For example, /p/ is a bilabial stop, formed by stopping the air with the lips
and then releasing it.
see also consonant, manner of articulation, place of articulationstory completion task n
a task in which learners are given part of a story and told to complete it.
story grammar n
a theory of the cognitive representation of narrative texts, including simple
stories, folk tales, fables and narratives. Some or all of the characteristics of
the structure of stories is said to be incorporated into people’s knowledge
systems as a schemafor stories. This describes the elements common to most
stories, the kinds of situations, events, actors, actions and goals that occur
in stories and the interrelationships among the elements of a story. People
access story grammars consciously or unconsciously when encountering
different types of stories. This serves as a source of prediction, inferencing,
comparison, evaluation in understanding and following stories and narratives.
story preview n
in preparing learners to read narratives or recounts, a technique that
involves giving background information about the story (e.g. the setting,
characters, situation, key episodes) before they read in order to highlight
key vocabulary and ideas needed to understand the text.
strategic competence n
an aspect of communicative competence which describes the ability of
speakers to use verbal and non-verbal communication strategies (see com-
munication strategy) to compensate for breakdowns in communication
or to improve the effectiveness of communication. For example, a learner
may lack a particular word or structure and have to use a paraphraseor
circumlocution to compensate, or a speaker may use a deliberately slow
and soft manner of speaking to create a particular effect on a listener.
see also discourse competence
strategic plan n
in an organization, a description of the long-term vision and goals of an
organization and the means it will undertake for fulfilling them. In language
teaching, strategic planning is viewed as a crucial aspect of institutional
development, particularly in the private sector.
strategy n
procedures used in learning, thinking, etc., which serve as a way of
reaching a goal. In language learning, learning strategies (see learning
strategy