2 - INSURANCE

Introduction
 The aim of teaching insurance in our classes is for our students to be
able to read and understand any kind of insurance –related general and
technical written material and to discuss insurance-related matters easily
and efficiently, using the appropriate vocabulary

 To achieve this aim we will adopt a hands-on approach.

 In our approach we will deal with four different but interrelated

activities:

 Vocabulary Building
 Reading –Comprehension
 Specific Insurance Issues Vocabulary Building
 Free Technical Discussions

Vocabulary Building
 One of the challenges for our students is to acquire and use the general
insurance terminology actively and accurately

 To do this we will carry out a process broken down into manageable

steps.

First Step

 In this first step students are expected to acquire the basic, general
insurance terminology.

Material

General Insurance Terminology Glossary

Scope

 We will have all students at all levels acquire this vocabulary.

 The greatest challenge is, of course, with lower level students – from
beginner to high elementary.

1
Beginner Level

1. From the glossary, make a selection of the simplest, most basic, most
essential vocabulary items
2. Follow the procedure listed below
3. Choose the simplest activities to practice the vocabulary
4. Integrate the vocabulary in TALK SHOP discussions. At this level, of
course, the discussions will be very limited, guided and brief

High Beginner Level

1. Revise the Beginner Level set of insurance vocabulary items

2. If you are working with a newly-formed group, teach the beginner level
set of terminology first
3. From the glossary, make a selection of a second group of vocabulary
items, this time one step more complex than the set of the beginner
level.
4. Follow the procedure listed below
5. Choose activities appropriate to the level of the students to practice the
chosen vocabulary
6. Integrate the vocabulary in TALK SHOP discussions.

Elementary Level

1. Revise the Beginner and High-Beginner levels insurance terminology

groups.
2. If you are working with a newly-formed group, teach the beginner and
high-beginner levels sets of terminology first
3. From the glossary, make a selection of a third group of vocabulary items,
again, this time, the ones that are a little bit more difficult than those at
the previous two levels.
4. Follow the procedure below
5. Choose appropriate activities to practice the chosen vocabulary
6. Integrate the vocabulary in TALK SHOP discussions.

High-Elementary Level

1. Revise or teach the previous 3 insurance terminology groups.

2. Make a selection and put together a fourth group of vocabulary items.
3. Follow the procedure below
4. Choose appropriate activities to practice the chosen vocabulary
5. Integrate the vocabulary in TALK SHOP discussions.

2
Pre-Intermediate Level

1. Revise the vocabulary items seen in the previous levels.

2. Teach what students haven’t seen yet. This will be the fifth and last
group of insurance terminology from this glossary.
3. If you are dealing with a newly-formed group, at this level you can very
well teach all the vocabulary items in the glossary.
4. Follow the procedure below
5. Choose appropriate activities to practice the chosen vocabulary
6. Integrate the vocabulary in TALK SHOP discussions.

From Intermediate I to Pre-Advanced Levels

1. You can teach all the vocabulary items in the glossary without too much
of a problem.
2. You can do all the activities listed below.
3. If you are teaching a newly-formed group, you are expected to teach all
the vocabulary items in the glossary from scratch.
4. If, on the contrary, you are teaching a group that is being promoted
from a lower level, always make room for revising previously seen
vocabulary.
5. Follow the procedure below
6. Choose appropriate activities to practice the chosen vocabulary
7. Integrate the vocabulary in TALK SHOP discussions.

General Insurance Terms Glossary

Below is a glossary with general insurance vocabulary. It is divided into three

sections:

