aiMOOC

ABI - Paraphrasing when vocabulary is missing

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ABI - Paraphrasing when vocabulary is missing

Einleitung

Mini-description: When a word is missing, keep the conversation in English. Use a definition, an example, a contrast or a general term and add one useful detail. The aim is not to sound complicated. The aim is to make your meaning clear and keep communicating.

This aiMOOC is for the Baden-Württemberg upper secondary English course, Basisfach and Leistungsfach. The learning orientation is B2, with selected C1 elements. BF works with manageable examples, more structure and shorter material. LF works with greater breadth, more abstract vocabulary, more spontaneous interaction and more independent linking of material.

Core rule: Do not stop because one word is missing. Build a bridge around the gap.

Curriculum and Abi check

Stand: 03 October 2026. For the 2027 English Abitur in Baden-Württemberg, the official Facherlass refers to the Bildungsplan 2016. Paraphrasing missing specialist vocabulary is explicitly part of vocabulary competence in both BF and LF. The current module therefore trains a curriculum-based language strategy rather than a single compulsory text. For later exam cohorts, always re-check the current official Facherlass and school instructions.

BF focus: clear communication, structured support, familiar and less familiar topics, shorter tasks, more guided reflection.

LF focus: differentiated vocabulary, abstract and subject-specific topics, spontaneous interaction, nuanced register, independent use of strategies and more AFB II/III transfer.

Official reference points:

I-can goals

After this module, you can say:

I can keep speaking in English when I cannot remember one exact word.
I can define a word by naming its category and key feature.
I can give an example that makes my meaning clear.
I can use a contrast to narrow down meaning.
I can use general terms such as device, person, process, place, rule, material or feeling.
I can use context and word formation before switching to German.
I can use an English explanation or learner's dictionary before using German help.
I can notice and repair unclear paraphrases in speaking and writing.
I can adapt my strategy to an Abi-style speaking, writing or mediation task.
I can check AI-supported suggestions and sources instead of copying a ready-made answer.

Vorwissen aktivieren

Try this without a dictionary:

Target word: stapler

Do not say the word. Explain it in English so that a partner can guess it.

Possible route: It is a small office device. You use it to join sheets of paper. It uses small metal pieces.

Now reflect:

Which general term did you use?
Which detail made the meaning precise?
Did you stay in English?
Could you shorten your explanation without losing meaning?

The four core strategies

Strategy	Useful pattern	Example
Definition	It is a type of ... that ...	A thermos is a kind of container that keeps drinks hot or cold.
Example	For example, ...	It is something you might use when you go hiking, for example a bottle that keeps tea warm.
Contrast	It is not ..., but ...	It is not an ordinary cup; it is designed to keep the temperature stable.
General term	It is a device / person / process / place / rule / material / feeling ...	A stapler is a device used to join sheets of paper.

Best practice: combine two strategies. A general term plus a function is often enough.

The English-first support ladder

Before you switch to German, move down this ladder:

Context: What does the sentence, topic or situation suggest?
Word formation: Can a prefix, suffix or word family help?
Visualisation: Can you picture the object, process or situation?
English explanation: Can you define, exemplify, contrast or categorise it?
Dictionary: Use a monolingual learner's dictionary when permitted and useful.
German help: Use bilingual support only after the English routes have failed or when the task explicitly requires mediation.

Important: In an exam, use only the aids permitted for that exam part.

Listening and Viewing

Viewing task: Watch the Cambridge English video once for gist. On the second viewing, note three paraphrasing moves and one phrase that helps the speaker reformulate an idea.

BF: Write three short notes and reproduce one example in your own words.

LF: Explain why paraphrasing supports fluency, precision and interaction. Then create a new example for an abstract term such as inequality, bias or sustainability.

Reading

Read this original mini-dialogue:

A: I cannot remember the word. It is a place in a city where cars are usually not allowed and people can walk around safely.

B: Do you mean a pedestrian zone?

A: Yes. That is the word.

What helped?

place gives the general category.
in a city gives context.
cars are usually not allowed gives a contrast with ordinary streets.
people can walk around safely gives the function.

Reading insight: A useful paraphrase does not need to contain every detail. It needs enough information for the listener or reader to reconstruct the intended meaning.

