Unit 2.

LEXIS.

Cold, S. (2011). Lexis. Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/ioGbAMqLyLkpeY5d6

The second next unit in the book “The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3” is lexis and the meaning of words according to their context and forms. This blog will answer the questions: What can one learn from this unit? And, How can a teacher teach Lexis in a real-life classroom?

To begin with, what is lexis? according to Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams (2011), authors of the TKT book, it refers to words or sets of words that have meaning. In addition, according to George (2015), lexis also refers to “our 'internal database' of words and complete 'ready-made' fixed/semi-fixed/typical combinations of words that we can recall and use quite quickly without having to construct new phrases and sentences word by word from scratch using our knowledge of grammar”; which can be inferred as the need to know the meaning in order to use Lexis. However, words come from different meanings.  The first one is through the context or situation of the word. For example, there is the denotative meaning (when you can “see it”), and the imaginative meaning (an abstract meaning). The second one is through their form like in prefixes, suffixes, compounds, idioms, colocations, chunks (which are fixed expressions learned as one piece), synonyms, antonyms, false friends (which have a similar meaning to another language), homophones, homonyms, etc.

To sum up, one can say that Lexis are words that transmit meaning, either from its context or form. Not to mention that an English teacher should know how to teach Lexis/ vocabulary in the class. Here are some examples of how to teach vocabulary when teaching.

1. Thornbury (2002) proposes in his book “How to teach Vocabulary” that to train good vocabulary leaners you can use mnemonics, word cards, etc to enhance students in the language.
2. Another example proposed by Thornbury is to teach vocabulary using a dictionary. It might seem odd, but it has demonstrated to be important for students since the definition of the word is in it as well as the pronunciation and some examples in which the word is being used.

For your further reading:

Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams, M. (2011). The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 (Second). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139062398.003

George, K. (2015). Lexis & Vocabulary - Innovative Strategies and Approaches, (February). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3770.2567

Thornbury, S. (2002). How to Teach Vocabulary. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Retrieved from https://vk.com/doc-42884360_171062469?hash=aec848d77ad3c56f79&dl=39deeae481ef9146df