Words! Words! Words!Words! Words! Words!

Alan MarshAlan Marsh

MATEFL 2013MATEFL 2013

Today’s agenda

1 Numbers and words2 Three problems3 Absolutely perfect!4 Pre-teach? Pre-storm!5 Sorting and storing6 Er …….? Or Is this the most useful lesson I’ve ever

taught?7 Getting Engaged …. Marrying words!

English words and numbers

•50,000

•20,000

•Half a million

•2,000

•7,500

How many words …?How many words …?

• 1 How many words are there in English?1 How many words are there in English?• 2 How many words does an educated native 2 How many words does an educated native

speaker of English speaker of English understandunderstand??• 3 How many words does an educated native 3 How many words does an educated native

speaker of English have as part of theirspeaker of English have as part of their active active vocabularyvocabulary

• 4 How many words does a speaker of English need 4 How many words does a speaker of English need to be able to take part in everyday conversation?to be able to take part in everyday conversation?

• 5 How many words are defined in an Advanced 5 How many words are defined in an Advanced Learner’s Dictionary?Learner’s Dictionary?

• 6 How many words does a reader of English need to 6 How many words does a reader of English need to understand most texts?understand most texts?

• 1 How many words are there in English?1 How many words are there in English?• Half a million?Half a million?• 2 How many words does an educated native speaker of 2 How many words does an educated native speaker of

English English understandunderstand??• 50,000?50,000?• 3 How many words does an educated native speaker of 3 How many words does an educated native speaker of

English English have as part of their active vocabularyhave as part of their active vocabulary• 20,000?20,000?• 4 How many words does a speaker of English need to be 4 How many words does a speaker of English need to be

able to take part in everyday conversation?able to take part in everyday conversation?• About 2000About 2000• 5 How many words are defined in an Advanced Learner’s 5 How many words are defined in an Advanced Learner’s

Dictionary?Dictionary?• Macmillan’ Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: 7500 key wordsMacmillan’ Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: 7500 key words• 6 How many words does a reader of English need to 6 How many words does a reader of English need to

understand most texts?understand most texts?

How many words does a How many words does a readerreader of of English need to understand most English need to understand most texts?texts?

• Top Top 2,0002,000 words = words = 83%83% of most texts i.e. of most texts i.e. 11 out of out of 55 will be will be unfamiliarunfamiliar

• Top Top 6,0006,000 words = words = 90%,90%, which means which means 11 word out of word out of 1010 will be will be unfamiliarunfamiliar to you to you

• Top Top 10,00010,000 words = words = 95%95% i.e. only i.e. only 11 word word out of out of 2020 will be will be unfamiliarunfamiliar to you - pretty to you - pretty good if you need to work words out from good if you need to work words out from context.context.

• Macmillan Advanced Learner’s dictionary Macmillan Advanced Learner’s dictionary identifies identifies 75007500 key words that advanced key words that advanced learners should knowlearners should know

The top 2000 work the The top 2000 work the hardest!hardest!• Enable learners to speak, read, write and Enable learners to speak, read, write and

listen at Elementary (A1) level about listen at Elementary (A1) level about everyday subjects (+ some subject everyday subjects (+ some subject specific vocabulary)specific vocabulary)

• Since they’re so frequent, they can help Since they’re so frequent, they can help learners to work out meanings, and to ask learners to work out meanings, and to ask for help in real situationsfor help in real situations

• Learners’ dictionaries typically use 2000-Learners’ dictionaries typically use 2000-2500 words as their ‘defining vocabulary’2500 words as their ‘defining vocabulary’

Mmmm ….. Is there a problem?• How many new words do you teach every

lesson?

• How many times do learners need to recall and revise words before they’re permanently stored?

• How many lessons of English do learners have?

• How long do they need in order to permanently store (and be able to recall) 10,000 words?

• Is there a problem here?

What does ‘knowing a word’ mean?What does ‘knowing a word’ mean?

word building

synonyms

translation

antonyms

colligatescollocates

register

connotation

core meaning

part of speech

stressespronunciation

suburbs

How can we help?How can we help?