Context vocabulary

Need	English phrase
Buy time	Let me put it another way.
Signal a gap	I cannot remember the exact word, but ...
Give a category	It is a kind of ...
Explain a function	You use it to ...
Explain a person	It is someone who ...
Explain a process	It is a process in which ...
Give an example	A typical example would be ...
Give a contrast	It is similar to ..., but ...
Check understanding	Does that make sense?
Repair	What I mean is ...

General terms worth learning: device, object, person, place, process, system, rule, material, quality, feeling, event, issue, measure, behaviour.

Word formation

Use word families to rebuild meaning:

Base	Related forms	Paraphrase route
employ	employer, employee, employment, unemployment	unemployment → the situation of not having paid work
equal	equality, unequal, inequality	inequality → a situation in which people do not have the same opportunities or treatment
migrate	migrant, migration, migratory	migration → the movement of people from one place or country to another
respond	response, responsive	response → what someone says or does after something has happened

Tip: Prefixes and suffixes can unlock a word even when you cannot fully translate it.

Visualisation

Build a small vocabulary mind map around one general term.

Example: device

used for communication → phone
used in the kitchen → blender
used at school → calculator
used in an office → stapler

For speaking, a quick gesture or mental image can support recall. In formal writing, replace gesture with a precise verbal description.

Dictionary strategy

A learner's dictionary is most useful when you already have a guess.

Good sequence:

Predict the meaning from context.
Check the word family.
Read the English definition.
Check one example sentence.
Notice common collocations.
Return to your task and write or speak in your own words.

Do not copy a whole dictionary definition into your answer. Use it to clarify meaning and then formulate independently.

Analysis: Which strategy is being used?

Identify the main strategy in each example.

It is a person who reports news for newspapers, television or online media. → definition with a general term.
For example, you might see it on a bottle that you return to a shop. → example.
It is not a tax; you get the money back when you return the bottle. → contrast.
It is a kind of payment that is returned later. → general term plus definition.
It comes from employ plus the noun ending -ment, with un- showing the opposite. → word formation.

LF extension: Explain why some paraphrases are more efficient than others. Consider precision, length, register and the risk of misunderstanding.

Speaking

Task: Definition sprint

Choose five words from your current course topic. Explain each without saying the word.

BF scaffold: It is a ... that ... You use it for ... A typical example is ... It is similar to ..., but ...

LF extension: Use at least two strategies per item and react to one follow-up question without switching to German.

Task: Keep the floor

Speak for 60 seconds about a familiar course topic. If a word is missing, do not stop. Use one repair phrase and one paraphrase.

Useful repair phrases:

Let me rephrase that.

What I mean is ...

I do not know the exact term, but it refers to ...

Feedback focus: Was the meaning clear? Did communication continue? Was the register appropriate?

Writing

Paraphrasing in writing is not just replacing one word with a synonym. It means expressing the same idea accurately in your own language.

Original idea: The policy may widen the gap between different social groups.

Possible paraphrase: The measure could increase existing differences between groups in society.

Check:

Is the meaning still accurate?
Has the sentence structure changed?
Is the wording appropriate for the task?
Have you avoided adding a new claim?

BF: paraphrase three sentences with a support box.

LF: paraphrase a short argumentative passage and explain two changes in wording or structure.

Mediation

Use paraphrasing when a German culture-specific term does not have a simple one-word English equivalent.

Example: Pfand

Possible explanation: It is a small deposit you pay when you buy certain bottles or cans. You get the money back when you return the container.

Mediation rule: Transfer the relevant meaning for the target person. Do not translate word by word.

Task: Explain one of these concepts in English: Pfand, Abitur, Schüleraustausch, Bürgerbüro.

BF and LF differentiation

Area	Basisfach	Leistungsfach
Material	shorter, manageable texts and clips	broader and more complex material
Vocabulary	familiar and less familiar topics	abstract, subject-specific and nuanced vocabulary
Support	sentence starters, examples, strategy cards	reduced scaffolding and more self-monitoring
Speaking	short explanations and guided interaction	spontaneous interaction, follow-up questions, register control
Writing	clear paraphrases with meaning checks	independent reformulation across longer passages
Analysis	identify and explain strategies	compare effectiveness and justify choices
Transfer	one new context	link several materials or contexts

Help cards

Card A – category first

It is a kind of ...