- General Insurance Vocabulary

- Insurance – related Actions
- Insurance Branches

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GENERAL INSURANCE TERMS

ENGLISH SPANISH
insurance seguros
co-insurance co- aseguro
general insurance seguros generales
government-subsidised insurance seguros subsidiados por el gobierno
insurance in favor of another seguro a favor de otro
co-insurer co-asegurador
insurance company compañía de seguros
insurance broker corredor de seguros
brokerage corretaje
insured / assured asegurado
policy holder tomador
insurer segurador
insurance carrier asegurador / agente de seguros
market mercado
risk management administración de riesgo
business portfolio cartera de clientes
certificate of insurance póliza de seguros
insurance policy póliza de seguros
insurance contract contrato de seguros
sum insured suma asegurada
coverage cobertura
extended coverage cobertura extendida
scope of coverage alcance de la cobertura
covered cubierto
uncovered sin cobertura
risk exposure exposición a riesgo
type of exposure tipo de exposición
risk or perils riesgos
risk evaluation evaluación de riesgo
risk spreading extensión del riesgo
loss or claim siniestro
hazard Riegos peligrosos
latent defect vicio oculto
inherent defect vicio propio

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Loss survey peritaje/informe de daños
Survey report informe de riesgo
estimated cost of repairs Costos estimados de reparación
claims department departamento de siniestros
claims manager gerente de siniestros
claim settlement liquidación de siniestros
claims adjuster liquidador de siniestros
terms plazos / términos
terms and conditions términos y condiciones
locations ubicaciones
premium prima
deferred premium prima diferida
flat premiun prima fija
deposit premium prima de deposito
premium adjustment ajuste de prima
Premium Payment Warranty cláusula de pago de prima
deductibles franquicias
policy póliza
standard policy póliza estándar
first-loss policy póliza a primer riesgo
master policy póliza madre
multi-risk policy póliza de múlti riesgos
non-cancellable policy póliza no cancelable
wording condiciones generales
schedule condiciones particulares
annex anexo
clauses cláusulas
clauses and conditions cláusulas y condiciones
period of insurance período del seguro
inception inicio
expiry finalización
cancellation (termination of the cancelación
insurance policy)
renewal renovación
sum insured suma asegurada
rate tasa de prima
values / amounts at risk valores en riesgo

5
survey report informe de inspección
loss ratio / loss experience siniestralidad
all risk todo riesgo
third – party liability responsabilidad terceros
reinsurance reaseguro
reinsurer reasegurador
reinsured reasegurado
capacity capacidad
primary position / low-layer position primera parte en un contrato de
exceso de pérdida
cedent company cedente
reinsurance session sesión de reaseguro
Reinsurance treaty
Contrato de reaseguro
Facultative reinsurance Reaseguro Facultativo
quota share cuota parte
surplus excedente
underwriter suscriptor
quotation cotización
collection cobranza
time extension prórroga

6
INSURANCE-RELATED ACTIONS
to quote a risk Cotizar una póliza
To bind a policy Efectuar una póliza
To place a policy Colocar una póliza
To underwrite insurance suscribir
to insure a risk Asegurar un riesgo
To insure against all risks Asegurar contra todo riesgo
To be insured Estar asegurado
To cover a risk Cubrir un riesgo
To be covered Estar cubierto
To make out a policy Preparer una póliza
To draw up a policy Redactar una póliza
To issue a policy Emitir una póliza
To collect premium Cobrar las primas
To renew a policy Renovar una póliza
To damage in transit Dañarse en tránsito
To report a claim Denunciar un siniestro
To assess a damage Evaluar daños
To assess risk Evaluar riesgos
To assess the value Tasar/calcular el valor
To adjust a claim Liquidar un siniestro
To decline a claim rechazar un siniestro

7
INSURANCE LINES RAMOS DEL SEGURO

Personal Accidents (P.A) Accidentes Personales

Workers‘ Compensation Accidentes de Trabajo
Aviation Aeronavegación
Hull Cascos
Liabilities Responsabilidades
War Risks Riesgos de guerra
Automobile Automotores
Automobile third party liability seguro de responsabilidad civil
automotores
Fleet policy Póliza de una flota
Homeowner´s Policy Combinado familiar
Hail Granizo
War, Strikes, Riots and Civil Guerra, Huelga, Disturbios y
Commotion Conmoción Civil
Act of God Acto de Dios
Acts of vandalism Vandalismo
Fire Incendio
Shopkeeper´s Policy Integral de Comercio
Marine insurance Marítimo
Inland Cargo Tránsito Terrestre
Marine Cargo Mercaderías Marítimas
Air Cargo Mercaderías Aéreas
Goods-in-transit policy Bienes en tránsito
Loss of Profit (LOP) Pérdida de beneficio
Protection and Indemnity (Pandl) Protección e Indemnidad
Third Party Liability (TPL) Responsabilidad Civil
hacia Terceros
Robbery and Theft Robo y Hurto
Machinery Breakdown Rotura de Maquinaria
Engineering Risks Seguro Técnico
Construction and Erection Todo Riesgo
All Risks (CAR/EAR) Construcción y Montaje
Operational All Risks Todo Riesgo Operativo
Erection All Risks (EAR) Todo Riesgo Montaje
Life Insurance Vida

