listened to all the points that have been made, I still feel that...

Although many people have suggested that...

Firstly, it should be noted that...

Despite listening to some very convincing arguments, I still believe that...

Finally, I would like to point out that...

You must have confidence in your own opinion. Do not be afraid to say what you think, just make sure that you do it in a clear and logical way.

Use Standard English throughout the discussion.

Ask open-ended questions.

Give your opinion in an organised manner, providing evidence for your suggestions.

Listen carefully to the opinions of others.

Comment on what other people say in an appropriate manner.

Try to prepare a few sentence starters to help structure your response.

If the conversation falters, try to move it forward by introducing new points or by asking appropriate questions.

Watch and listen to this group discussion on voting. Notice how everybody takes their turn in a calm and orderly manner.

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Sentence starters - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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During a group discussion it's important to use and speak in a clear and fluent way. It might be useful to prepare some possible sentence starters to use whilst contributing to the discussion, or when responding to questions that you might be asked. Here is a list of possible sentence starters for your discussion: Another perspective is...

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Responding and interacting - Discussion Skills

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Responding and interacting - Discussion Skills

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A group discussion is a valuable opportunity to share ideas and express your opinion with other members of your class. For a group discussion to be useful, it's important to listen carefully to others and respond to their opinions.

Discussion skills - preparing to discuss

Having a discussion with a group of classmates in a more formal setting is different from the ordinary type of conversations you probably have with your friends on a daily basis. For example, when you talk with a group of friends there are probably times when you all talk at once, or disagree with one another without properly listening to what the other person has to say.

The following lists; 'Things to do' and 'Things not to do' should help you to approach your discussion in the most productive way possible.

Do speak clearly and with expression. Have confidence in your ideas.

Do listen carefully to the opinion of others.

Do show you have listened to the opinion of others by commenting on what they have said.

Avoid interrupting someone else when they are giving their opinion.

Try not to talk over the top of anyone else. Wait until they have finished speaking before you begin to talk.

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Group discussion - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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A group discussion is a valuable opportunity to share ideas and express your opinion with other members of your class. For a group discussion to be useful, it's important to listen carefully to others and respond to their opinions.

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Questions - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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There are two different types of questions that can be asked. These are: Open-ended questions prompt your listener to answer in a much more detailed way. They cannot give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, but must be prepared to provide plenty of detail and give reasons for why they believe their opinion is the correct one.

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The meaning of your words is affected by how you choose to use your voice. For example, you might whisper if you want to say something that only one person should hear, shout loudly if you're trying to get someone's attention. You might use a tone with a friend and a polite tone with someone you respect. You speak slowly in some situations and quickly in others.

When using your voice you can change your:

Think about your listener and aim to keep them interested by varying your voice, avoiding rambling or speaking in a monotone. Speak a little more loudly and slowly to emphasise a point or draw your listeners in with a whisper.

You can use your voice to:

In this video, Simon Armitage explores the importance of how people use their voices:

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Controlling your voice - Voice - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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The meaning of your words is affected by how you choose to use your voice. For example, you might whisper if you want to say something that only one person should hear, shout loudly if you're trying to get someone's attention. You might use a tone with a friend and a polite tone with someone you respect.

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In a discussion, you should aim to interact and respond to what other people are saying . Talk with confidence and let others speak. Remember that listening is as important as speaking.

You can show you are listening by:

making eye contact with the speaker and responding to what they say

using body language to show co-operation and understanding , for example shrugs and nods

A good discussion has a flow to it with people agreeing and disagreeing, giving explanations for their viewpoints. Each person needs to be allowed time to speak and to share their opinion before the next person adds their point.

Things to avoid in a group discussion include:

interruption - except maybe to show agreement, eg "Yes, I see"

cutting people off mid-sentence

talking over other people

breaking off into mini-discussions within a big group

If you find taking part in discussions difficult, try planning your ideas in advance so you know you have something to share. If you don't feel strongly about a topic, build on someone else's point or ask a question to another member of the group.

