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E9 G - Learn collocations instead of isolated words

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E9 G - Learn collocations instead of isolated words

Mini-description: Learn common word partnerships as useful language units. Replace word-for-word German transfer with natural English chunks you can understand, say, write and reuse.

Level: English as a first foreign language, Klasse 9, G-Niveau, Baden-Württemberg.

Course routine: English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again.

Medien-Einstieg

Look at the speech bubbles. Do not translate every word. Think in small groups of words.

Say or write one natural combination for each word:

word	your chunk
decision	...
homework	...
photo	...
bus	...
test	...

Then compare with these useful chunks: make a decision – do homework – take a photo – go by bus – study for a test.

I-can goals

By the end, you can say:

I can notice common collocations in short texts and videos.
I can use useful chunks instead of translating word by word from German.
I can ask for help when a chunk does not sound right.
I can improve a short spoken or written text and reuse better chunks.
I can explain the main meaning of a short German message in simple English.

Vorwissen

Quick check. Which version sounds more natural?

less natural	better chunk
make homework	do homework
do a decision	make a decision
make a photo	take a photo
learn for a test	study for a test
drive with the bus	go by bus

Rule of thumb: Do not learn only decision. Learn make a decision. Do not learn only interested. Learn interested in.

Input: What is a collocation?

A collocation is a combination of words that often go together. The words are usually easy to understand, but English prefers some combinations over others.

Examples: make a mistake, heavy rain, strong opinion, take a break, interested in, good at.

This is why chunks help: you remember language in ready-to-use pieces instead of building every sentence from single words.

Viewing task – first try without transcript: Listen for three collocations you already know. Then watch again and note three new ones. Use subtitles or transcript only after your first listening attempt.

Learn the pattern, not a long list

Keep the number of chunks small and useful.

pattern	examples
verb + noun	make a decision, take a break, do homework
adjective + noun	heavy rain, strong opinion, good idea
adjective + preposition	interested in, good at, ready for
verb + preposition	apply for, listen to, ask for

Say it in context: “I need to make a decision.” – “Can we take a break?” – “I’m interested in the job.”

Listening and Viewing

First listen: Write only the key words you hear. Second listen: Build the full chunk. After that: Check with subtitles or transcript if available.

Use this table:

key word	full chunk	my example
mistake	...	...
break	...	...
decision	...	...

Listening goal: Catch useful language, not every word.

Reading

Read this short fictional chat.

Mia: We have to make a decision about our project today. Noah: I agree. Let’s take a look at the ideas first. Mia: Good point. I’m interested in the video idea. Noah: Me too, but we need to keep an eye on the time. Mia: Right. Let’s make a plan and get started.

Task: Find five chunks. Then choose two and use them in a new situation.

Kontextwortschatz

Do not learn these as isolated words.

chunk	simple meaning	useful context
make a plan	organise what to do	school, work
take a look	look at something	conversation
keep an eye on	watch/check something	time, bags, progress
get started	begin	tasks, projects
ask for help	request help	school, work, travel
apply for a job	send an application	careers

Aussprache und Fluency

Speak in chunks, not word by word.

Try: MAKE a deCIsion – TAKE a BREAK – ASK for HELP.

You do not need an accent-free voice. Clarity comes first. Keep the chunk together, stress the important word and do not stop after every single word.

30-second fluency loop: Read one chunk aloud. Look away. Say it from memory. Put it in a sentence. Use it again with a partner.

Recording is optional. Keep recordings private unless you actively choose to share them.

Speaking

Situation: You and a partner are planning a class activity.

Use at least four chunks:

make a plan	have an idea
make a decision	ask for help
take a break	keep an eye on the time

Useful response moves: “I think we should …” “Good point.” “I’m not sure. What do you mean?” “Can you give me an example?” “Let’s make a decision.”

Mini-presentation: Speak for about one minute. Give your idea and one reason. Your partner asks one follow-up question.