8
Directors and Officers Cobertura de responsabilidad de
Directores y gerentes
Liability Insurance Seguro de responsabilidad civil
Property Insurance Seguro de daños materiales
Health Insurance Seguro de salud
Casualty insurance Seguros de responsabilidades civiles
Errors and Omissions insurance Errores y omisiones
Disability Incapacidad
Partial disability Incapacidad parcial
Permanent disability Incapacidad permanente
Retirement annuity Seguro de retiro

9
Procedure

1) Divide the glossary into manageable parts by

grouping words, for example, according to subject, insurance process
sequence, related elements, degrees of difficulty,
2) Have students go over the English part of the glossary
3) Have them identify the vocabulary they know
4) Explain to them the vocabulary they don’t know.
5) Make sure they can pronounce the word accurately
6) Uncover the Spanish translation
7) Double check that each word has been correctly translated
8) If it hasn’t, ask students to provide the correct Spanish version
9) Have students discuss all the elements, processes, situations, etc
involved in each word
10)Actively practice the vocabulary – have students do things with words -
so that they can incorporate them.
11)Prepare written exercises for students to consolidate the vocabulary
further.
12) Then, integrate all the words in TALK SHOP conversations, for example

Activities to practice the vocabulary

Below are some activities to do in class to help vocabulary acquisition.

1. Lucky Dip: Give sts. three words at the beginning of the class and they have to use
two of them at any moment during the lesson. Other sts. may guess which words
have been used.

2. Back To the Board: Two groups. One st. sits with back to the board. Team gives
definitions/describes word till st. guesses (set a time limit or it’ll go on forever!).

3. Beep: St. has to give an example of the word in context but instead of saying the
word says “beep”. Others guess word.

4. Longest Sentence: Give sts. in pairs five words. The pair that writes the longest
correct sentence with all five words wins.

5. Spend: Each st. picks three words. They have a 2-minute conversation with a
partner and they have to naturally include the words in the dialogue. The first one
to “spend” all three words wins.

10
6. Story: pick out five words and write a story including all of them, in pairs/groups

7. Charades: (good for verbs) Two teams. In turns, one st. from each team takes a
word and mimes it. Rest of team must guess.

8. Pictionary: Two teams. In turns, one st. from each team takes a word and draws a
picture of it on the bb. Rest of team must guess.

9. Hangman

10. Blanks: Sts. take three words and write three sentences with blanks where the
word should be. They swap sentences with partner.

11. This is what I know: Sts. take out a sheet of paper and write as many words as they
can remember in 1 minute (or 2, etc.) connected with a specific topic, category of
words, etc.

12. Pelmanism: write each new word on a separate slip of paper. On another set of slips of
paper, write the definitions of the words. Spread out the two sets of slips of paper face
down. Ask students to take it in turns to turno ver one word slip and one sentence slip. If
the two slips match, the student can keep them and play again. If they don’t match, the
student turns them back over, and the next player repeats the procedure. The game
continues in this way until all the slips have been used up. The winner is the students with
the most slips.

13. Linking Words: Students link words to each other through common shared letters.
Choose a set of insurance words to practice. One student writes on a sheet of
paper one of the words from the set you have chosen. The next student selects
another word that begins any of the letters in the first word. Proceed in this way
until you have linked all the words. For example:

coverage
x
perils
o
settlement
u e
risk r
e management
s

11
Possible follow-ups on this activity are:
 Students then frame sentences with the words
 Students connect the words in a process sequence
 Students relate each word to their daily work

14. Telephone: students take turns whispering a phrase containing a vocabulary Word.
Have students sit in a circle or semi-circle. Whisper a sentence with an insurance
term. The first student whispers what he or she heard to the second student and so
forth around the room. When the message gets to the last student, the person says
it aloud. Is it the message you started with? Give each student in the class the
chance to start his is her own telephone message.

