E-learning

Learning supported by information and communication technologies (ICT). Comment: e-learning is notlimited to digital literacy (acquiring ICT skills). It may encompass multiple formats and hybrid methods: using software, Internet, CD-ROM, online learning or any other electronic or interactive media, or mobile devices such as MP3 players and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). E-learning can be face-to face or distance.

Elementary

Students at this level may have a vocabulary of up to 1000 words and will probably be learning or practicing present simple and continuous tenses, past simple and present perfect, will/shall, 'going to' futures. They should be able to hold simple conversations and survive in everyday situations.

Elicit (v.)

When a teacher thinks that some learners will know a piece of language or other information, s/he asks targeted questions or gives clues to get, or prompt learners to give the target language or information rather than simply providing it to the class her/himself.

Elicitation

Techniques or procedures which a teacher uses to get learners to actively produce speech or writing.

ELL

English Language Learners.

ELT

English Language Teaching or Training–A term coined in the UK and designed to replace EFL. It is in use around the world but has yet to catch on in the USA where the same phenomenon is referred to as TESOL.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Classes or support programs for students whose native language is not English.

E-Portfolio

A digital collection of an individual student’s work and achievements

Error

A mistake that a learner makes when trying to say something above their level of language or language processing. A developmental error is an error made by a second language learner which could also be made by a young person learning their mother tongue as part of their normal development, e.g. I goed there last week (I went there last week). A fossilised error is an error that has become a permanent feature of a learner’s language, the error has become a habit. Fossilised errors cannot easily be corrected. When a learner makes a slip they make a language mistake but they are able to correct themselves.