Introduction
The aim of this paper is to discuss the benefits of explicitly teaching senior EFL learners strings of words in order to raise their awareness of the pervasiveness of formulaic sequences in the foreign language (FL). First, the discussion of the theoretical framework is presented. The context for the study is then described in terms of its participants and the courses’ materials and methodology, after which follows an outline of the research design as regards de different data collection procedures and the analysis of the data. The results are presented for each of the instruments and a discussion ensues of the implications derived from the study.

Introduction
In this paper we present the variations encountered in advanced university learners’ controlled and uncontrolled productions after a focused-instruction experience of formulaic sequences. After a brief reference to the theoretical framework, the study is described in terms of the context, the selected FSs, the research design, the treatment and data-collection procedures. What follows is the analysis of the data gathered through the different instruments in search of the target and non - target use of the FSs taught and the different types of variations offered. Based on the literature, we then turn to the discussion of some guidelines for the teaching of FSs.