• Help them to ….NoticeHelp them to ….Notice• Help them to …Record and StoreHelp them to …Record and Store• Help them to …Retrieve and UseHelp them to …Retrieve and Use• Help them to …Extend and Help them to …Extend and

EnrichEnrich• Introduce them to learn…Words Introduce them to learn…Words

for getting around wordsfor getting around words

Write down the first word(s) Write down the first word(s) that come to mindthat come to mind• HotHot• DogDog• BabyBaby• HairHair• GlassGlass• BathBath• GlueGlue• CarpetCarpet• TrainTrain• LightLight

WORD LISTWORD LIST enlargeenlarge crawlcrawl love love

femalefemale abandon warm abandon warm

carcar van van affectionaffection

nappy nappy baby baby relinquishrelinquish

vehiclevehicle trainees trainees little little

hothot expandexpand increaseincrease

coolcool coldcold male malelorrylorryrememberremember forgetforget trainertrainer

cotcot diminutivediminutive

A Xanudasian student’s exercise book• WORD TRANSLATION• express atcito• opt out organo kotor nganinot • Mgumba stron (ff skulo, Firmo)• star galactio• interview tuo baire medjurma• shun bacawao ina terusco• kinsman megrobaro• foyer auditorio pri mecxt• piss kchir• pottery oborosto• o’er tubea• hotchpotch senico kotor emio ina• Tulmulenco• semi-conductor semikonductto• prosecuted epallis na magistrato

• Jim Scrivener: Learning Teaching Macmillan (2011)•

Superordinates and Superordinates and hyponymshyponyms

•vehiclevehicle

car van lorry

Lexical setLexical set

nappy cot

crawl

baby

synonomysynonomy

• enlarge/increase/expandenlarge/increase/expand

• love/affectionlove/affection

• abandon/relinquishabandon/relinquish

• little/diminutivelittle/diminutive

Does synonomy really Does synonomy really exist?exist?

• CollocationsCollocations

• expand the economy expand the economy oror enlarge the enlarge the economyeconomy

• a diminutive old woman – a diminutive old woman – what’s wrong?what’s wrong?

• a little old ladya little old lady

• Connotations: Connotations:

• The soldier abandoned his postThe soldier abandoned his post

• The soldier relinquished his postThe soldier relinquished his post

Antonomy or words along a Antonomy or words along a clinecline

• hot/warm/cool/coldhot/warm/cool/cold

• male/femalemale/female

• remember/forgetremember/forget

• trainer/traineestrainer/trainees

Weather temperaturesWeather temperatures

• coolcool

• hothot

• chillychilly

• boilingboiling

• freezingfreezing

• coldcold

• warmwarm

• boilingboiling

• hothot

• warmwarm

• coolcool

• chillychilly

• coldcold

• freezing freezing

Words along a clineWords along a cline

• laughlaugh

• smile smile

• gigglegiggle

• chortlechortle

• guffawguffaw

• grin grin

Words along a clineWords along a cline

smile smile guffaw guffaw

grin grin chortle chortle

giggle giggle laugh laugh

Words on a clineWords on a cline

• irateirate

• irritatedirritated

• furiousfurious

• annoyedannoyed

• hopping madhopping mad

• angryangry

• livid livid

irritated-annoyed-angry-hopping mad-irate-

furious-livid

Acknowledgement: Tim Bowen

Absolute (extreme) adjectives for Absolute (extreme) adjectives for ….….

• sadsad• goodgood• drunkdrunk• cheapcheap• easy easy • hungryhungry• valuablevaluable• surprisedsurprised• angry angry

• Sad?Sad?• Heartbroken!Heartbroken!• Good?Good?• PerfectPerfect• Drunk?Drunk?• Legless!Legless!• Cheap?Cheap?• A give-away!A give-away!• Easy? Easy? • A piece of cake!A piece of cake!• Hungry?Hungry?• Starving!Starving!• Valuable?Valuable?• Priceless!Priceless!• Surprised?Surprised?• Flabbergasted!Flabbergasted!• Angry? Angry? • Furious!Furious!

