ACADEMIC LANGUAGE

ACROSS THE
CURRICULUM
Module 5
MODULE 5.1
Academic Language Across the subject – Components.
Academic Language
Academic language is the oral and written language used for academic
purposes.
AL is believed to be one of the most important factors in the academic
success.
Language needed by students to do the work in school.
Includes discipline specific vocabulary, grammar, punctuation etc.
Academic language should be taught within a context or topic.
AL cannot be learned through exposure within a classroom setting, but
must be explicitly taught, practiced and applied to a variety of content
areas repeatedly throughout the year.
 5.1 Components of Academic Language

3 main components
Vocabulary,
grammatical structures
functions
 5.1.1.VOCABULARY
Vocabulary means the words used in a particular language.
2 types –active vocabulary and passive
Active(expressive) vocabulary- words that we use in our daily life.(SW)
Passive (receptive) vocabulary- words that we understand but don’t use yet. (LR)

Importance
Vocabulary expansion techniques
Facilitates accurate expression
• Wide reading
Develops power of communication
• Word games & Puzzles
Improves reading speed • Listen more
Improves reading comprehension • Vocabulary book
Facilitates precise thinking • Dictionary use
 5.1.1.VOCABULARY
Different levels of Vocabulary/ 3 tired vocabulary
5.1.1.VOCABULARY

Ways to learn vocabulary Quickly

1. Getting into a suitable state of mind.
2. Using the senses to acquire information
3. Understanding what you are try to learn
4. Using what you are trying to learn actively
5. Providing feedback on what you have learned.
5.1.2. GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE
GRAMMAR is a set of rules about language.

is the study or use of the rules about how words change their form and combine with
other words to express meaning.

GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE are all the nuts and bolts that hold our sentences
together. Eg: noun, verb, tense etc.

Vocabulary and grammatical structure work together to build language.

Grammatical structure in isolation are boring and rote.

Syntax (arrangement of words/ sentence structure) and grammatical structure make

language more beautiful and meaningful.
5.1.3. Language Function
Function means the purpose for which language is used.

Already studied in module 1.1

Other functions are

Compare and contrast

Describe

Narrate

Ask questions

Summarize

Identify cause and effect

5.1.4. Text Structure
Text structure refers to the way an author arranges information in his
writing. It helps the author to organize their thoughts as they write.

The vast majority of texts are written for one or more of these three
purposes:
To make an argument, to inform, to tell a story
To achieve these purposes, authors use one or more text structures
 5.1.4. Text Structure- Types
1. CAUSE AND EFFECT-

explaining the cause and effect.

The result of something are explained.

Cause/Effect text structures explain, well, causes and effects.

Sounds pretty simple! But works that use this structure can become complex when an effect has multiple causes
(or vice versa).
Students will encounter complex examples of cause-effect when they read historical texts. Many events in history
had more than one cause, all related in ways that can be difficult to unpack.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of words and phrases that indicate a text follows the cause/effect text structure:

because cause led to reason

accordingly effect result consequence
 5.1.4. Text Structure- Types
2. CHRONOLOGICAL

Discussing things in order.

Events in the order they happened.

• Sequential instructions (Step 1, Step 2, Step 3; do this, then do that, and finally do this)
• Chronological events (This happened, then this happened, then this happened, etc.)
• Arguments that use evidence to support a claim (presenting evidence from least to most convincing)

after before during earlier

eventually finally first from
how to in order last meanwhile
next now until while
 5.1.4. Text Structure- Types
3. PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

Presenting a problem and offering a solution

This text structure involves two parts:

• The author identifies a problem

• The author details a solution to this problem

Problem/Solution can be a very complex text structure, as it necessitates the use of other structures, too.
Clearly, the author needs to describe the problem. The author would likely also explain the causes and
effects of the problem in order to argue in favour of their solution.
 5.1.4. Text Structure- Types
4. COMPARE AND CONTRAST

This text structure involves a comparison involving multiple things, revealing how they are similar
and how they are different.
Make sure your students know that contrasting two or more things doesn't necessarily mean identifying
them as either good or bad. Comparisons simply relay the differences; therefore, one thing could have
both positive and negative traits.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of words and phrases that indicate a text follows the compare/contrast text
structure:

alike also both comparable

even in common just as similar
although but despite difference
however instead otherwise unlike
 5.1.4. Text Structure- Types
5. CLASSIFICATION OR DIVISION

Classification-division text structure is an organizational structure in which writers sort items or ideas into
categories according to commonalities. It allows the author to take an overall idea and split it into parts for the
purpose of providing clarity and description. Sorting can take place on many levels with topics, subtopics,
categories, subcategories, and so on.
For readers, a classification-division piece can be identified by looking for use of certain words, such as: first,
finally, to begin, next, in addition, on the other hand, for example, or then.
Process for classification or division
1. Decide on a main topic.
2. Divide the main topic into two or more subtopics.
3. For each subtopic, provide information and details to clarify and explain, or divide each subtopic further by
creating categories for each subtopic.
4. If categories have been developed, provide information and details to clarify and explain each category.
5. Begin writing following the proper format.
THANK YOU