The first association that occurs to you is probably this:<\/p>\n
However, as with any polysemic word (one with multiple meanings) there are other possibilities.\u00a0 In this case, a verb: \u2018to rock\u2019<\/strong> which refers to the kind of movement that is associated with this object:<\/p>\n In fact, this object is called a \u2018rocking horse\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If we investigate further, we might find a useful idiom:<\/p>\n \u2018To rock the boat\u2019<\/strong>: to destabilise a situation by speaking out on a controversial subject.\u00a0 Mostly used in the negative; e.g. \u201cI am too busy in my work but I don\u2019t want to rock the boat<\/strong>, so I won\u2019t say anything to my boss\u201d<\/p>\n We might also find a saying:<\/p>\n \u2018The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Which we might be able to associate with a famous film:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We could also find an extremely famous nursery rhyme or lullaby:<\/p>\n Rock<\/em><\/strong>-a-bye baby, on the treetop,<\/em><\/p>\n When the wind blows, the cradle will rock<\/strong>,<\/em><\/p>\n When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,<\/em><\/p>\n And down will come baby, cradle and all.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n and note its reference to a cradle, like in the saying we looked at.<\/p>\n At this stage we might think of the most famous association of all:<\/p>\n Rock and Roll<\/strong><\/p>\n and note that both verbs in this expression refer to different kinds of movement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what have we achieved with this exercise? What does it represent?<\/u><\/p>\n This is a way to learn language which uses cultural items<\/strong> (objects, sayings, idioms, film titles, songs, events, images, etc.) to structure a learning path.\u00a0 This learning path is explorational<\/strong>.\u00a0 It has no fixed destination, but uses interest in words themselves<\/strong> \u2013 their different meanings and uses \u2013 to achieve entirely independent, but highly relevant, learning.<\/p>\n This structuring provides us with a mnemonic strategy<\/strong> for fixing the word, its meaning, uses and connotations in a learner\u2019s long-term memory by forming clear cultural \u2018tags\u2019, or associations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n However, the advantage to the learner is not only the learning of individual words through the use of mnemonic devices, it also builds up a web of associations which naturally expands a learner\u2019s linguistic range within a recognisable cultural network<\/strong>: learning how to use \u2018rock\u2019 leads to \u2018cradle\u2019 and to \u2018roll\u2019, and these language items become mutually reinforcing as they are learnt in context<\/strong> as parts of fixed units of linguistic and cultural meaning<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Learning about language through culture is also intrinsically motivating<\/strong> because it is living language with a direct connection to the real world<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In language teaching, giving learners reference points which they can use to help their learning is often called \u2018scaffolding\u2019<\/strong>, a metaphorical reference to the real, physical scaffolding which provides reference points and support to create a building:<\/p>\n To apply this analogy to independent language learning on the internet, the \u2018reference points\u2019<\/strong> are the cultural or linguistic items which incorporate the target word<\/strong> and which help the learner to remember, and the \u2018support\u2019<\/strong> is the context given by seeing connections between language items in context, like the bricks in a wall.\u00a0 We can also say that the motivation in seeing language in real contexts and uses is also part of this support.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, how can a learner go about this kind of learning?<\/u>\u00a0 I would suggest the following process:<\/p>\n \u2026along with the word in question.\u00a0 Remember that putting words in quotation marks \u201c\u2026\u201d in Google, for example, will produce results for the \u2018chunk\u2019 of text in question.\u00a0 For example \u201cthe hand that rocks\u201d will lead you very quickly to our example saying and film.\u00a0 Add words to build a bit of context, like \u201cto rock\u201d or \u201cI rock\u201d to produce results with a verb use, or \u201crocking\u201d for participle or adjective forms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let\u2019s have a look at another couple of examples: This word is generally known as a very common adjective, but it is also a verb meaning to \u2018strongly desire\u2019.<\/p>\n It is a formal word often found in literary contexts.\u00a0 I put \u201cI long\u201d<\/strong> into google and clicked on \u2018images\u2019 to find a large variety of quotes.\u00a0 From then it\u2019s a question of finding an example which you like!<\/p>\n There is also a famous song from The Carpenters<\/strong> called \u2018They Long to Be (Close to You)\u2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 If it doesn\u2019t sound familiar, listen to it.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you will recognise it:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tT86AoSGEL8<\/a><\/p>\n There is also a participle \/ adjective form: \u2018longing\u2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 The following saying from a famous novelist might be a good way to remember it (as well as the rest of the language in the sentence!):<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wind<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n This word is commonly known as a noun in relation to the weather.<\/p>\n However, it is also a verb and an adjective: \u2018winding\u2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 If you put \u2018winding famous song\u2019<\/strong> into Google the first result gives us the Beatles song \u2018The Long and Winding Road\u2019<\/strong>:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cWpRY0flS2U<\/a><\/p>\n (Make sure you check the difference in pronunciation between \u2018wind\u2019 (noun) and \u2018wind\u2019 (verb) \u2013 easy with online dictionaries!)<\/em><\/p>\n If we then put \u2018winding\u2019 <\/strong>into Google images we get this result:<\/p>\n Which demonstrates the meaning of \u2018winding\u2019<\/strong> very well.<\/p>\n There is also a nursery rhyme, \u2018Wind the Bobbin Up\u2019<\/strong>:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fDcAHLuYNjI<\/a><\/p>\n which nicely demonstrates a slightly different use of \u2018wind\u2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 Especially useful if you have children to sing the rhyme with!<\/p>\n A video search for \u2018to wind\u2019<\/strong> will give you a number of examples in context (a watch, a yoyo, a bobbin) which provide memorable visual references.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what, as a learner of English, can you do with this technique?<\/u>\u00a0 One possibility is to keep or extend a notebook which maps culture on top of language.\u00a0 Another is simply to follow words of interest in a path that you choose through the web without recording the information.\u00a0 You can use it to back up formal study and help you remember the language studied while also building up a strong cultural context.<\/p>\n It is very difficult to learn a language without the context that culture gives us.\u00a0 The internet provides us with a tool which allows us to explore that culture fully and instantly in a way which really helps us remember and retain language.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t tried it before I urge you to find your own learning paths through the internet.<\/p>\n I will end by wishing you a fond farewell.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t know what \u2018farewell\u2019 <\/strong>means maybe this image will help you understand:<\/p>\n And this book title might help you remember!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/virtualcampus.kingstraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/rock.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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\nLong<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n