Teach prepositions by presenting the core spatial sense first, then deriving metaphoric senses, supported by diagrams and schemas¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article describes a teaching technique arising from CL's systematic account of metaphoric preposition use, "based on the idea that all metaphoric uses stem from their spatial/physical meanings, which have also been termed core senses". This understanding "has given rise to teaching techniques and materials, such as diagrams and schemas, which have been tested in L2 classrooms with successful outcomes". Instruction presents the core spatial scene, explains the derived senses, and provides diagrams representing each preposition's core spatial scenes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Diagrams representing the core spatial scenes of each preposition, plus explanations of the senses derived from the core meaning.

Constraints¶

• Tested with advanced learners on to, for and at; the article notes more research is needed overall.

Target Learners¶

• advanced second language learners

Target Learning Goals¶

• distributional patterns of preposition use, including metaphoric uses

Affordances¶

• Cognitive Linguistics Usage Based Meaning Motivates Form

Related Strategies¶

• Model Drawing Strategy

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Sáez, N. (2014). Enhancing the Role of Meaning in the L2 Classroom: A Cognitive Linguistics Perspective. Teachers College, Columbia University Working Papers in TESOL & Applied Linguistics. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1176947