15. Question the answer: students create questions about vocabulary items. Write a
set of insurance words on a separate card and putt he cards face down on the
table. Divide the classinto two teams. A person from team 1picks up a card and
silently reads the Word. This is the answer. That person must then think of a
question which that Word could be the answer to. For example:

Card: premium Student: What do I have to pay to have my insurance in force?

Card: wording Student: What do I call that part of the policy that
contains the general terms?

16. Tic Tac Definition: have students make a grid with room for nine words and then fill
in any nine insurance words from a pre-set group. Give definitions of the pre-
selected words and tell students to cross out any word they have written on their
grids for which you have given the definition. The first person to cross out three
words in a straight line – either vertically, horizontally or diagonally – wins the
game. Grid example:

policy locations claims

Loss adjuster exposure coverage

deductibles quotation premium

12
17. Finish the sentence: Divide the class into two teams. Begin sentences and have
students from each team take turns finishing them with appropriate insurance
words from a pre-selected set. For example:

If you want to pay fair market price for your insurance you need to
ask for several different…………… [quotations]
When you cover your car the document the insurance company
gives you is a ……………… [policy]

18. Word clues: students give one word clues for team members to guess the correct
vocabulary item. Choose 10 insurance words and write each on a separate card.
Divide the class into two teams. Have teams choose their first players. Show one of
the vocabulary cards to the two players without showing it to the rest of the class.
The two players take turns giving one-word clues to their teams so that they can
guess the word. For example:
The word is policy.

Team 1 player: “paper”

Team 2 player: “document”
Team 1 player: “details”
Team 2 player: “coverage”

Tell each team to listen carefully to the opposing teams clues. Do the same for the
remaining nine vocabulary words. The team that guesses the most words wins the
game.

19. Secret Word Associations: students give words associated with a vocabulary ítem
without naming the item. In pairs or in small groups, have students choose a secret
word from a pre-set insurance vocabulary list, brainstorm several associations, tell
the associated words to the class, and see if students can guess the secret word.

20. Mystery Word Conversation: Students create conversations about vocabulary

items and others guess what the items are. Divide the class into small groups. From
a closed set of insurance words, have the students choose one word at a time and
create a conversation that is about the chosen activity but never names the activity.
The rest of the class tries to guess what the mystery word is.

21. Role Plays: Students create role plays based on key vocabulary items. Give students
a piece of paper and ask them to write two vocabulary items. Pair students up.
Collect the papers and distribute them randomly to other pairs. Each pair then
creates a dialog using the words. Have the pairs present their dialogs to the class.

13
Activities taken from :
International House, Buenos Aires 4th Annual Teachers’ Conference, July 2003 (1 to 11)
Molinsky, S.J and Bliss, B 1994 Handbook of Vocabulary Teaching Strategies Prentice Hall
Regents (13 to 21)

14
Reading-Comprehension
 The next challenge is for students to be able to read, understand, report
on and discuss technical insurance issues.

Second Step

 In this second step students are expected to read technical insurance

literature, understand it and discuss the technical issues derived from the
texts.

Sources

- Aon Magazine
- Web Sites: [Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
- Educational Material
- Specific texts brought along by students, based on their specific needs
- Policies
- Reports

Scope

 We will have all students at all levels read insurance-related texts.

 The greatest challenge is, of course, with lower level students – from
beginner to high elementary.
 15

Beginner Level

1. Choose the simplest possible texts you can get hold of

2. Divide the article into manageable parts
3. Prepare a reading-comprehension activity for each part
4. Have students do the reading and the reading-comprehension activity as
homework.
5. In class, check the reading-comprehension activity students will have
done as homework.
6. TALK SHOP – at this level, very, very, very simple, basic, essential,
linear; it could just be answering comprehension questions orally, or,
select and read out loud the most salient, surprising, idea in the text.

