teaching lexis and grammar

Question 1

What is the order of the lexico-grammatical continuum?

Answer 1

1. lexis
2. intermediate zone
3. grammar

individual words - collocations - colligations - grammatical rules and patterns

Question 2

In what four steps should a vocabulary lesson be structured?

Answer 2

1. presentation
2. practice
3. application
4. assessment

Question 3

What are the six phases of vocabulary instruction?

Answer 3

1. presentation (in communicative context)
2. teacher recites
3. students repeat
4. explanation of meaning
5. show spelling
6. application

Question 4

How is the mental lexicon organized?

Answer 4

1. syntagmatic relations (e.g. collocations)
2. paradigmatic relations (e.g. synonyms/antonyms)
3. similar sound structure (e.g. clang association L1=L2)

Question 5

Give at least two examples of meaning-related vocabulary practice.

Answer 5

• odd one out
• categorizing
• memory games
• guessing from definitions
• matching pictures to lexical items

Question 6

Give two examples of form-related vocabulary practice.

Answer 6

• pronunciation drills

- filling in grids / crosswords

Question 7

Give at least two examples of use-related vocabulary practice.

Answer 7

• write a story based on lexical items
• match synonyms - antonyms
• information gap activities

Question 8

What vocabulary explanation techniques do you know?

Answer 8

• visual
• verbal (monolingual)
• verbal (bilingual)

Question 9

Bring the 7 steps of Thaler’s deductive process of grammar instruction into the correct order.

• testing
• communicative task
• creating awareness
• explaining form, function, use
• pre-communicative task
• revision
• presenting new grammar

Answer 9

1. creating awareness
2. presenting new grammar
3. explaining form, function, use
4. pre-communicative activity
5. communicative task
6. revision
7. testing

Question 10

Bring the five steps of Ziegésar’s Acquisition-Based Method (inductive approach to grammar instruction) into the correct order.

• clarification (working out rules inductively)
• reproduction (guided exercise)
• demonstration in meaningful context
• production (communicative task)
• comprehension and reaction

Answer 10

1. demonstration in meaningful context
2. comprehension and reaction
3. reproduction (guided exercise)
4. production (communicative task)
5. clarification (working out rules inductively)

Question 11

How do learners learn new grammar?

Answer 11

1. noticing
2. comparing
3. integrating

Question 12

How can you practice grammar (with what types of exercises)?

Answer 12

1. form-driven exercises (gap filling)
2. pre-communicative exercises (e.g. partner dialogue with scaffolding)
3. communicative exercises (talking freely)