Word Formation

1.

Activity title

Word Formation

2.

Skills

- forming words
- understanding text structure
- deducing meaning from context

3.

Level

B2

4.

Exam part

Reading and Use of English (Part 3)

5.

Aims

- to practise forming words using prefixes and suffixes
- to extend range of vocabulary for talking about money and business
- to broaden the students' knowledge of American culture

6.

Materials needed

worksheets and dictionaries

7.

Preparation

1. Choosing and adapting the text about the history of Black Friday.
2. Choosing the words for talking about money and business from the text.
3. Making an exercise to introduce these words from the text.
4. Making a word formation exercise with these words from the text to practise forming words using prefixes and suffixes and extend range of vocabulary for talking about money and business.
5. Reading the text again and identifying the words suitable for practising word formation.
6. Changing the text into a word formation exercise.

8.

Procedure

Step 1. Introduction of the vocabulary for talking about money and business. Students match six words from the text they're going to read with the definitions. (exercise 1)

Step 2.

- Using the words from exercise 1 to practise forming words and to extend range of vocabulary for talking about money and business. Students complete the table with word forms using suffixes and prefixes given in brackets. (exercise 2)
- Using the words from exercise 2 in context. Students fill in the gaps in six sentences with the suitable word from the table in exercise 2. (exercise 3)

Step 3. Reading the text about the history of Black Friday and practising forming words. Students read the text and use the words given in capitals to form the words that fit the gaps. (exercise 4).

9.

Variation

I wouldn't change anything.

10.

Reflections

Having done the exercises in class, I've decided to change exercise 2 a little. I've added prefixes and suffixes for students to use when forming words. In class, looking up different word forms in a dictionary may take too much time. It might be better to focus not on remembering word forms or looking them up in a dictionary but on suffixes and prefixes and the meanings of the words we form.

a) the amount of money you have to pay for something

2) Market

b) the money that an organization or person has

3) Price

c) the sale of goods in shops to customers

4) Profit

d) to take something from a shop without paying for it

5) Retail

e) money that you gain by selling things or doing business, after your costs have been paid

6) Shoplift

f) money that someone gets from working or from investing money

g) the business or trade in a particular type of goods or services

NOUNS

ADJECTIVES

finance

financier

financial

market

marketing
…………. (-er)

…………… (-able)

price

price
…………. (-ing)

pricey / pricy
overpriced
…………… (-less)

……………

profit
……………. (-ity)

profitable
…………… (un-)

……………

retail
…………… (-er)

-

shoplift

…………… (-ing)
…………… (-er)

-