Elicitation is a technique that teachers use to get learners to produce language, rather than providing it for them. Elicitation can have many benefits in the English language classroom, such as increasing learner involvement, activating prior knowledge, checking understanding, and providing feedback. Elicitation can be done in different ways, depending on the purpose and the context. Some examples of elicitation are:
- Asking questions: Teachers can ask questions to elicit vocabulary, grammar, opinions, predictions, etc. For example, to elicit the word “umbrella”, the teacher could ask “What do you use when it rains?” or show a picture of an umbrella and ask “What is this?”.
- Giving clues: Teachers can give clues to elicit words or phrases that learners may not know or remember. For example, to elicit the phrase “once upon a time”, the teacher could say “It’s a common way to start a fairy tale. It has four words. The first word is ‘once’ and the last word is ‘time’. What is it?”
- Using gestures or mime: Teachers can use gestures or mime to elicit actions, feelings, or situations. For example, to elicit the verb “jump”, the teacher could jump in the air and ask “What am I doing?” or point to a picture of someone jumping and ask “What is he/she doing?”.
- Using concept checking questions: Teachers can use concept checking questions to elicit the meaning, use, or form of a language item that has been taught or presented. For example, to elicit the meaning of the modal verb “can”, the teacher could ask “If I say ‘I can swim’, does it mean that I know how to swim or that I have permission to swim?” or “If I say ‘You can’t smoke here’, is it a rule or a suggestion?”
- Using error correction: Teachers can use error correction to elicit the correct form of a language item that learners have made a mistake with. For example, if a learner says “She don’t like chocolate”, the teacher could repeat the sentence with a rising intonation and ask “She don’t like chocolate?” or write the sentence on the board and underline the error and ask “Is this correct?”