This activity is designed to help students see that synonyms are not always interchangeable but have subtle differences in usage, connotation, register, collocation, etc. Students will use online dictionaries to compare synonyms.
Objectives
Skills
|
Materials
Mobile devices or laptops with internet access |
Level
Beginner to Intermediate Time Needed 10-15 minutes |
Procedures
1. Divide students into pairs or small groups.
2. Each group will work on the same sets of words. Students should discuss these words with each other, then use online dictionaries to support their ideas. Some online dictionaries which are suitable for learners include Macmillan Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary.
Example sets of words:
1. Divide students into pairs or small groups.
2. Each group will work on the same sets of words. Students should discuss these words with each other, then use online dictionaries to support their ideas. Some online dictionaries which are suitable for learners include Macmillan Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary.
Example sets of words:
children / kids
educate / teach surprised / astonished slip / slide / skid famous / notorious / well-known |
3. Students feed back as a class.
Notes
A. This could also be given as homework if online access is not available in the classroom.
B. Students may require pre-teaching to supply vocabulary for explaining subtle differences between synonyms.
Reference
Adapted from Ur, P. (2012) Vocabulary Activities. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 162-163.
Notes
A. This could also be given as homework if online access is not available in the classroom.
B. Students may require pre-teaching to supply vocabulary for explaining subtle differences between synonyms.
Reference
Adapted from Ur, P. (2012) Vocabulary Activities. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 162-163.