Slides from NATECLA conference 2014 talk. Some ideas for using texts in the classroom to promote vocabulary development

1. Words, words, words
Exploiting texts for lexis

2. Words, words, words
Exploiting texts for lexis
For a free, voiced-over presentation,
go to www.elt-training.com

5. The importance of lexis

6. Lexical Priming…
Michael Hoey

7. The Lexical Approach…
Michael Lewis

8. Dave Lewis

9. What does it mean
to know a word?

10. What do you know
about this word?

11. ?? entries
3 pages!

12. Meaning….
Abstract noun
[U]

13. Collocations…
Save time

14. Collocations…
Spend time

15. Collocations…

16. Collocations…
Kill time

17. In Roman times….
(n) [C]

18. He timed
the race
(v)
regular

19. It’s about time
Before your time
For weeks at a time
I have no time for him

20. So it’s not just about learning
new vocabulary ……
Exposure to how it’s used is
vital…

21. An example…

22. Would you like to
live here?

23. Find 4 reasons
Luke likes living
here.
Text from
Onestopenglish.com

24. So far, so typical.

25. Ambient vocabulary
Ambient vocabulary is language
that’s there in the background of any
given exercise or text, but which
doesn’t necessarily need to be
focused on in order for students –
and teacher – to complete the task.
Hugh Dellar

26. So what can we
do to exploit the
lexis?

27. ‘Noticing’

28. Examples
of tasks
Note these down – you’ll need them!

29. Guessing meaning
in context.

30. Which words don’t
you know?
Which can you guess?

31. novelist
inspirational rough track
fed uppassers by
popping in
remote
Which words can
be guessed?
Which can’t or
are difficult?

32. Which words can
be guessed?
Which can’t or
are difficult?
novelistinspirational
(rough track)
fed up passers by
popping in
remote

33. Practice activity?
Use the new vocabulary to write a
summary of the text…
…in pairs?
Without looking back?

34. Lexical sets

35. secluded
Positive or negative?
I like my own
company

36. Do you like your own company?
Do you think the lighthouse is
secluded or isolated?
If you are alone, do you get lonely
quickly?
And a bit of practice….

37. Lexico-grammatical
sets

38. It d_________y prevents
it’s c________y secluded
B______s, the views from
Of c_____ I have a 360-degree
I e________y love
Lexico-grammatical sets

39. It definitely prevents
it’s certainly secluded
Besides, the views from
Of course, I have a 360-degree
I especially love
Lexico-grammatical sets

40. What do you have
views about?
definitely certainly Besides,
of course, especially

41. Collocations
and chunks

42. “
“Not at all, I work much better alone and
enjoy my own company. I prefer to work
with the phone switched off too – I just
don’t want anything to disrupt my train of
thought. If I feel the need for some
company I can always drive to the local
pub or pop back to London for the
weekend

43. “Not at all, I w____ m___ b____ a_____ and
e______ m__ o___ c__________. I prefer to
work with the phone switched off too – I just
don’t want anything to d_____ m__ t______
o_ t________. If I f______ t__ n______ f___
some company I c____ a_____ drive to the
local pub or p___ b_____ t_ London for the
weekend

44. “
I work much better alone
I _____ much better ________
I prefer to work with the phone switched
off.
I prefer to ______ with _________
If I feel the need for some company I can
always drive to the local pub.
If I feel the need for ______, I can
always ________

45. Noticing
grammar

46. What’s missing?
“I was looking ___ a place in the country
where I could concentrate ___ my work
________ any disturbances. Having become
a successful novelist I was getting fed ___
_____ people ringing the doorbell, so the
lighthouse was the perfect answer.”

47. What else would
this work with?

48. Lower levels

49. Your turn!

50. My name’s Lisha and I’m from Nigeria. I
like walking and I also love riding my bike
so I can deliver your letters quickly. My
sister works in a restaurant but I don’t
have a job. I always get up early and I
know the area well. I go to college every
week on Friday but that’s in the
afternoon. I hope you give me the job!
Entry 1 reading text
Think of three ways to exploit this text

51. have
deliver
know
works
go
give
a job
letters
the area
to college
me the job
in a restaurant

52. have
deliver
know
works
go
give
a job
letters
the area
to college
me the job
in a restaurant

53. My name’s Lisha and I’m from Nigeria. I
like w_____ and I also love r____ my bike
Entry 1 reading text
What do you like doing?
What do you love doing?

54. My name’s Lisha
(What is your name?)
and I’m from Nigeria.
(Where are you from?)
I like walking and I also love riding my bike
(What do you like doing?)
My sister works in a restaurant.
(What does your sister do?)
What are the questions?

55. My name’s Lisha and I’m from Nigeria. I
like walking and I ___ love riding my bike
__ I can deliver your letters quickly. My
sister works in a restaurant ___ I don’t
have a job. I always get up early ___ I
know the area well. I go to college every
week on Friday ___ that’s in the
afternoon. I hope you give me the job!
Entry 1 reading text

56. Find words in the text that
mean the opposite:
running
slowly
never
late
morning

57. Your turn
(again!)

58. A live listening text
Prepare a short live listening that is
suitable for your learners.
eg What I’m doing at the weekend.
A terrible holiday.
My living room.
My dream job.

59. A live listening text
Tell it to a partner.
As they listen, they should note
down useful ambient vocabulary

60. http://leoxicon.blogspot.ru/

61. http://hughdellar.wordpress.com
/

63. Thank you!
jo.gakonga@elt-training.com