How to Teach How to Teach

Lexically.Lexically. Dave Willis, IATEFL: Harrogate, April 2006

700 frequency band 70% of text.

1500 frequency band 80%

2500 frequency band 86%

Why does social rate in the top 500 words?

social problems; social security; social change; social conditions; social policy

Is social an important word for your students?

Fish Chips

Eggs Bacon

Chair Armchair

Twenty-five

Twenty-two

Why are frequent words so frequent?

1 Because they figure in so many

common phrases ...

the, and, to, a, of, I, it, in, you,

was, is, he, for, with, that, on,

but, they, be , have, we, at ….

the beginning of; the end of; the middle of; the front of; the back of; the end of …

a few of; a lot of; a couple of;

a kilo of; a glass of …

• time• place• quantity• vague language • discourse organisers

Phrases of:

• personal point of view• interactive markers

and in spoken language:

Why is point among the most frequent nouns in English?

The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary lists the following phrases with point:

The point is …; to miss the point; (that’s) a good point; that’s not the point; I can see your point; beside the point; make a point of; up to a point; what’s the point? freezing point; melting point.

Why are frequent words so frequent?

1 Because they figure in so many

common phrases and patterns

FOR:

a How long: time and distance

b Reason. What for? … for example.

c Who wants or needs? Can you do it for me?

After good/bad, easy/difficult, right/wrong.

Patterns with for:

a How long:

Time: live, last, survive,

Distance: extend ; stretch

b Reason: ask; look; hunt; look, shop; wait; plan; arrange; prepare; train; compensate; apologise; pay; answer.volunteer; sign on; show up.

c Who wants/needs:

work; act; fight; speak.

deputise; substitute; stand in;

argue; speak; pray; speak up.

care; feel; grieve.

Why are frequent words so frequent?

2 Because they have so many

delexical or metaphorical uses.

Why is take among the most frequent verbs in English?

a rest; a break; a holiday…

a shower; a bath …

a long time; a few minutes …

a photograph; an interest in …

Why is hand among the most frequent nouns in English?

on the one hand … on the other hand;

near at hand; on hand; to hand;

in hand; lend a hand; have a hand in …

Why are frequent words so frequent?

3. Because they collocate with so

many frequent words.

Why is good among the most frequent adjectives in English?

a good thing; a good idea; a good chance; good morning; a good time…

LANGUAGE FOCUS EXERCISES.

Look for:

1 a word …

2 …. or part of a word.

3 words and phrases relating to a

concept.

• time• place• quantity• vague language • discourse organisers

Phrases of:

• personal point of view• interactive markers

and in spoken language:

LANGUAGE FOCUS EXERCISES:

1.How many phrases can you find with the word with?

2.Pick out all the phrases with –ing.

3.Pick out all the phrases to do with cold.

4.How many time expressions can you find?

The boy who came out from the cold.

A schoolboy who spent the night trapped in a butcher's cold store after being locked in accidentally, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive.Peter Emerson, aged 15, was locked in the store in a Stratford-upon-Avon butcher's shop for 14 hours with the temperature around freezing point.Staff arriving for work at the Wood Street shop found him yesterday morning with his teeth chattering and his face purple with cold. Still freezing, Peter immediately telephoned his parents, who had reported him missing to the police.

LANGUAGE FOCUS EXERCISES:

1.How many phrases can you find with the word with?

2.Pick out all the phrases with –ing.

3.Pick out all the phrases to do with cold.

4.How many time expressions can you find?

The boy who came out from the cold.

A schoolboy who spent the night trapped in a butcher's cold store after being locked in accidentally, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive.Peter Emerson, aged 15, was locked in the store in a Stratford-upon-Avon butcher's shop for 14 hours with the temperature around freezing point.Staff arriving for work at the Wood Street shop found him yesterday morning with his teeth chattering and his face purple with cold. Still freezing, Peter immediately telephoned his parents, who had reported him missing to the police.

Peter, who lives in Banbury Road, Stratford, said: "I help out at the shop after school and I had gone into the cold store just before closing time. I was behind a big food shelf when the door locked behind me."At first I thought it was someone playing a joke but when I realised it wasn't and began shouting all the staff had gone home. I tried to kick the door open and to pick the lock but it was no good.

