ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the idea of the ‘target language’ as something distinct from the language content or ‘content language’ of individual exercises or activities. Within the context of the modern languages classroom drilling goes hand-in-hand with repetition of key language that we want pupils to learn; drilling usually comes in short intense bursts. The point of drilling is to provide learners with repeated exposure to the same, selected language and the opportunity to repeat that language for them. When planning to drill new language, the first decisions teachers need to make relate to the language content of the drill itself, or the ‘content language’. Planning how teachers are going to drill new language is not just a matter of choosing what drilling techniques to use. Checking and rechecking comprehension is fundamental to language teaching and nowhere more so than during the presentation and drilling of new language.
