Using verb + noun collocations to facilitate language production in GSP courses

In this paper, the ARC (Awareness-raising, Recognizing, and Constructing) teaching method is outlined. This method is used in German for Specific Purposes (GSP) courses and aims at increasing second language (L2) learners' (technical) vocabulary, specifically verb + noun collocations. These combinations of verbs and nouns constitute useful building blocks that facilitate language production. The ARC teaching method is based on a combination of awareness-raising activities and production exercises that help learners entrench the collocations in memory. A description is provided of the three phases of the ARC teaching method: Awareness-raising, Recognizing verb + noun collocations in authentic texts, and Constructing sentences. In addition to that, the role of the teacher and the autonomous learning aspect are discussed and some ideas for future research are presented.