The Environment

Learners: Korean high school students

Learner Level: High intermediate
Class size: 25
Time: ~15min
Learning outcomes: By the end of this activity students will have practiced reading
strategies for identifying and studying how specific vocabulary words are used and their
meanings in context.

MATERIALS

• Vocabulary words in concordance lines developed from the reading for that day’s
class. Each vocabulary word in its concordance lines should be put onto separate
sheets of paper.
• White board/ chalkboard
Example of a reading (the glossary at the end would not be provided to the students if
these words are to be on the concordance lists):
https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/uploads/5/4/2/8/54289603/microplastic_article.pdf

Example of concordance lines, from the example text (the word “would” is used quite a
lot and presents an opportunity to study its meaning and use more in depth):

We set out to find where in the ocean would be the most effective places to put
particularly of the coast of East Asia, it would remove the most plastic
It would be an impossibly large problem
anywhere in the ocean, and that they would be able to clean up 45% of the plastic
The plastic-removing devices would most likely work best in places with
of the virtual ocean to see where they would be most effective at both cleaning up

Resource for Corpora:

https://www.english-corpora.org/coca/ (examples of speech and writing)

BACKGROUND

This unit the students are learning about the environment. For the content of this
activity students have just finished reading an article, like the one in the example. Using


corpora in this activity will help students to develop strategies for reading when coming
across new words. Students can use these strategies in their future readings. In addition, it
provides a way to teach using the content material.

PROCEDURES

1. Place students into groups of 3-4 by giving students numbers from 1 to 5 and

having them sit together with the students who have the same number as them.

2. Explain that today they will be practicing some reading strategies based on the

reading they have just done. Explain that each group will have a word each that

they will be looking at with their group members. Explain that after they are done

they will write what they believe the definitions are, parts of speech, and how the

words are used on the board.

3. Before passing out the handouts, demonstrate the concept of concordance lines

using an example on the board. Explain how concordance lines are created so

students can understand the concept.

From the example provided above, concordance lines line up the same word used in

several different sentences so as to point out that particular vocabulary word.

4. Pass out the handouts to each group.

5. First, ask students to try and figure out possible definitions and parts of speech for

the words without using any dictionaries. Walk around and provide help and

assistance when necessary.

6. Next, ask students to look around the word for any patterns in what comes before

and after the word. Demonstrate this using the example you provided on the board

so students can see how it is done.



For example, from the concordance lines in the example above you can point out the

pattern of occurrence for the word “be” after “would” and how nouns or pronouns

typically come before it. Underlining or circling these words can show this. This is

enough for an analysis of the word.

7. Once students are finished asked the groups to write their findings on the board.

8. After students have finished writing their findings you can go over each one on

the board. Remember to compliment each group on the work they have

accomplished. For each word you can provide corrective input, respectfully, and

make sure students understand each word.

9. To finish the activity let students know this is something they can do themselves

when reading a text and they see a frequent word they don’t understand or want to

know how it can be used. You can also provide them with the Corpora resource to

use if they wish.