Writing

Write a short structured text of about 80–120 words.

Choose one:

Email: Write to a fictional teacher about a group project.
Opinion text: Give your opinion on homework and give two reasons.
Job text: Write a short fictional message to “Riverside Café” and ask about a weekend job.
Report: Report what your group decided and what you will do next.

Use at least five chunks. Underline them after writing.

Possible chunks: make a plan, take part in, be interested in, ask for information, work in a team, have experience with, make a decision, get in touch.

Use fictional names and application data only.

Mediation

German note: „Die Klasse plant einen Projekttag. Wir müssen uns bis Freitag entscheiden. Wer Hilfe braucht, soll Frau Miller fragen. Danach machen wir einen Plan.“

Do not translate word for word. Tell an English-speaking partner the main message.

Helpful chunks: “The class is planning …” “We need to make a decision by …” “You can ask for help.” “Then we will make a plan.”

Keep the meaning. You may leave out details that are not important.

Functional grammar

The main grammar goal is small: use the right partner word and the right preposition.

focus	correct chunk	common problem
verb choice	make a decision	do a decision
verb choice	do homework	make homework
preposition	interested in	interested on
preposition	good at	good in
preposition	apply for	apply on

Communication comes first. Correct the few patterns that make your English clearer and easier to reuse.

Hilfestufen

Hint 1 – chunk bank: Choose from a short list of useful chunks.

Hint 2 – sentence frame: “I’m interested in … because …” / “We need to make a decision about …”

Hint 3 – model: Read one good example, close it, then build your own sentence.

Ask before you translate: “Which words usually go together here?”

Feedback: improve and use again

Use this short feedback cycle:

Notice: Underline one useful chunk.
Check: Is the verb or preposition correct?
Improve: Change one weak or literal expression.
Reuse: Put the improved chunk in a new sentence.

Partner feedback should be short: “This chunk works.” / “Try take a photo here.” / “Can you use it again in another sentence?”

Keep your original text so you can see what changed.

Fehleranalyse

Find the problem, improve it and reuse the better chunk.

first version	improved version	use again
I made my homework.	I did my homework.	I did my homework before dinner.
We did a decision.	We made a decision.	We made a decision after the meeting.
Can you make a photo?	Can you take a photo?	I took a photo of the poster.
I learn for the test.	I study for the test.	I study for the test with a friend.

Do not just correct the single sentence. Reuse the chunk in a different context.

Transfer: chunks in real situations

After watching, choose three chunks that fit your life. Use them in three different contexts: school, free time and a future job.

Example: school: “We need to make a plan.” free time: “Let’s take a break.” job: “I want to apply for a weekend job.”

Safe and smart media use

Use media to learn, not to collect personal data. Do not post private recordings, real application data or private social-media information.

If an AI tool is used in class, keep your own original text. Check suggested facts, sources and language. Accept only changes you understand. External AI access is not required for this course.

English has many varieties. Focus on clear communication, not on copying one accent or using cultural stereotypes.

Can-do check

I can ...	not yet	with help	yes
notice a common chunk in a short text	☐	☐	☐
replace a literal German-style phrase	☐	☐	☐
ask a follow-up question	☐	☐	☐
use five chunks in a short text	☐	☐	☐
reuse a corrected chunk in a new context	☐	☐	☐

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which collocation is natural English? (make a decision) (!do a decision) (!build a decision) (!take a decisioning)

Which chunk fits school work? (do homework) (!make homework) (!take homework) (!build homework)

Which expression is the usual collocation? (take a photo) (!make a photo) (!do a photo) (!build a photo)

Which preposition completes the chunk interested ...? (in) (!on) (!at) (!for)

Which chunk means begin a task? (get started) (!make started) (!do started) (!take started)

What should you do first in the listening task? (listen for useful chunks) (!translate every word) (!read the full transcript first) (!stop after every unknown word)

What is the best way to learn the word decision here? (make a decision) (!decision alone only) (!German word plus decision) (!four unrelated synonyms)

Which sentence uses a useful job chunk? (I want to apply for the job.) (!I want to apply on the job.) (!I want to make on the job.) (!I want to do for the job.)