LANGUAGE FOCUS EXERCISES:

1.How many phrases can you find with the word with?

2.Pick out all the phrases with –ing.

3.Pick out all the phrases to do with cold.

4.How many time expressions can you find?

The boy who came out from the cold.

A schoolboy who spent the night trapped in a butcher's cold store after being locked in accidentally, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive.Peter Emerson, aged 15, was locked in the store in a Stratford-upon-Avon butcher's shop for 14 hours with the temperature around freezing point.Staff arriving for work at the Wood Street shop found him yesterday morning with his teeth chattering and his face purple with cold. Still freezing, Peter immediately telephoned his parents, who had reported him missing to the police.

Peter, who lives in Banbury Road, Stratford, said: "I help out at the shop after school and I had gone into the cold store just before closing time. I was behind a big food shelf when the door locked behind me."At first I thought it was someone playing a joke but when I realised it wasn't and began shouting all the staff had gone home. I tried to kick the door open and to pick the lock but it was no good.

LANGUAGE FOCUS EXERCISES:

1.How many phrases can you find with the word with?

2.Pick out all the phrases with –ing.

3.Pick out all the phrases to do with cold.

4.How many time expressions can you find?

The boy who came out from the cold.

A schoolboy who spent the night trapped in a butcher's cold store after being locked in accidentally, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive.Peter Emerson, aged 15, was locked in the store in a Stratford-upon-Avon butcher's shop for around 14 hours with the temperature around freezing point.Staff arriving for work at the Wood Street shop found him yesterday morning with his teeth chattering and his face purple with cold. Still freezing, Peter immediately telephoned his parents, who had reported him missing to the police.

Peter, who lives in Banbury Road, Stratford, said: "I help out at the shop after school and I had gone into the cold store just before closing time. I was behind a big food shelf when the door locked behind me."At first I thought it was someone playing a joke but when I realised it wasn't and began shouting all the staff had gone home. I tried to kick the door open and to pick the lock but it was no good.

The boy who came out from the cold.

A schoolboy 1 2 the night trapped in a butcher's cold store after 3 locked in accidentally, ran on the spot 4 5 6 to stay alive.Peter Emerson, aged 15, was locked in the store in a Stratford-upon Avon butcher's shop 7 8 9 10 with the temperature around 11 12.Staff 13 for work at the Wood Street shop found him yesterday morning 14 his teeth 15 and his face purple 16 cold. 17 freezing, Peter immediately telephoned his parents, 18 had reported him 19 to the police.

The boy who came out from the cold.

A schoolboy who spent the night in a store after being locked in, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive. (4)Peter Emerson was locked in the store in a Stratford-upon Avon shop for 14 hours with the temperature freezing point. (3)Staff arriving for work found him with his teeth chattering and his face purple with cold.(7) Still freezing, Peter telephoned his parents, who reported him missing to the police. (2)

Staff arriving for work at the Wood Street shop found him yesterday morning with his teeth chattering and his face purple with cold.

Staff – arrive – work – Wood Street shop – find - yesterday morning – teeth chatter – face purple - cold.

A schoolboy who spent the night in a butcher’s cold store after being locked in, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive.A schoolboy xxx spent xxx night in a xxxxxxx’x xxxx store after being xxxxxx in, ran on the xxxx for ten xxxxx to stay alive.A xxxxxxxxx xxx spent xxx xxxxx in a xxxxxxx’x xxxx store after being xxxxxx in, ran on the xxxx for ten xxxxx to stay xxxxx.X xxxxxxxxx xxx spent xxx xxxxx in a

xxxxxxx’x xxxx xxxxx xxxxx being xxxxxx in, xxx on the xxxx xxx ten xxxxx to stay xxxxx.

X xxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxx xxxxx xx x xxxxxxx’x xxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xx, xxx xx xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxxxx xx xxxx xxxxx.

A schoolboy who spent the night in a cold store after being locked in, ran on the spot for ten hours to stay alive.