Checking for Comprehension in the PPP Lesson

It is important that the teacher discovers whether or not a student has understood the concept of the new words. In order to check this a teacher can make use of various checking techniques.

Comprehension checking techniques

If the teacher tried to check the comprehension of the word ‘sweets’ by simply pointing to the object of a paper bag of sugared almonds on the desk, this might give students the idea that any similar bag, whether of jellies, candy, chocolate or nuts is called ‘sweets’. The teacher needs to differentiate between a bag of boiled sweets, a pack of chewy sweets, a bar of chocolate, nuts coated in sugar or chocolate and plain nuts etc.

It is always useful to ask some questions to check the students’ understanding of a word or phrase.

Examples

Comprehension questions for the word ‘scream’:

Do you make a quiet sound?

Is it loud?

How are you feeling at the time?

How do people feel when they scream?

These questions can be answered by the students as a group or individually and from their responses the teacher will be able to deduce whether they have grasped the concept of a scream.

Comprehension check questions for the word ‘mansion’:

	Can you live in it?
	Is it big or small?
	Would you be rich or poor if you lived in a mansion?

Comprehension check questions for ‘smile’

	What am I doing?
	Am I happy?
	Do I feel sad?
	How do you think I feel?
	What is the opposite word?

Explore ideas for comprehension checks, practice and production by clicking on the buttons below.

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