Lesson Plan | Traditional Methodology | Polysemy

Objectives

Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to prepare students to understand the polysemy of words in English, emphasizing the need to analyze the context in order to correctly interpret the different meanings. By establishing these objectives, students will have a solid foundation to understand and apply the concept during the lesson.

Main Objectives

1. Explain the concept of polysemy in English, highlighting how a single word can have multiple meanings.

2. Demonstrate the importance of context in determining the specific meaning of polysemous words.

3. Provide practical and common examples of polysemous words in English to facilitate students' understanding.

Introduction

Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to introduce the concept of polysemy in an engaging and understandable way, preparing students for the detailed learning that will follow. By sharing curiosities and real-world examples, students begin to perceive the importance of understanding context to correctly interpret polysemous words. This creates a solid foundation for the more detailed explanations that will be provided throughout the lesson.

Context

To start the lesson on polysemy, explain to the students that many words in English can have more than one meaning. This phenomenon is known as polysemy, and it is fundamental to understand that the meaning of a word can change depending on the context in which it is used. For example, the word 'bank' can mean both a financial 'bank' and the edge of a river. Start the lesson by asking the students if they have come across words in English that seemed to have different meanings in different situations. This will help create an initial connection with the topic.

Curiosities

Did you know that the word 'set' in English has over 400 different meanings? It is one of the most versatile and polysemous words in the English language. This shows how important it is to understand the context to correctly interpret what you are reading or hearing. Often, the polysemy of words can even lead to funny confusions or misunderstandings if we do not pay attention to the context!

Development

Duration: 30 to 40 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to deepen students' understanding of polysemy, using detailed explanations and practical examples. By addressing specific topics and proposing guided exercises, students will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired and recognize the importance of context in the interpretation of polysemous words. This will ensure a robust and practical understanding of the concept.

Covered Topics

1. Definition of Polysemy: Explain that polysemy refers to a single word that has multiple meanings. Emphasize that these meanings can vary depending on the context in which the word is used. 2. Importance of Context: Detail how the context in which a word is used helps determine its specific meaning. Use practical examples to illustrate how a word can change meaning based on the sentence it is in. 3. Examples of Polysemous Words: Present a list of common words in English that have multiple meanings, such as 'bat' (bat and club), 'bark' (bark and tree bark), and 'spring' (spring, coil and fountain). Provide example sentences for each meaning to aid comprehension. 4. Difference between Polysemy and Homonymy: Explain the difference between polysemy and homonymy, highlighting that homonyms are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but unrelated meanings, while polysemy involves related meanings. 5. Guided Practice: Propose practical exercises where the teacher presents sentences with polysemous words and asks students to identify the correct meaning based on the context. Examples: 'The bank was closed.' (financial bank) vs. 'He sat on the river bank.' (river bank).

Classroom Questions

1. What is the meaning of the word 'bat' in the sentence: 'The bat flew out of the cave'? 2. Identify the meaning of the word 'bark' in the sentence: 'The dog’s bark was loud enough to wake the neighbors.' 3. Explain the meaning of 'spring' in: 'The children played by the spring all afternoon.'

Questions Discussion

Duration: 20 to 25 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate and verify students' understanding of polysemy in English, through the discussion of the answers to the questions presented. This feedback moment allows students to clarify doubts, deepen their understanding, and make stronger connections between the studied concept and practice. Additionally, active engagement of students in discussions helps reinforce the importance of context in the interpretation of polysemous words.

Discussion

• ✅ What is the meaning of the word 'bat' in the sentence: 'The bat flew out of the cave'? The word 'bat' in this context means 'bat', a flying animal. This is determined by the verb 'flew' and the location 'cave', which are associated with bats.

• ✅ Identify the meaning of the word 'bark' in the sentence: 'The dog’s bark was loud enough to wake the neighbors.' In this case, 'bark' means 'bark'. The context provided by the sentence, especially the mention of the 'dog', indicates that we are talking about the sound the dog makes.

• ✅ Explain the meaning of 'spring' in: 'The children played by the spring all afternoon.' Here, 'spring' means 'fountain' or 'water source'. The sentence suggests a place where the children can play, which is consistent with a natural water source.

Student Engagement

1. 樂 Question: What is the meaning of 'bank' in the sentence: 'He decided to fish by the bank'? How did you come to that conclusion? 2. 樂 Reflection: Think of a word in Portuguese that has multiple meanings. How do you determine the correct meaning of that word in different contexts? 3. 樂 Question: What other example of a polysemous word in English do you know? Can you share a sentence using that word in one of its meanings? 4. 樂 Reflection: Why is it important to pay attention to the context when we are reading or hearing a new word? How can this help in understanding texts in English?

Conclusion

Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to recap the main points of the lesson, reinforce the connection between theory and practice, and highlight the importance of the topic for students' daily lives. This helps solidify the acquired knowledge and demonstrates the applicability of the concept in the real world.

Summary

• Polysemy is the phenomenon in which a single word has multiple meanings.
• The context is fundamental in determining the specific meaning of a polysemous word.
• Examples of polysemous words in English include 'bat', 'bark', and 'spring'.
• The difference between polysemy and homonymy was explained: homonyms have unrelated meanings, while the meanings of polysemous words are related.
• Students participated in practical exercises to identify the meanings of polysemous words in different contexts.

The lesson connected theory with practice by explaining the concept of polysemy and then demonstrating how to apply it through practical examples and guided exercises. This allowed students to see theory in action and understand the importance of context in interpreting words.

Understanding the polysemy of words is crucial in daily life, especially when learning a new language like English. The ability to correctly interpret words based on context helps avoid misunderstandings and improves communication. For example, knowing that 'set' can have over 400 different meanings in English shows the complexity and richness of the language.