What is the main pronunciation goal in this course? (clear and understandable speech) (!perfect accent imitation) (!speaking as fast as possible) (!avoiding all pauses)

What should happen after you improve a weak chunk? (use it again in a new sentence) (!delete your original text) (!learn only the German translation) (!avoid the chunk in future)

Memory

make a decision	choose after thinking
take a break	stop for a short rest
ask for help	request support
apply for a job	send a job application
keep an eye on	watch or check something
get started	begin an activity

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
do homework	school task
take a photo	camera
make a plan	organise steps
study for a test	exam preparation
go by bus	transport

Kreuzworträtsel

Collocation	What do we call a common word partnership?
Context	What helps you decide which chunk fits a situation?
Stress	What do we hear more strongly in an important part of a chunk?
Fluency	What can improve when you retrieve useful chunks quickly?
Feedback	What helps you notice and improve a weak chunk choice?
Transfer	What do we call using learned language in a new situation?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Chunk-Suche: Find five collocations in the reading text and copy each with a short example.
Bild und Chunk: Choose one course image and write three chunks that fit the situation.
Mini-Dialog: Write six short lines for two fictional students and use four target chunks.
Fehlerdetektiv: Invent three word-for-word German-style phrases and correct them with suitable English chunks.

Standard

Listening log: Watch one embedded video twice and create a six-item chunk list; use subtitles only after the first attempt.
Speaking loop: In pairs, plan a class activity for two minutes, ask one follow-up question and reuse at least five chunks.
Email revision: Write a short fictional email, mark your chunks, get partner feedback and improve two expressions.
Mediation task: Turn a short German school notice into a simple spoken English message without translating every sentence.

Schwer

Chunk comparison: Compare two short English texts and explain which repeated word partnerships make one easier to follow.
Micro-presentation: Give a one-minute talk on how chunks can support fluency; include an example and a reason.
Personal chunk bank: Build a 15-item chunk bank for school, free time and jobs, then write one original example for each chunk.
Transfer challenge: Use the same five chunks in three different situations and explain how the context changes the sentence.

Lernkontrolle

Repair and reuse: Improve a short text with five literal German-style expressions. Explain two changes and reuse each corrected chunk in a new sentence.
Listening to action: From a short audio or video chosen by the teacher, note five chunks and use three of them in a spoken response.
Context choice: Choose suitable chunks for school, travel and work situations and justify why each choice fits the context.
Guided mediation: Explain the key points of a short German notice to an English-speaking visitor using simple, natural chunks.
Speaking interaction: Plan something with a partner, react to an idea, ask for clarification, give one reason and reach a decision.
Writing transfer: Write a short structured email or report using at least six collocations, then revise it after focused feedback.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, show that you can:

recognise useful collocations in context.
use frequent chunks in speaking and writing.
avoid several common word-for-word transfers from German.
ask and answer simple follow-up questions.
improve selected verb and preposition choices.
keep the meaning when mediating a short message.
reuse corrected language in a new context.
reflect briefly on which chunks help you most.

OERs zum Thema

Quellen und Medienhinweise

Wikipedia: Kollokation – fachlicher Hintergrund zum Begriff.
English Wikipedia: Collocation – examples and collocation types.
Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg: Englisch als erste Fremdsprache – Kompetenzbereiche für Sekundarstufe I.
Die eingebundenen Bilder stammen aus Wikimedia Commons; die Dateiseiten enthalten Urheber- und Lizenzangaben.
Die eingebundenen YouTube-Videos dienen als Hör-/Sehimpulse; ein vollständiges Transkript wird nicht vorgegeben.

Folgekurs

Next step: Use collocations in speaking and writing. There you transfer your chunk bank into longer conversations, short reports and job-related texts.

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