A useful technique is to use open questions. These are questions that cannot be answered with a single word such as 'yes' or 'no'. Instead the answerer must give more detail. They can lead to a friendly and useful discussion. 'What do you think about the character?' is a more open question than 'Did you like him?' Closed questions like this can be useful sometimes - when summarising a discussion and making sure everyone has had their say, for example. They can also make people commit to an opinion one way or another. But on the whole discussions require open questions - and when you are asked one, you should try to give a full answer.

Make sure everyone has a chance to speak by inviting opinions. Use formal language and stay calm, especially when a topic is important to you.

Preparing to discuss

The topic you discuss will always have different viewpoints. Think about as many points of view on your topic as you can, then aim to cover the most likely in your discussion. Try to cover only the key issues in detail. If you have time, try to do some research beforehand. Facts, statistics and examples can be powerful convincers in a discussion.

When taking part in a group discussion try to use spoken . Think about your voice, eye-contact and body language . You can agree and disagree without turning your discussion into a confrontation. Show that you're listening, and keep the discussion flowing by asking thoughtful questions .

- respect other people's right to their opinions

- help the conversation develop by being co-operative

- listen to both sides of the discussion and respond to each

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Discussion skills - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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In a discussion, you should aim to interact and respond to what other people are saying . Talk with confidence and let others speak. Remember that listening is as important as speaking.

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Gestures are movements that we make naturally when we speak. Some people use lots of gestures and 'talk with their hands'. Others use more subtle gestures.

Not all gestures are universal and some have different meanings according to your .

Here are some common gestures that you might recognise:

You can often understand a conversation, at least in part, from gestures alone. By watching a television conversation with the sound off you can often still understand what's going on in general. Gestures indicate emotion and that carries a great deal of information.

When you are delivering a presentation or speech think about how you can use gestures and facial expressions to emphasise certain points you want to make. Plan in advance where gestures will be effective and practise your talk as if you are rehearsing for a play.

In this clip notice how the politicians' gestures speak as loudly as their words.

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Gestures - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Gestures are movements that we make naturally when we speak. Some people use lots of gestures and 'talk with their hands'. Others use more subtle gestures. Not all gestures are universal and some have different meanings according to your .

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We give clues about what we are thinking by the way we sit or stand. That doesn't mean that everyone who sits upright is interested or that everyone who slumps is bored. But paying attention to posture can help us communicate a message more clearly.

Posture is usually interpreted at a subconscious level. Here are some examples of posture with some generally accepted meanings:

You can use your own posture to your advantage when you are in a discussion or giving a presentation. Show that you are interested and engaged with a speaker by leaning slightly towards them and tilting your head to one side. Feel the difference yourself, for example, when you fold your arms and sit back in your chair.

To appear more confident when delivering a speech or presentation:

plant your feet firmly on the ground, about hip distance apart

roll your shoulders back

keep your chin up

keep your arms relaxed and by your side, unless you are making specific gestures

Even if you don't feel confident on the inside, this posture will go some way to convincing your audience that you know what you're talking about.

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Posture - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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We give clues about what we are thinking by the way we sit or stand. That doesn't mean that everyone who sits upright is interested or that everyone who slumps is bored. But paying attention to posture can help us communicate a message more clearly. Posture is usually interpreted at a subconscious level.

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Pitch and volume - Voice - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Learn and revise about voice with this BBC Bitesize GCSE English Language Edexcel guide.

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Your tone of voice, like your body language, can affect the meaning of the words you say. In successful communication, your tone of voice must match your message.

In a presentation, discussion or conversation you can change your tone at different stages to help keep your audience's interest. A speech delivered in the same tone throughout (ie a monotone) will be boring as it seems to lack the necessary emotion and conviction.

Varying your tone will make your talk more engaging and convincing. Listen to Benedick's speech from Act 2 Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing . This isn't a natural conversation, but notice how the actor creates realism by varying his tone to show the character's surprise and increasing enthusiasm for the idea that Beatrice just might actually love him.

