Sources for Model Texts for Vocabulary Lessons

(TESOL Materials--Stages of a Vocabulary Lesson, Any Vocabulary Set)

[These are materials that can be used for the model text in the presentation stage of a vocabulary lesson.]

* Hangman for Introducing Vocabulary

Make Up Your Own Model Text

* Collocation with Delexicalised Verbs Daily Routines--model text

* Wh Words--model Text

Use AI to Create a Model Text:

* Phrasal Verbs: Model Text created by AI

* Time Zones 4, Unit 12, Vocabulary--Model Text

* Vocabulary Lesson for Word Roots "man" and "struct"--Model Text

* Vocabulary Lesson for Latin Word Roots "funct" and "spir"--Model Text

* Model Text for Adverbs of Intensity--Model Text

* Model Text for Three Word Phrasal Verbs (Created by AI)--Model Text

* Expert IELTS 6: Module 1a p.10 Vocabulary--Model Text

* Expert IELTS 6: Module 2A p.26 Vocabulary--Model Text

* Activities for Vocabulary for Academic Research--Model Text

* Lesson for Verbs / Nouns + prepositions (Collocations with Prepositions)--Model Text

* Rumi's Routine Day 

Using AI to create a model text for vocabulary

(TESOL Ideas--Any Vocabulary Set)

Obviously I can't take credit for thinking of this myself.  Using AI to create model texts has become very popular with a lot of TESOL teachers recently.  But I've used it a couple times lately, and I want to add my voice to the chorus.

Recently I was asked at short notice to cover a vocabulary lesson in which I had to teach: balanced diet, caffeine, diabetes, diet, grain, mineral, processed food, protein, red meat, reduce, vitamin, wheat and whole grain. 

There was no context or model text.  So, I went to https://gemini.google.com/ (The couple times I've tried it, I've found gemini is better for this than ChatGPT, but admittedly I've not experimented a lot.)

I typed in:

Make a short paragraph using the words: balanced diet, caffeine, diabetes, diet, grain, mineral, processed food, protein, red meat, reduce, vitamin, wheat, whole grain

And gemini produced:

For people with diabetes, managing their diet is key. A balanced diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein can help regulate blood sugar. This means reducing processed foods, red meat, and sugary drinks. Opting for whole wheat over refined grains ensures you get more vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Even small changes, like limiting caffeine and sugary snacks, can make a big difference.

....which is not bad.  It went through it and checked, and it did manage to include every single word I had inputted.  All in a short paragraph that actually creates a coherent meaningful context.  It's a bit high level for a TESOL class, but then this was higher level vocabulary, and the class was upper-intermediate, so they got through the text with some assistance. 

The next day, I was teaching a lesson on reporting verbs, and the textbook I was using, (Reflect Listening & Speaking 5, page 98) presented the words: explain, mention, observe, point out, report, agree, believe, claim, estimate, advise, argue, propose, recommend, suggest, call for, demand and encourage. But no context was provided for these words.

So, again I went to gemini;

write a text with the words: explain, mention, observe, point out, report, agree, believe, claim, estimate, advise, argue, propose, recommend, suggest, call for, demand, encourage

and I got:

A recent study on sleep patterns in teenagers has sparked a lively debate. The researchers reported a significant decrease in the average amount of sleep teenagers get compared to previous generations. They point out the potential link between this lack of sleep and decreased academic performance, as well as increased mental health issues. While some agree with these findings, others argue that the study doesn't account for external factors like increased screen time or societal pressures.

One doctor believes the solution lies in education. She recommends schools implement later start times to allow teenagers more sleep.  Another expert proposes a multi-pronged approach, calling for both parental support and a shift in societal expectations. They suggest encouraging teenagers to establish healthy sleep routines and limiting late-night activities.

However, not everyone agrees on such a gentle approach. Some argue for stricter regulations, demanding limitations on social media access during certain hours.  They claim this would force teenagers to prioritize sleep.

The debate continues, with many experts offering their explanations and observations. While there's no easy answer, most can agree that ensuring teenagers get enough sleep is a vital issue. Further research is needed, but in the meantime, encouraging healthy sleep habits is a good first step.

....which again, is not bad.  It makes sense.  It's a coherent topic.  The words are used correctly.  It's an advanced text, but then this was for a pre-advanced class, so in this case the level is almost appropriate.

The only complaint is that gemini didn't actually use all the words I gave it.  So, for example, mention and estimate don't appear in the model text.  (I've noticed this sometimes with gemini--sometimes it doesn't use all the words you give it.  Presumably because it can't find a way to naturally do so.)

But at the very least it gives me a context for most of the words.  Which is more than I had before.

I'm as worried about AI stealing our jobs as the next person, but I have to admit that this application is a time saver for me.

In the past, I used to try to create my own model texts just using my own creativity.  I used to spend a long time racking my brains trying to think of a story that connected all the words, and when I finally got something, it was usually disjointed and incoherent.  (e.g. this model text that I made for this vocabulary set).  So it's really convenient to just have the computer spit out a coherent model text in seconds.

Update November 5, 2025: Google Gemini recently released the storybook feature, which I've found to be useful for creating model text.

Hangman for Introducing Vocabulary

(TESOL Ideas--Any Vocabulary Set)

I just did this for a vocabulary lesson, and it worked relatively well, so I thought I'd make a note of it here on this blog so I don't forget it in the future.

This is pretty much the same idea as the "Hangman for Grammar" activity that I posted years ago.  But I used it to introduce new vocabulary words.

As I noted in my Hangman for Grammar post: 

 Also, no one gets “hung” in my version—2 teams compete against each other.  One team guesses a letter, and this team will get a point for each time that letter appears in the sentence.  Then it’s the other team’s turn.  (This may actually be closer to “Wheel of Fortune” than to “Hangman”, but I find if I say “We’re going to play hangman today,” then the students instantly know what you’re talking about, so I still use that name, and then introduce the variations.)

...same idea here.  I'm calling it "hangman", but there isn't actually a man who gets hung.  It's just blanks on the board, and the students get points for guessing letters correctly.  

Let me illustrate by example.  Last week, I was called in at the last minute to cover a class.  According to the curriculum time table, the lesson I needed to do was vocabulary input for the words "country, dream, hero, kill, mask, mice, poster, prince, silent, start".  (These are all from English World 4, Unit 5).  Because it was a last minute cover, I had no time to prepare a presentation for the presentation stage of the lesson.  So, I just thought of a few different sentences using those vocabulary words, and put the blanks up on the board, and had the students guess the letters.

So, for example, the first sentence was:

"In my dream, the silent prince killed ten mice." (target vocabulary was dream, silent, prince, and mice).  Then I wrote the blanks up on the board (e.g. _ _  _ _  _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _   _ _ _ _.)

Then, the class was divided into two teams.  The teams took turns guessing letters.  After they guessed a letter, they got one point for each time that letter appeared.  (e.g. the letter "m" would get three points because it appears in my, dream and mice.) 

If a team was ready to solve the puzzle, and guess the whole thing, then it could get 10 extra points.

Once the sentence had been established on the board, I checked the meaning of the target vocabulary using eliciting questions, concept checking questions, and pictures from a Google images search.  (e.g. "What is a prince?  Who is his father?  Does Vietnam have a prince?  Can the silent prince talk? etc)

Because there were 10 vocabulary words that I had to input, I needed to do a few different sentences in order to get all of them. (e.g. "The silent hero wears a mask on the movie poster", and "Does the country of Vietnam have a prince?")  But the students enjoyed the game, so engagement was high.