Unit 31: Learning New Skills
Warm-up and Vocabulary
What new skill do you want to learn? Maybe you want to learn to play guitar, or speak English, or code. A new skill is learning to talk to AI (Artificial Intelligence). This is called writing a prompt. Let’s learn the words!
| Word | Definition (in simple English) |
| skill | Something you can do well (e.g., play guitar). |
| learn | To get new knowledge or a new skill. |
| AI | A smart computer that can think like a person. |
| prompt | An instruction you give to an AI. |
| instruction | A step that tells you what to do. |
| context | The words around a new word that help you guess. |
Activity 1: Vocabulary Match
Drag the word to the correct sentence.
Activity 2: Check Your Vocabulary
Choose the best word to complete the sentence.
Guessing the Meaning: Using Context Clues
In the IELTS Reading test, you will always encounter unfamiliar vocabulary. It is a normal part of the exam. When you see a word you do not know, your first instinct might be to panic or reach for a dictionary.
However, in most cases, a dictionary is not necessary. The most effective method is to use contextual clues.
Context refers to the surrounding words, sentences, and even the paragraph that provide clues to a word’s meaning. This skill allows you to act as a “detective,” using the information given to deduce, or figure out, the meaning.
To find the meaning, look for these three common clue types in the surrounding text.
1. The Definition or Elaboration Clue
Sometimes, the passage will directly define or rephrase a difficult word for you. The explanation often appears immediately after the word, set apart by commas or introduced by phrases like “that is,” “this means,” or “in other words.”
- Passage Example:
“You must be very specific when you write a prompt. This means you must tell the AI exactly what you want.” - Analysis:
- Unfamiliar Word: specific
- Context Clue: The signal phrase “This means…” directly defines the word.
- Deduced Meaning: “exact” or “clear and precise.”
2. The Example Clue
The text may not give a definition, but it will provide a list of examples that illustrate the word’s meaning. Look for signal words like “for example,” “for instance,” or “such as.”
- Passage Example:
“The new AI is very versatile. For example, it can write poems, code a website, and make pictures.” - Analysis:
- Unfamiliar Word: versatile
- Context Clue: The list of different tasks (writing poems, coding, making pictures) shows the AI’s wide range of abilities.
- Deduced Meaning: “able to do many different things” (Indonesian: serbaguna).
3. The Contrast (Antonym) Clue
The passage may show you what a word is not. Signal words like “but,” “however,” “unlike,” “on the other hand,” or “while” often introduce an idea that is the opposite of the unfamiliar word.
- Passage Example:
“Your first prompt was too vague, so the AI was confused. Your second prompt was clear, and the AI understood.” - Analysis:
- Unfamiliar Word: vague
- Context Clue: The sentence presents a contrast. The second prompt was “clear” and “understood,” while the first was vague and “confused.”
- Deduced Meaning: “not clear” or “unfocused.”
Tips:
- Don’t Panic, Keep Reading: When you find a word you don’t know, do not stop. The clue to its meaning is often in the next sentence. Finish the whole paragraph before making your final guess.
- A “Good Enough” Guess is Okay: You don’t need to know the exact dictionary definition. You only need to understand the idea in the context of the passage. A general guess (e.g., “this is a positive word” or “this is a type of tool”) is often enough to answer the main question.
- Look for “Glue Words”: Pay close attention to conjunctions.
- But / However signals an opposite (Contrast Clue).
- And / Also signals a similar idea (a possible synonym).
- Because / As a result signals a cause or effect.
Skill Practice
Activity 1: Guess the Meaning
Activity 2: True or False
Activity 3: Find the Words