One way to build lexical and grammatical skill at A-level

When we talk about building vocabulary, the 'mental lexicon' in long-term memory needed for fast comprehension and spoken fluency, we may be tempted to view it as learning lists of words or chunks or (better in my view) getting as many exposures as possible in listening or reading input. An important aspect of 'knowing words' is, however, being aware of the multiple forms words can take or the company that words keep (common lexical phrases). This is where vocab meets grammar, of course, in the form of morphology (word forms).

One way you can work on this at advanced level is to draw explicit attention to word relationships, helping students see and ultimately internalise common patterns. With this knowledge students can often come up with new words spontaneously using what you might call educated guesswork. You can find out how well they have internalised patterns by trying out some new or non-words with a class. So, let's say you gave them the non-word piturer, they might infer that the noun would be pituration. If you gave them a non-adjective, e.g. bilanc, they might infer the adverb would be bilanchement.

I used to produce grids like the one below for A-level French. You can do these all together as a group (which allows you to digress and let students hear the words pronounced) or get students to do them independently. I prefer the former approach as you can throw in examples of words in sentences so students get more listening experience, e.g. hearing how words liaise with others in the sound stream.

Below is one of several examples from frenchteacher.net. In my 'texts with exercises' I often include a little lexical practice of this type. By the way, they can also sharpen up your own knowledge if it's lacking in any areas!

Advanced level word relationships – complete the grid. 

      

Nom	Verbe	Adjectif	Adverbe
fréquence (f)
		apparent
	longer
courant (m)
			économiquement
	financer
		actif
	émerveiller
			largement
lenteur (f)
	abonder
		brutal
			calmement
commerce (m)
	démocratiser
		dramatique
désespoir (m)
			facilement
		épuisable
	sensibiliser
		nécessaire
précarité (f)
			vulgairement
		positif

Réponses

Nom	Verbe	Adjectif	Adverbe
fréquence (f)	fréquenter	fréquent	fréquemment
apparence/apparition	apparaître	apparent	apparemment
longueur (f)	longer	long	longuement
courant (m)	courir	courant	couramment
économie (f)	économiser	économique	économiquement
financement (m) finance (f)	financer	financier	financièrement
activité (f) acteur (m)	activer	actif	activement
merveille (f)	émerveiller	merveilleux	merveilleusement
largeur (f)	élargir	large	largement
lenteur (f)	ralentir	lent	lentement
abondance (f)	abonder	abondant	abondamment
brutalité (f)	brutaliser	brutal	brutalement
calme (m)	calmer	calme	calmement
commerce (m)	commercialiser	commercial	commercialement
démocratie (f)	démocratiser	démocratique	démocratiquement
drame (m)	dramatiser	dramatique	dramatiquement
désespoir (m)	désespérer	désespéré	désespérément
facilité (f)	faciliter	facile	facilement
épuisement (m)	épuiser	épuisable	épuisablement
sens (m) sensibilité (f)	sensibiliser	sensible	sensiblement
nécessité (f)	nécessiter	nécessaire	nécessairement
précarité (f)	précariser	précaire	précairement
vulgarité (f)	vulgariser	vulgaire	vulgairement
positivité (f)	positiver	positif	positivement