If the expression “a dump” cropped up in class, how would we go about explaining it? This word may appear on a page from the coursebook or perhaps from a video we may be playing for the class. Perhaps our students are involved in some speaking practice in pairs or small groups and, as we circulate and eavesdrop on those conversations, we might suggest this word in an “off-the-cuff” reformulation.
“Teaching” a word or a lexical item implies many different things. Obviously we have to try to convey the meaning of it but we cannot ignore many other aspects inherent to it such its spoken form (in isolation and in connected speech), its written form, showing examples of it in different contexts or sentences, showing the grammar of it and also how it connects with other words.
How does this translate to a Gen.AI-assisted teacher in class? Well, we could just type explain the meaning of “a dump” into ChatGPT for our students to see on the board in front. We could also ask to generate a few example sentences.
Meaning of “A Dump”
“A dump” is an informal expression used to describe a place that is dirty, messy, or in very poor condition. It usually refers to somewhere that looks neglected or unpleasant to be in.
Example Sentences:
- We checked into the motel, but it was a dump, so we left and found somewhere nicer.
- His bedroom is always a dump—clothes and trash everywhere!
- The old office building looks like a dump, with broken windows and graffiti on the walls.
- I thought the restaurant would be nice, but it turned out to be a dump, and we didn’t even stay for dessert.
- After the party, the living room was a dump, with food and drinks spilled all over the floor.
And that would be good enough. But how about bringing in an awe factor to make it more memorable? How about using “a dump” in a story? How about making students do something with the word, even if the end result is just the word hovering in their minds?
Here’s the magic prompt:
Take on the role of my English teacher and explain the expression ‘a dump’ by telling me an engaging story. I’m a young adult who is learning English at an Intermediate level. The story should be 50 to 70 words long. After the story, provide a dictionary definition and include five example sentences that use this expression. Finally, come up with five thought-provoking conversation questions that also include this expression. Please bold the phrase every time it appears.
Story: The Meaning of “A Dump”
Jake was excited to visit the new restaurant in town. But when he arrived, the place was filthy, with broken chairs and food all over the floor. “This place is a dump!” Jake said, disappointed. He quickly left and found a better place to eat. From then on, he always checked reviews before going to a new spot.
Dictionary Definition:
A dump: an informal expression used to describe a place that is dirty, poorly maintained, or unpleasant.
Example Sentences:
- I stayed at a hotel last weekend, but it was a dump—the rooms were filthy!
- The old house down the street is falling apart; it looks like a dump.
- We went to that cafe, but it was a dump, so we left immediately.
- Her apartment used to be a dump, but after she cleaned it, it looked amazing.
- The garage was a dump, with tools and boxes scattered everywhere.
Conversation Questions:
- Have you ever been to a place that was a dump? What made it so bad?
- Do you think a place can be improved if it starts out as a dump? How?
- How would you feel if a friend invited you to their house, and it turned out to be a dump?
- Have you ever had to clean up a dump of a room? How did you go about it?
- Would you eat at a restaurant that looked like a dump, even if the food was good?
This should help you understand and practice using the expression “a dump” in various contexts!
We could read the short story and the explanation and select a couple of example sentences and a couple of questions. It’s true that not all questions look exciting and productive but that’s why we want to ask for five so that we have a good enough number of sentences to choose from and then pick one or two that might do the job. I personally find that asking for too many sentences will make the job harder as we will require more time to have a quick look through. I actually like number one and number five and that would be my pick.
It does take time to type the prompt as we are teaching live but this can easily be solved if we retrieve this prompt from a previous conversation and we just copy and paste it while replacing the key word. Alternatively, we could have a Word document open and just copy paste from it into ChatGPT.
Now it’s time to give it a go with a word or expression of your choice!
AI in ELT 