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Connect the message to context
In a cooking video, a speaker holds up an onion and names it. The object provides a possible referent for an unfamiliar word. The scene supports an inference, but the speaker could instead be describing its colour or origin.
Check and revisit
Use a caption, translation or question to check the inference. Meet the word again in other sentences and notice whether the meaning still fits. Repeated encounters offer more information; neither one correct guess nor a replay guarantees lasting learning.
Add other kinds of practice
Talk with a partner, write a short summary or consult a grammar explanation when those actions support your goal. Feedback can help you notice a difference between what you intended and what another person understood.
Sources
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Cite this page
Jibber Jabber. "How comprehensible input works." What Is Comprehensible Input?, updated 2026-11-09. https://whatiscomprehensibleinput.com/how-it-works/
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This guide is one of a collection published by Jibber Jabber. The sites share one publisher and are not independent endorsements. See the related websites.