Presentation, Practice and Production

In the ESL classroom, a common way to introduce a new word to the classroom is the PPP technique.

The three stages of a PPP lesson

Firstly, the teacher presents the new word, an event which involves the presentation of pronunciation and spelling, all in context. Next the teacher allows the students to practice the new word in a controlled setting, making sure the student has understood it properly. Third is the production stage, where there is less-controlled practice and an informal assessment of learning whereby the students get chance to use the new word in an original way, to relate it to their knowledge and experiences. These three stages help the student to consolidate the new word in their mental vocabulary bank.

This method of presentation, practice and production is an approach that follows a definite sequence:

The teacher presents the new vocabulary and explains the form of the language in a meaningful context.
The students practise this new vocabulary through controlled activities such as worksheets or question and answer activities.
The students use or produce what they have learned in a communicative activity such as a role-play, communication game, or question and answer session.

Teaching using the PPP technique

Each stage of the Presentation, Practice and Production lesson must be planned well to be effective. However, PPP is a highly flexible approach to teaching and there are many different activities a teacher can employ for each stage.

Presentation can include mime, drawing, audio. In fact it is a good idea to try to engage with different sense of the students to get across the meaning of the new word. It is also important to make sure that students have understood the new word before getting them to move on to practise it. It is often fun and highly effective for students to play games to practise their new vocabulary and to produce it.

For ideas on ways to present new vocabulary and check comprehension, and activities which allow students to practice and produce their vocabulary, please click on the links below:

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