Exploring vocabulary: context and co-text

As language teachers, we should strive to create learning opportunities to make language memorable. It goes without saying that, for effective learning to take place, learners also have a responsibility to take the language beyond the classroom setting and engage with newly acquired vocabulary in different ways.

Two things we can do to make the language memorable -that is, easy or easier to remember- are providing context and co-text when exploring language items in the classroom.

Context refers to the kind of real-life situation where a word might be encountered. By deliberately connecting the word to its context, we can significantly improve learning outcomes. Take the word ‘fetch’, for example. Possible contexts for this verb could include being kind to someone by getting them a drink (fetch someone water) or fulfilling parental duties by picking your children up from school (fetch the kids from school). As a noun, a possible context might involve spending time outdoors with a pet (play fetch). So if this word comes up in class, in addition to clarifying its meaning, we could introduce some visual imagery and ask students to picture themselves in one of these scenarios.

We could also think of clasroom questions and comments around those contexts, such as “Who has a pet?” “Is it a cat, a dog?” “Does your dog like playing fetch?” “Yeah, as they get older, they lose interest” “How old is your dog then?” “Not his thing anymore, oh well”.

Co-text refers to the linguistic environment surrounding a word, in other words, the language that tends to appear near or around a particular word. By exploring co-text when teaching a word, we increase the chances of memorization and retrieval, in addition to exploring other language and grammar structures on the side. If we were to provide co-text for the word ‘fetch’, we could revisit lexical and grammar items such as: “Can/Could you (possibly) fetch…”, “let’s play fetch”, “the teacher sent the student to fetch x from…”,”we need to fetch the tools from the shed”, “in this game you have to fetch hidden treasures”, “fetch a book”, “fetch water”, “fetch a ball”, “fetch keys”.

Gen.AI can be a great help in providing instant help to showcase examples of context and co-text, which we can share with our students live in the classroom as learning happens. Let’s explore the verb ‘to book’ with a Pre-Intermediate class. Here’s the prompt for context for ChatGPT: Can you provide life situations where I would be using the verb ‘to book’?

Here are some life situations where you might use the verb “to book”:

1. Travel Arrangements:
   • You might book a flight for an upcoming vacation, ensuring that you have your travel plans secured well in advance.
   • Example: “I need to book a hotel room in Paris for next month.”
2. Dining Reservations:
   • When planning a dinner out, you can book a table at your favorite restaurant, especially if it’s a popular spot.
   • Example: “Let’s book a table for four at that new Italian restaurant.”
3. Event Tickets:
   • If you want to attend a concert, theater performance, or sporting event, you’ll often need to book tickets in advance.
   • Example: “I want to book tickets to the concert next week.”
4. Appointments:
   • You might book an appointment with a doctor, dentist, or other service providers to ensure you receive the care you need.
   • Example: “I need to book a check-up for next Friday.”
5. Vacation Rentals:
   • If you’re planning a getaway, you can book a vacation rental or an Airbnb for your stay.
   • Example: “Let’s book a cabin in the mountains for the weekend.”
6. Classes or Workshops:
   • When looking to learn something new, you may book a spot in a cooking class or workshop.
   • Example: “I want to book a pottery class for Saturday.”
7. Travel Tours:
   • You might book a guided tour for a specific destination to enhance your travel experience.
   • Example: “We should book a city tour when we arrive.”

Then we can take a quick look at the board in front and think of questions for the class. For example:

• When was the last time you booked a hotel room?
• Are there any restaurants in town where you must book a table in advance because they are really busy?
• If you want to find good deals on flights, how far in advance should you book your ticket?
• Oh, you just booked a ticket for a flight? Where are you going?

Let’s ask ChatGPT for examples of co-text. Here’s the prompt: Can you provide words or expressions that are examples of co-text around the phrase ‘to book a flight’?

Here are some words and expressions that typically appear around the phrase “to book a flight” in natural language, showcasing common co-text patterns:

1. Verbs related to preparation or planning:
   • “I need to find the best time before I book a flight.”
   • “It’s important to compare prices when booking a flight.”
   • “Can you check availability before we book a flight?”
2. Nouns related to travel details:
   • “I’ll book a flight for next Monday.”
   • “We should book a flight with a layover in Paris.”
   • “Have you booked a flight for the holiday season?”
3. Prepositions describing the booking process:
   • “You can book a flight through the airline’s website.”
   • “Let’s book a flight with a low-cost carrier.”
   • “I booked a flight from New York to London.”
4. Adjectives modifying the experience:
   • “We decided to book a direct flight.”
   • “It’s better to book a non-refundable flight to save money.”
   • “I booked a cheap flight online.”
5. Time expressions:
   • “You should book a flight well in advance.”
   • “I usually book a flight last minute.”
   • “Try to book a flight as early as possible.”

We could focus on some of this useful information and think of questions to ask to go with it:

• Do you compare prices when you book a flight?
• Is it worth booking a flight with a low-cost carrier? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

We could also direct attention to the words in bold (‘well in advance’, ‘last minute’, ‘as early as possible’) and encourage learners to learn them as chunks in combination with ‘book a flight’.

Obviously, it would take a long time to do a thorough exploration of this word based on the information presented to us. It is our job to strike a good balance and maximize learning opportunities without overwhelming students with too much to take in.