Absolutely …..Absolutely …..

• Hungry? I’m absolutely __________________________!Hungry? I’m absolutely __________________________!• I was more than angry when I found out. I was absolutely __________!I was more than angry when I found out. I was absolutely __________!• This painting isn’t just valuable – it’s absolutely _________________!This painting isn’t just valuable – it’s absolutely _________________!• Was the exam easy? It was an absolute __________________!Was the exam easy? It was an absolute __________________!• The meal was really tasty – absolutely _________________!The meal was really tasty – absolutely _________________!• This exercise is very difficult. In fact. It’s absolutely ______________!This exercise is very difficult. In fact. It’s absolutely ______________!• I wasn’t just sad when I heard the news; I was absolutely __________!I wasn’t just sad when I heard the news; I was absolutely __________!• This item is extremely important. In fact, it’s absolutely _______________ for This item is extremely important. In fact, it’s absolutely _______________ for

your survival.your survival.• The dog isn’t just ugly; it’s absolutely __________________!The dog isn’t just ugly; it’s absolutely __________________!• He drank 4 He drank 4 litres litres of wine last night and was absolutely ___________!of wine last night and was absolutely ___________!• This device doesn’t work – it’s absolutely __________________!This device doesn’t work – it’s absolutely __________________!• These shirts are really cheap – they’re an absolute _______________!These shirts are really cheap – they’re an absolute _______________!• The weather isn’t just cold today – it’s absolutely ________________!The weather isn’t just cold today – it’s absolutely ________________!• There is only one painting like this in the whole world. It’s absolutely There is only one painting like this in the whole world. It’s absolutely

__________!__________!• I was absolutely ________________ when I heard the news! I never expected I was absolutely ________________ when I heard the news! I never expected

him to pass the exam. And he got an A grade too!him to pass the exam. And he got an A grade too!

Absolutely …..Absolutely …..

• Hungry? I’m absolutely Hungry? I’m absolutely ravenousravenous!!• I was more than angry when I found out. I was absolutely I was more than angry when I found out. I was absolutely furiousfurious!!• This painting isn’t just valuable – it’s absolutely This painting isn’t just valuable – it’s absolutely pricelesspriceless!!• Was the exam easy? It was an absolute Was the exam easy? It was an absolute doddledoddle!!• The meal was really tasty – absolutely The meal was really tasty – absolutely deliciousdelicious!!• This exercise is very difficult. In fact. It’s absolutely This exercise is very difficult. In fact. It’s absolutely impossibleimpossible!!• I wasn’t just sad when I heard the news; I was absolutely I wasn’t just sad when I heard the news; I was absolutely heartbrokenheartbroken!!• This item is extremely important. In fact, it’s absolutely This item is extremely important. In fact, it’s absolutely essentialessential for your for your

survival.survival.• The dog isn’t just ugly; it’s absolutely The dog isn’t just ugly; it’s absolutely hideoushideous!!• He drank 4 He drank 4 litres litres of wine last night and was absolutely of wine last night and was absolutely leglesslegless!!• This device doesn’t work – it’s absolutely This device doesn’t work – it’s absolutely uselessuseless!!• These shirts are really cheap – they’re an absolute These shirts are really cheap – they’re an absolute give-awaygive-away!!• The weather isn’t just cold today – it’s absolutely The weather isn’t just cold today – it’s absolutely freezingfreezing!!• There is only one painting like this in the whole world. It’s absolutely There is only one painting like this in the whole world. It’s absolutely

uniqueunique!!• I was absolutely I was absolutely flabbergastedflabbergasted when I heard the news! I never expected when I heard the news! I never expected

him to pass the exam. And he got an A grade too!him to pass the exam. And he got an A grade too!

PersonalisationPersonalisation

• Have you ever been absolutely Have you ever been absolutely legless/furious/flabbergasted?legless/furious/flabbergasted?

• What was your last absolutely delicious What was your last absolutely delicious meal? meal?

• Have you ever bought anything that was Have you ever bought anything that was absolutely useless? absolutely useless?