High - Beginner Level

1. Choose still a simple text

2. Divide the article into manageable parts
3. Prepare a reading-comprehension activity for each part
4. Have students do the reading and the reading-comprehension activity as
homework
5. In class, check the reading-comprehension activity students will have
done as homework.
6. At this level, you can start trying to have students explain in their own
words whatever they can from what they have read
7. TALK SHOP – at this level, you may be able to have a very brief
discussion about the topic in the text

Elementary Level

1. Choose still a simple text

2. Divide the article into manageable parts
3. Prepare a reading-comprehension activity for each part
4. Have students do the reading and the reading-comprehension activity as
homework.
5. In class, check the reading-comprehension activity students will have
done as homework.
6. Now, we can go on trying to have students explain in theirown words
whatever they can from what they have read
7. TALK SHOP – at this level, you may be able to have a very brief
discussion about the topic in the text.
 16

High-Elementary Level

1. Choose still a simple text

2. Divide the article into manageable parts
3. Prepare a reading-comprehension activity for each part
4. Have students do the reading and the reading-comprehension activity as
homework.
5. We continue trying to have students explain in their own words whatever
they can from what they have read
6. TALK SHOP – at this level, the exchanging of ideas, visions and opinion,
though very simple, begins to be possible.

Pre-Intermediate Level

1. Now you can start choosing a bit longer and more complex articles.
2. Divide the article into manageable parts
3. Prepare a reading-comprehension activity for each part
4. Have students do the reading and the reading-comprehension activity as
homework.
5. In class, check the reading-comprehension activity students will have
done as homework.
6. Now students are better prepared to explain in their own words what
they have read
7. TALK SHOP – at this level, the discussion becomes longer, deeper and
richer.

From Intermediate I to Pre-Advanced Levels

1. As from Intermediate I level you are able to choose increasingly longer

and more complex articles, following the upward progression of
complexity .
2. Divide the article into manageable parts
3. Prepare a reading-comprehension activity for each part
4. Have students do the reading and the reading-comprehension activity as
homework.
5. In class, check the reading-comprehension activity students will have
done as homework.
6. Have students explain the part they have read in their own words
checking if they have been able to pick up any technical vocabulary the
article contains.
7. TALK SHOP – open discussion. Something very interesting to do is to
have students compare local insurance practices with foreign ones.
 17

Exploitation activities:

 That’s right and That’s wrong activities

 Fill in charts
 Multiple choice activities
 Underline the mistake
 Underline the mistake and give the correct version
 Finish off the idea with the correct information from the text
 Order the chronological sequence of events
 Order the logical sequence of events
 Prepare a flow chart. Students should then fill in the
necessary info to complete the flow chart.

Specific Insurance Lines Vocabulary Building

 In this third step students are expected to acquire the specific insurance
vocabulary related to the different particular risks

Third Step

 The challenge is now for students to be able to acquire insurance

vocabulary related to specific issues.

 We will be doing this once students have acquired the general insurance
terms and the basic structure of the language, probably as from Pre-
Intermediate on.

 This activity is interrelated with that of reading-comprehension because

our source of vocabulary will be the reading - comprehension texts.

 Choose a text about a specific insurance line.

 Have students read it.

 As part of the reading-comprehension activities, have students select the

specific technical insurance vocabulary.

 Have them build up a specific technical insurance vocabulary glossary.

 Now, when they do the retelling of the article, have them use the
vocabulary they have selected.
 18

TALK SHOP - Free Technical Discussions

Fourth Step

 Freely discuss insurance issues, making sure students use the necessary
specific and appropriate insurance vocabulary.
 19