It is a type of ...

It is a person who ...

It is a process in which ...

Card B – make it precise

It is used for ...

It usually happens when ...

A typical example is ...

Unlike ..., it ...

Card C – repair

Let me put that differently.

What I mean is ...

That was unclear. More precisely, ...

Feedback

Use this quick peer-feedback routine:

Meaning: I understood the intended word or idea.
Flow: The speaker or writer continued without a long breakdown.
Strategy: A clear definition, example, contrast or general term was used.
Precision: The explanation was specific enough.
Register: The wording suited the situation.
Repair: Misunderstandings were corrected in English.

Feedback sentence:

Your paraphrase was clear because ... One way to make it more precise would be ...

Error analysis

Problem	Why it weakens communication	Better move
Immediate switch to German	breaks the English interaction	try category + function first
Only saying thing	too vague	add a category and one defining feature
Long circular explanation	listener loses the main point	compress to one or two key clauses
Random synonym	may change meaning	check context and contrast
Word-for-word translation	may create unnatural or wrong English	transfer meaning, not surface form
Copying a dictionary sentence	does not show independent formulation	read, close, reformulate
AI-generated replacement answer	may hide your own skill and contain errors	use AI only for permitted feedback, then verify and rewrite independently

Transfer

Use the same strategy in new contexts:

Study: explain an academic concept without its technical term.
Work: describe a tool or process to an international colleague.
Travel: explain a local rule or service.
Debate: keep arguing even if one abstract word is missing.
Mediation: explain a culture-specific German concept in English.
Presentation: repair a vocabulary gap without abandoning your point.

Responsible use of media and AI

Use legally accessible media and short educational clips. Do not upload full copyrighted texts or film scenes. Do not reproduce complete compulsory works.

Your own work comes first. AI may support brainstorming, error detection or feedback only when your course rules allow it. Check AI statements and sources. Do not submit an AI-generated replacement essay as your own work.

Use fictional data for practice where personal data are not needed. Audio or video recording is voluntary and should remain private unless everyone involved has agreed to another use. Do not upload classmates' recordings or texts without consent. Do not send material to external AI services without permission.

Abi-Check

Fast check:

Can you explain an unknown object with a category and function?
Can you explain an abstract term with a definition and example?
Can you contrast two related ideas?
Can you recover after a misunderstanding?
Can you keep speaking in English for one minute despite a missing word?
Can you paraphrase a sentence without changing its meaning?
Can you use context and word formation before reaching for German?
Can you decide when a dictionary is useful?
Can you adapt register to a formal task?
Can you verify support from AI or other sources before using it?

BF Abi-style practice: Explain three unfamiliar terms from a course text, then answer one follow-up question for each.

LF Abi-style practice: Give a two-minute response on an abstract course issue. Build in one deliberate vocabulary gap and demonstrate a natural repair without breaking the argument.

Folgekurs

Next steps:

Collocations: move from understandable to natural combinations.
Register: choose formal, neutral or informal wording.
Mediation: transfer meaning across languages and cultures.
Speaking: manage interaction, clarification and repair.
Writing: reformulate ideas precisely and independently.
Word formation: use roots, prefixes and suffixes.
Dictionary skills: use monolingual and bilingual tools strategically.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the main goal when one exact word is missing in conversation? (Keep communicating in English by explaining the meaning) (!Stop speaking until the exact word returns) (!Translate every sentence into German) (!Change the topic immediately)

Which sentence uses a definition strategy? (It is a device that joins sheets of paper) (!I forgot the word) (!Maybe it starts with s) (!Can we speak German)

Which phrase gives a useful general term? (It is a kind of process) (!I have no idea) (!The word is impossible) (!It is somewhere in my memory)

Which sentence uses contrast? (It is similar to a bus but it runs on rails) (!It is a vehicle) (!For example in a city) (!Let me think)

Which general term best fits a stapler? (device) (!feeling) (!place) (!event)

What should usually come before German help in this course? (English explanation and strategic dictionary use) (!Immediate translation) (!A complete AI answer) (!Skipping the task)

How can word formation help with unemployment? (The prefix un and the word family around employ support meaning) (!The word must be memorised without context) (!Only pronunciation matters) (!The word cannot be analysed)