• Or that was an absolute give-away? Or that was an absolute give-away?

• Is there an absolutely hideous building in Is there an absolutely hideous building in your town or city or country?your town or city or country?

DictoglossDictogloss

Although it was her first visit to America, Although it was her first visit to America, something about the atmosphere in the something about the atmosphere in the old house – the carpet, the antique old house – the carpet, the antique furniture in the lounge, the colour of the furniture in the lounge, the colour of the wallpaper in the hall, the dank wallpaper in the hall, the dank atmosphere, the strange musty smell on atmosphere, the strange musty smell on the steps – convinced her that the steps – convinced her that somewhere in the deep, distant past she somewhere in the deep, distant past she had been there before.had been there before.

Dictogloss intermediate 1

•The rain was beating relentlessly against the window pane and the wind was howling menacingly around the lonely wooden cabin on the snow-covered mountainside. Tom was scared. Then he heard a strange, muffled noise outside. Someone was trying to open the door!

• the dormitories

• the corridors

• the porridge

• the water in the communal bath

• the towels

• the basins

• the socks

• the lavatories

Whoever writes of his schooldays must beware of exaggeration Whoever writes of his schooldays must beware of exaggeration and self-pity. I do not claim that St. Cyprian’s was a sort of and self-pity. I do not claim that St. Cyprian’s was a sort of Dotheboys Hall. But I should be falsifying my own memories if I Dotheboys Hall. But I should be falsifying my own memories if I did not record that they are largely memories of disgust.did not record that they are largely memories of disgust.

The overcrowded, underfed, underwashed life we led The overcrowded, underfed, underwashed life we led waswas disgusting, as I recall it. If I shut my eyes today and say disgusting, as I recall it. If I shut my eyes today and say “school”, it is, of course, the physical surroundings that first “school”, it is, of course, the physical surroundings that first come back to me: the flat playing field with its cricket pavilion come back to me: the flat playing field with its cricket pavilion and the little shed by the rifle range, the draughty dormitories, and the little shed by the rifle range, the draughty dormitories, the dusty, splintery passages, the square of asphalt in front of the dusty, splintery passages, the square of asphalt in front of the gymnasium, the raw- looking pinewood chapel at the back. the gymnasium, the raw- looking pinewood chapel at the back.

And at almost every point some filthy detail intrudes itself. For example, there were the pewter bowls out of which we had our porridge. They had overhanging rims, and under the rims were accumulations of sour porridge, which could be flaked off in long strips. The porridge itself, too, contained more lumps, hairs and unexplained black things than one would have thought possible, unless someone were putting them there on purpose. It was never safe to start on that porridge without investigating it first.And then there was the slimy water of the plunge bath – it was twelve or fifteen feet long. The whole school was supposed to go into it every morning and I doubt whether the water was changed at all frequently – and the always damp towels with their cheesy smell. And the sweaty smell of the changing-room with its greasy basins and, giving on this, the row of filthy dilapidated lavatories, which had no fastenings of any kind on the doors, so whenever you were sitting there someone was sure to come crashing in.It is not easy for me to think of my schooldays without seeming to breathe in a whiff of something cold and evil-smelling – a sort of compound of sweaty socks, dirty towels, faecal smells blowing along corridors, forks with old food between the prongs, neck of mutton stew, and the banging doors of the lavatories and the echoing chamber pots in the dormitories.

George Orwell, Such, Such Were the Joys

Learner TrainingLearner Training

11 Circumlocution and paraphrasing Circumlocution and paraphrasing strategiesstrategies

22 Storing lexis: keeping recordsStoring lexis: keeping records

33 Really knowing a wordReally knowing a word

CROSSWORD RACE

The answers!

