Lexis refers simply all words set of words that you can know and say. For example : guitar, computer, mother etc and all of them have a meaning.
Every word that you use to communicate will have a meaning according to the context that you give it and also its meaning depends on the affixation that you do in the word for example: instruct- instruction, only the short affix "tion" makes a big distintion in meaning. Also lexis is formed by Compound Nouns which we can get their meaning being together, like heavy rain, it means there is a heavy rain in some place, which wouldnt mean the same only saying one word at once. Another word necessary to check is chunks which refers to language that occurs in semi (fixed) units learnt as one piece like (have a good trip, my name is..). Generally is necessary that students memorize chunks patterns to get accostumed to the language. For contrast to the words shown before are Idioms which we get its meaning from expressions created by certain group of people and its meaning is difficult to find in dictionaries because we can translate it literaly. For example: (to have green fingers, to be under the weather) and finally ; False friends, when students relate similar words of different language for its similar form like : Embarazado -embarrassed homophones (words with same pronunciation) and homonyms (words with same spelling and pronunciation) are varieties of English are other ways in which words can relate to one another.
If you think all of those are relevant in teaching; of course yes, because students must know how words are form in the case of affixation or to know that when appear two nouns together could be a compound noun. When learners know the origin of words, vowels, phrases they dont usually tend to make mistakes because are awareness of what they know.
Following I share you a very useful website for teachers which teach us how expand students lexis.
Milnes, C. (2014, July 30). Ten ways to expand students' lexis.
Retrieved from http://www.ihlondon.com/blog/posts/2014/ten-ways-to-expand-students-lexis/
I agree with what you said about students knowing well affixiation, because they are going to understant better when they may use preffixes and suffixes. also I reviewed the web site you provide and there are many suggestion for teacher that we have to take in to account at moment of teaching lexis. I found it very useful. Good job.
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