How does the LF extension differ from the BF core? (It requires more breadth depth and independent transfer) (!It avoids abstract vocabulary) (!It removes speaking tasks) (!It uses only German explanations)

What is a good writing paraphrase? (A reformulation that keeps the original meaning) (!A sentence with random synonyms) (!A word for word translation) (!A copied dictionary entry)

What is the responsible way to use AI support? (Check the output and write the final response independently) (!Submit the generated answer unchanged) (!Assume every source is correct) (!Upload private recordings without consent)

Memory

Definition	says what something is
Example	shows a typical case
Contrast	shows what something is not or how it differs
General term	gives a broader category
Function	explains what something does
Word formation	builds meaning from roots and affixes
Context	gives clues from the surrounding situation
Monolingual dictionary	explains a word in English

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Definition	It is a process in which people move from one country to another
Example	A typical case would be moving abroad to study or work
Contrast	It is not tourism because the move is more permanent
General term	It is a kind of movement
Function	It explains how a thing is used or what a process does

Kreuzworträtsel

Definition	Which strategy explains what something is?
Example	Which strategy gives a typical case?
Contrast	Which strategy shows a difference?
Category	What broader class can help begin a paraphrase?
Context	What surrounding information can help infer meaning?
Suffix	What type of word part can appear at the end of a word?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Definition challenge: Choose five everyday objects and explain each with a general term plus one function.
Example bank: Create ten short examples that could clarify abstract vocabulary from your current course topic.
Contrast cards: Write six pairs of related words and explain each difference in one English sentence.
Word family map: Build a mind map around one base word such as employ, migrate, equal or respond.

Standard

Taboo speaking: Explain eight course words to a partner without using the target word, German or a translation app.
Viewing notes: Watch the Cambridge paraphrasing video and create a one-page strategy sheet in your own words.
Mediation mini-guide: Explain four German culture-specific terms to an English-speaking visitor using only relevant information.
Private speaking log: Record a voluntary private one-minute response, mark every vocabulary gap and note how you repaired it. Do not upload it without consent.

Schwer

Abstract paraphrasing: Explain five abstract terms from an Abi topic without using the target words and justify which strategy worked best.
Source comparison: Compare a learner's dictionary definition, a course-context explanation and your own paraphrase. Evaluate precision and register.
Debate repair: Hold a short English debate in which each speaker must recover naturally from one planned vocabulary gap.
AI feedback audit: If AI use is permitted, ask for feedback on a self-written paraphrase, verify the suggestions with reliable sources and document what you accepted or rejected. Do not submit an AI-written replacement text.

Lernkontrolle

Transfer to an unfamiliar term: You receive an unfamiliar subject-specific word with context but no translation. Explain which clues you would use and produce a clear English paraphrase.
Repair a weak paraphrase: Improve the sentence It is a thing that does stuff so that a listener can identify the intended object.
Meaning preservation: Paraphrase a short argument and explain how you ensured that the original claim did not become stronger or weaker.
Mediation decision: Decide which information about a German culture-specific term an English-speaking visitor actually needs and justify your selection.
BF and LF transfer: Solve the same vocabulary-gap task once with BF scaffolding and once with LF-level independence. Compare the language choices.
Strategy evaluation: Compare definition, example, contrast and general term for one abstract concept. Explain which combination is most efficient and why.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis zu diesem Thema ist wichtig:

Du kannst mindestens vier Paraphrasing-Strategien sicher anwenden.
Du kannst bei Wortschatzlücken auf Englisch weiterkommunizieren.
Du kannst allgemeine Begriffe mit präzisierenden Details kombinieren.
Du kannst Kontext und Wortbildung zur Bedeutungserschließung nutzen.
Du kannst eine unklare Umschreibung selbst korrigieren.
Du kannst zwischen BF- und LF-Anforderungen differenzieren.
Du kannst beim Schreiben Bedeutung erhalten, statt nur Wörter auszutauschen.
Du kannst kulturbezogene Begriffe adressatengerecht mediieren.
Du kannst erlaubte Wörterbuchhilfen strategisch nutzen.
Du kannst KI-Hinweise und Quellen prüfen und deine Endfassung selbstständig formulieren.

OERs zum Thema

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