• 3A stale 10A fall asleep 4D lose

• 9D improbable 8A engine 5D tears

• 16D toothpaste 11A rise 20A error

• 7D delete 14A exhausted

• 15A look it up 2D catch up

• 12D unemployed 17A coach 19A shark

• 1D vehicle 10D fuel 18A vet 13D delicatessen 6D broken up

• a. It’s the _____ _____ … fresh/wake up/win/probable

• b. It’s ______ _____ _____… go up/mistake• It _______ _____ _____ as cancel• c. It’s a _____ _____ means of transport/fish• d. It’s _____ _____ _____ _____ .. coal, oil, gas etc. /

car, bus, van, etc.• e. It’s the person _____ …. (vet)• It’s the place _____ … (delicatessen)• f. It’s _____ _____ _____ you … (engine) • It’s _____ _____ _____ you _____ for _____ …

(toothpaste)• It’s _____ … (tears)• g. It’s _____ you _____ _____ you … (unemployed)• It’s _____ you _____ _____ you … (look it up /

catch up)• It’s _____ you _____ _____ you … (exhausted)

Paraphrasing and circumlocution• It’s a synonym/another word for ….• It’s the opposite of …..• It’s a kind/type/sort of ..• It’s the general word for …, …., and …

• It’s the thing/stuff you use when you/to …• It’s the place where ….• It’s a/the person who …• It’s how you (feel) when ….• It’s what you (do) when you/to …… • An example sentence with a context

Useful phrases in ItalianUseful phrases in Italian

• Come se dice ..? Come se dice ..?

• E un’altra parola che vuol dire …..E un’altra parola che vuol dire …..

• E un sinonomo di ...E un sinonomo di ...

• Se dice cosi quando si ....Se dice cosi quando si ....

• E il contrario di ….E il contrario di ….

• E un tipo di ..... E una specie di ... E un tipo di ..... E una specie di ...

• E una cosa che se usa quandoE una cosa che se usa quando / /perper

• admire exciting killer professor

• attendance experience law protection

• attractive factor leader record

• bad fair-haired lovely rugged

• beautiful fair-skinned lover scenic

• boring fantastic magnificent sick

• cute fascinating dangerous encounter

• flight attendant moving stunning die

• gang newscaster sunburnt doctor good-looking suntanned elegant murder

• dramatic handsome pig rescue

Words we like ….Words we like ….

• mellifluousmellifluous

• serendipityserendipity

• flabbergastedflabbergasted

• helter-skelterhelter-skelter

• wishy-washywishy-washy

• And in Maltese ….And in Maltese ….

• sahansitrasahansitra

Engagement … and marry the words

•Choose two you like… and say why

•Connect three in a sentence

•Write a newspaper headline

•Make up a story

•Make up a long sentence

•And now …..

•How many can you remember?

Some websites for starters …• www.teachingenglish.org British Council

• www.onestopenglish.com Macmillan

• www.ELTCommunity.com Pearson Longman

• www.matefl.org many more links

• www.mes-english.com flashcards

• www.learningenglish.com for your learners

• www.etprofessional.com practical magazine

• ??????????

Books I’ve found very useful

• Vocabulary In Use, CUP: the whole series• (including Collocations In Use, Phrasal Verbs In Use, etc.)• S. Thornbury How To Teach Vocabulary (Longman)• S. Redman and R. Ellis A Way With Words (1-3) • M.McCarthy, A. O’Keefe, S. Walsh Vocabulary Matrix, Heinle

Cengage• J. Scrivener Learning Teaching, Macmillan• S. Thornbury, An A-Z of ELT, Macmillan• J. Richards, J. Platt, H. Platt Dictionary of Language Teaching

& Applied Linguistics, Longman• All the Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Cambridge,

Macmillan, Oxford, and Collins Cobuild

• A last couple of thoughts …..A last couple of thoughts …..

Bricks and mortar …..

Inspirational dictationInspirational dictation

• conveyed conveyed withoutwithout littlelittle

• veryvery vocabulary bevocabulary be

• grammargrammar nothingnothing cancan

• withoutwithout conveyedconveyedbebe

• cancan

A famous quote ……A famous quote ……

““Without grammar very little can be Without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”. (Wilkins nothing can be conveyed”. (Wilkins 1972)1972)

• alanmarshinmalta@gmail.comalanmarshinmalta@gmail.com• 9942 84479942 8447• And ……….And ……….

•Thank you!Thank you!