Using Context Clues to Understand New Words

Khan Academy

This educational video demonstrates a practical reading strategy for handling unfamiliar vocabulary words using 'Context Clues.' The narrator models a think-aloud process after encountering the difficult word 'carabiner' in a short paragraph about rock climbing. Instead of immediately reaching for a dictionary, he shows viewers how to use the surrounding text to infer the word's meaning. The video explores the concept of 'context' as the neighboring language that surrounds an unknown word. It breaks down specific textual evidence—such as references to safety harnesses, clipping lines, and preventing slips—to construct a working definition of the unknown term. The lesson concludes by comparing this derived definition with a real-world image of the object to verify understanding. For educators, this resource is an excellent modeling tool for English Language Arts instruction. It explicitly teaches students that they don't need to know every single word to comprehend a text. It encourages critical thinking and deductive reasoning, providing a transferable skill that students can apply to independent reading across all subjects.