Verbal strategies - Reference to specific features — AQA GCSE Modern Hebrew
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Verbal strategies - Reference to specific features explained
Reference to specific features is a communication strategy for a forgotten word.
Read the full explanation
The student uses a phrase or sentence that names the distinctive features of the item instead of the missing word. The supplied examples show this: describing a visit to a relative in a hospital building, saying where one lives instead of giving an address, and describing an animal by its large ears. The strategy is common and can be effective communicatively, so an exam assesses it accordingly. The student should keep the description in acceptable Modern Hebrew and make the features specific enough for a sympathetic native speaker to identify the item. This works in both Foundation and Higher tiers.
Your focus
- Recognise when a forgotten word can be replaced by a phrase or sentence naming specific features.
- Produce acceptable Modern Hebrew descriptions that identify an item through its distinctive features.
- Judge whether a feature description would let a sympathetic native speaker identify the intended item.
Verbal strategies - Reference to specific features exam tips
Examiner Tips
- 💡Choose the most distinctive feature first, such as what the item does or where it is found, so the listener can identify it quickly.
- 💡Keep the description in Hebrew and avoid slipping into English or silence when the exact word is missing.
- 💡Rehearse feature descriptions for common topic vocabulary so you can use the strategy fluently in the exam.
Common Mistakes
- Misunderstanding: any description of the item is enough. Correction: the phrase or sentence must refer to specific features that distinguish the item, such as its function, location or appearance.
- Misunderstanding: the student should give up when the exact word is forgotten. Correction: the strategy requires continuing in Hebrew by describing features instead of stopping.
- Misunderstanding: reference to specific features means using English or gestures only. Correction: the strategy is verbal and must be produced in acceptable Modern Hebrew.
- Misunderstanding: this strategy is not assessed. Correction: because it can be communicatively effective, exam assessment takes account of successful use.