Speaker: Tim Greer

Abstract: This talk will explore how vocabulary can be taught and learned naturally through real-world classroom interaction. Using video recordings from a cooking-based CLIL class for learners of English, the presentation will draw on Conversation Analysis to track how one particular phrase—“be generous”—is introduced, explained, and taken up by students across multiple moments in the lesson. Rather than being formally taught in isolation, the expression emerges as part of the instructor’s explanation of a recipe step, prompting a teaching moment based on what learners notice and ask about. The instructor uses gestures, physical materials, and learners’ own actions to help clarify the meaning. Later, the same phrase reappears in related contexts, giving students opportunities to revisit and reinforce their understanding. By focusing on how language learning happens in the flow of a meaningful task, this presentation highlights the value of drawing attention to language as it arises naturally and making the most of spontaneous teaching moments in CLIL settings. Participants will also consider the methodological issues involved in conducting micro-longitudinal Conversation Analysis.