SOME GLOSSARIES ABOUT SPECIFIC INSURANCE COVERAGES

PROPERTY DAMAGE AND BUSINESS INTERRUPTION

ENGLISH SPANISH
aging envejecimiento
boiler and machinery caldera y maquinaria
burglary and robbery robo con allanamiento de morada y
hurto
debris removal remoción de escombros
depreciation depreciación / amortización
earthquake terremoto
expansión of buildings and foundations expansión de edificios y cimientos
explosion explosión
fire extinguishing costs costos de extinción de incendio
first loss limits límites a primer riesgo
fixed stock value valor promedio de mercaderías
loss adjuster liquidador de siniestros
loss adjuster’s fees honorarios del liquidador de siniestros
inventory shortage insuficiencia o faltante de inventario
lightning rayo
locally issued emitido localmente
loss of substance pérdida de sustancia
malicious mischief agravio doloso
moisture humedad
mold moho
ordinary theft hurto
payable pagadero
personal property bienes
water damage daños por agua
premises establecimiento / predio
real property bienes inmuebles
reinstatement restablecimiento
replacement costs costos de reposición
samples muestras
settling buildings and foundations establecimientos de edificios y
cimientos
shortage revealed at stock taking merma al momento de la toma de
mercaderías
 20

sonic boom estruendo

spoilage desperdicio / deshecho
sprinkler leakage filtración de sprinkler
standing charges gastos permanentes
stock mercadería
stock amount cantidad de mercadería
storm surge marejada
strike huelga/paro
supplier proveedor
unexplained disappearance desaparición inexplicada
vermin animales dañinos o nocivos/parásitos
wear and tear desgaste natural
windstorm vendaval
 21

MATERIAL DAMAGE
ENGLISH SPANISH
additional rental charges gastos adicionales de alquiler
adjoining yards patios colindantes
ancillary equipment equipo auxiliar
betterment clause cláusula de mejora
bomb hoax engaño de bomba
branded goods productos de marca
breakdown rotura
cabling cableado
carpets alfombras
computer risks riesgo de pérdida de información
contenida en la computadora / riesgo
de rotura de computadora
damage daño
data carrying material material que transporta información
deficiency insuficiencia
denial of access negativa de acceso
DIC – difference in conditions DIC – seguro de diferencia en
insurance condiciones
drains and gutters desagües y canales de tejado
electrical breakdown rotura eléctrica
failure fallas
fences cerca / vallado
fines multas
fixtures and fittings artefactos e instalaciones
fijas/accesorios
foundatios cimientos
gates puerta/ portón
illuminating signs carteles luminosos
impending loss pérdida o siniestro inminente
indemnity period período de indemnización
inner limit límite interno
improvement mejora
Insured’s property propiedad/bienes del asegurado
jetty espigón/muelle
landlord arrendador/propietario
locks changing clause cláusula de reemplazo de cerraduras
loss of metered water pérdida de agua medida
 22

loss reduction clause cláusula de reducción de pérdida

Master Contract contrato maestro/póliza maestra
meters medidores
miscellaneous varios
obsolete/redundant property propiedad innecesaria u obsoleta
oil and fuel links conexión de petróleo y combustible
omission to insure omisión de asegurar
outworker trabajador externo
paving pavimento/pavimentación
payments on account pagos a cuenta
payroll nómina salarial
pedestrian ways caminos para peatones
peripheral equipment periféricos/equipo periférico
physical loss daño físico
pier escollera/desembarcadero/muelle
piping tubería/cañería
plant planta/instalación/establecimiento
premises predio/sitio/local/edificio/ubicaciones
property held in trust propiedad en custodia de un
fideicomiso o sociedad fiduciaria
property in trust propiedad en custodia
public areas áreas públicas
public staircase escaleras públicas
public utilities servicios públicos
reinstatement rehabilitación
repair investigation costs costos de investigación de
reparaciones
research and development expenditure gastos de investigación y desarrollo
roadways calzadas
schedule of values lista/inventario de valores
service roads camino de servicio
sprinklers rociadores contra incendio
stocks and material in trade existencias y materiales en proceso de
venta
street furniture muebles colocados en la calle
contractor contratista
sub-contractor subcontratista
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subrogation waiver clausula de subrogación

subsidence hundimiento/descenso
tenant inquilino
tenant and neighbors recourse recursos de los locatarios y vecinos
theft hurto
tools herramientas
trace & access camino de acceso/rastro/huella
undamaged indemne
workman obrero/operario/trabajador
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