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Tone - Voice - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Your tone of voice, like your body language, can affect the meaning of the words you say. In successful communication, your tone of voice must match your message. In a presentation, discussion or conversation you can change your tone at different stages to help keep your audience's interest.

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Communication is not just about the words you say. It is also about how you say those words (eg the tone and volume of your voice) and the way you look, stand, sit and move in relation to your listeners. This is what is meant by body language .

You can enhance or undermine anything you say in face-to-face communication depending on how you use your body language. Imagine two people, Kara and Jordan, both saying "That's great!" Kara is smiling, has her arms open and is looking at you as she says this. Jordan is frowning, has his arms folded and is looking at his feet. Notice how the use of body language results in two very different interpretations and outcomes of the attempted communication.

Be aware of your body language when you are speaking and listening. You show your interest in or dislike of a topic with your:

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Body language - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Communication is not just about the words you say. It is also about how you say those words (eg the tone and volume of your voice) and the way you look, stand, sit and move in relation to your listeners. This is what is meant by body language .

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Keep your body language receiver friendly

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Keep your body language receiver friendly

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Keep your body language receiver friendly

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4 essential body language tips from a world champion public speaker

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Emails | English Language Functional Skills | Level 1

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CGP Pages

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CGP Pages

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Bill Haining's Functional Skills Masterclass

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0:00 / 4:52•Watch full video

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Forums | English Language Functional Skills | Level 1

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Different Types of Questions
Reading Test Advice

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Coherence & Cohesion - Functional Skills (Level 2) & GCSE English

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Writing Skills: DAFOREST and Punctuation

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Writing Skills: DAFOREST and Punctuation

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English Writing Skills: DAFOREST and punctuation

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Brush up on basic grammar with these short podcasts

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BBC Radio - 6 Minute Grammar - Episode guide

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The words a, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.

Indefinite Articles-a, an

an-used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:

an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange

a-used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):

a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book
Definite Article-the

Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count nouns

1. Indefinite Article (a, an)
Used before singular nouns that are unspecified:

Used before number collectives and some numbers:

Used before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier:

a girl who was wearing a yellow hat

Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree:

I felt a bit depressed.

2. Definite Article (the)
Used to indicate a noun that is definite or has been previously specified in the context:

Please close the door.

I like the clothes you gave me.

Used to indicate a noun that is unique:

Praise the Lord!

The Columbia River is near here.

Used to designate a natural phenomenon:

The nights get shorter in the summer.

The wind is blowing so hard.

Used to refer to a time period:

I was very naïve in the past.

This song was very popular in the 1980s.

Used to indicate all the members of a family:

I invited the Bakers for dinner.

This medicine was invented by the Smiths.

Choose the correct article in each sentence.

1)Did you bring (a, an, the) umbrella?
2)Are you looking for (a, an, the) shampoo?
3)I checked (a, an, the) mailbox again.
4)Can I have (a, an, the) spoon please?
5)I was born into (a, an, the) poor family.
6)She will come back in (a, an, the) hour.
7)Have you been to (a, an, the) Space Needle Tower in Seattle?
8)I would love to talk to one of (a, an, the) managers.
9)What (a, an, the) amazing view!
10)The helicopter landed on (a, an, the) roof of a building.

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Learn the basics of indefinite articels and definite articles for English grammar.

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Subjects verbs must AGREE with one another innumber (singular or plural).Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular; if a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural.

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Useful techniques to help with your spelling using memory aids, plurals, common letter patterns, prefixes and suffixes and root words.

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CGP Pages

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CGP Pages

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The position of Adverbs

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How to avoid comma splicing

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What are they and when do I use them?

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What are they and when do I use them?

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Functional Skills English - Reading: Language Techniques

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Language Features for GCSE English Language (Grade 9-1 Course)

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Understanding the Purpose of Different Types of Text

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Helpful Tips

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Exam skills: 6 tips to help you with reading exams

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IELTS Reading: Skimming, Scanning and Reading for Detail [IELTS 7 Plus]