Corpus studies into the nature of language and the interrelationship between grammar and lexis have highlighted the pervasiveness of recurrent strings of words essential to the construction of meaning which Wray [2002:9] has named “formulaic sequences” (FS). Research by Boerset al[2006], Eyckmans [2007], Stengers [2009] and Wray & Fitzpatrick…

Our experience with the use of legends of native people in the English class confirms that not only intercultural competence can be developed, but also chronological-temporal discursive formulaic sequences can be acquired in relation to the chronological organization of events. We describe the experience carried out at two evening schools and its…

New perspectives on vocabulary learning and teaching have shifted away from the conception of vocabulary as merely single words to adopt a more comprehensive approach that includes formulaic sequences. These expressions, defined by Wray (2002) as a string “continuous or discontinuous of words […] that is stored and retrieved whole from memory at…

This presentation describes the objectives of the research project and the different activities completed: the teacher-training courses taught, and the materials designed for a pilot experience in 2020 to teach formulaic sequences in songs and legends in primary schools. It will outline future courses of action and the importance of establishing…

En esta presentación se discuten los beneficios de la instrucción explícita de secuencias de palabras en un taller para adultos mayores orientado al desarrollo de la lectura comprensiva en inglés a partir de textos auténticos. Los textos en cuestión son las letras de canciones de los años 40 a 70, a partir de los cuales, los participantes…

This paper draws on research into formulaic sequence (FS) acquisition to derive practical implications for the teaching of vocabulary in a foreign language (FL). Based on studies carried out at FADeL, a set of practical tips on FS teaching for the FL classroom are offered in relation to the nature of the sequences to teach and of the pedagogical…

Fictional narrative texts such as short stories, novels, fables, legends and myths share certain grammatical, lexical and stylistic features that make them unique. For this reason, it is of prime importance that students of English as a foreign language deal with this specificity in the classroom especially by exploring how ideas are developed and…

IntroductionThe 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…

IntroductionIn 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…

IntroductionOne line of enquiry of our research project is advanced Argentinian EFL students’ use of formulaic sequences. In this paper we analyse typical sequences learners resort to in their essays and characterise their use as compared to the one found in native corpora like the BNC and Davies’ (2008) Corpus of American Contemporary English…