Learners become dictionaries!

Simon Marshall, Director of Training, Pilgrims, UK

Objective:
To involve students in discussing the meanings of words and writing definitions of them. For students to create convincing and memorable sentences to exemplify these words.

Time: 30 mins +

Level: Upper intermediate to very advanced.

Preparation:
Photocopy definitions and example sentences of the words you wish to work on in the lesson.

Procedures: (This lesson is based onrevising adjectives for describing character)

1. Display the following definition and example sentence on the OHP or write it on the board.

considerate. Someone who is considerate pays attention to the needs, wishes and needs of other people. I think he's the most charming, most considerate man I've ever known. (Taken from Collins Cobuild English dictionary)

2. Draw the students' attention to the style of the language used in the definition and example sentence.

3. Put the following words on the board
loyal
honest
sensitive
reliable
generous

4 Divide the class into groups of four and to create definitions and example of the above words. Remind them to use the style used in your earlier example. Give them a sheet of A3 paper and tell them their definitions clearly and in large writing.

5 Collect their A3 sheets and put them up for display.

6 Ask the students to look at the sheets, comparing for similarities and differences. Encourage them to make any necessary self and peer corrections. Offer any necessary help,

7 Hand out the photocopies you made from the dictionary (see Preparation above)and ask them to compare them with their own work. Do they think their own definitions and example sentences are in some ways better than those given in the dictionary?

Rationale:
This activity asks students to think about words carefully both a individual lexical items and their use in context. As the process is a largely interpersonal one it entails negotiation of meaning and use. It is a marked alternative to revision work which involves students revising on their own

Acknowledgement:
This exercise results from an excellent lesson I observed taught by Barbie Kitchen at the Harven School of English.

Please check the The Secondary Teaching course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the The Teaching advanced Students course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the The Creative methodology course at Pilgrims website.