The role of collocations in the formation of the lexical speech skills

The main goal of teaching foreign language is the formation of foreign language communicative competence which implies the development of speech skills. In the methods there are different approaches to teaching foreign language, one of which is the lexical approach. Undoubtedly, the lexical approach involves focus on learning the vocabulary of the language. However, there are different points of view on which methods and forms of work are the most effective ones. Mastering vocabulary occurs by studying the compatibility of words, phrases and combinations of words. Collocations are an isolated concept, meaning certain words in a language that tend to be used together. Working with collocations is an essential component of the lexical skills formation, accordingly, we should speak about the inclusion of collocational competence in communicative competence. Analysis of the methodic literature showed that the issue of the collocations’ role in the lexical speech skills formation is not very disclosed in the domestic and foreign methodic literature. In the presented article: 1) we conduct an analysis of the works of domestic and foreign scientists on the lexical approach in teaching foreign language; 2) we prove that the process of learning vocabulary goes by learning certain combinations of words and the ability to use them; 3) we derive the definition of collocations based on the definitions and classifications of scientists; 4) we determine the key place of collocations in the vocabulary learning.

collocations, lexical approach, collocational competence, teaching foreign languages, word compatibility