Teaching Chunks of Language

Teaching Chunks of Language is a motivating resource book based on the fundamental assumptions of the so-called lexical (or “chunk teaching”) approach. Language as used by native speakers consists substantially of memorized multi-word chunks (e.g. by the way). For learners of a foreign language, knowledge of chunks is strongly associated with important aspects of proficiency such as oral fluency and naturalness of expression.

The challenging question for foreign learners therefore is this: How can many chunks be committed to active, long-term memory?

Teaching Chunks of Language suggests a communicative approach to the teaching of chunks of language. Most of the activities presented are decidedly communicative and involve a lot of speaking and listening as well as intensive reading and some writing.

Teaching Chunks of Language is organized in 4 chapters:

• • Re-usable activities

• • Activity sequences

• • Re-usable review & learning quiz activities

• • Testing techniques