Implementing the Lexical Approach: Putting Theory into Practice

Language Teaching Publications

by Michael Lewis

IMPLEMENTING THE LEXICAL APPROACH describes how the lexical approach works in the classroom. This book will stimulate educators to think about what one does at all levels. IMPLEMENTING THE LEXICAL APPROACH develops the theoretical position set out in Michael Lewis' highly acclaimed THE LEXICAL APPROACH.

Genres: Language, Education, Linguistics, Teaching, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Betty C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent food for thought for EFL Teachers and more readable than "The Lexical Approach." Both books changed the way I look at teaching.

[Adrian Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

The central chapters of this book actually do what they say on the box, and suggest ways that you can put Lewis’s theory into practice. But before and after there is a restatement of the theory to accommodate some of the criticisms he has received. Mostly these criticisms seem to be about the classroom practicability of the Lexical Approach the state of ELT. Whereas the suggestions for ‘lexical’ exercises and activities seem sound, the defense is weak in two ways. At the centre of his strategy he puts ‘pedagogical chunking’, but it is still not clear what a ‘chunk’ is. And at the periphery he makes quantitative claims about language and learning which are not supported by any referenced research. As his approach was born out of the impact of corpus linguistics on ELT, this is a significant oversight. By the end of book, he cuts his losses and heads off towards a new destination he calls ‘The integrated approach’. Given the unsustainable distinction between lexis and grammar, this seems a step in the right direction.

[Daniel Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read I think for ELTs. Basically, I’ve found the chunking approach to be very useful in the classroom for many pieces of language, and this book is full of ideas for how to do that. This book has definitely changed the way I teach.

But above that, it’s just fun (for me at least) to read a book that wittily exposes the absurdity of orthodox ways of doing things. Lewis has a very enjoyable prose style and can be quite funny. A “good read” in the traditional sense, which is an accomplishment in itself for an industry book.

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gives some interesting pointers and suggestions about the lexical approach, but I think it falls short in terms of practical advice for implementation. People who are more knowledgeable or familiar with the approach might find this more useful, but as a relative newcomer to the nuts and bolts of the approach, I found it somewhat sparse.

[Luiz Leidiones · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brillianto.

[Dominic Neesam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will change many teachers peception of how to boost students' fluency, how they can exploit coursebooks more effectively, and remain in line with current SLA thinking all at the same time

[Stamen Parushev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many ideas through this approach for more effective teaching and learning.

[Csabi Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the revolutionary ideas presented in this book, especially the abundance of examples and a variety of class activities, which helped me get soaked more in what the Lexical Approach is really about.