Explaining collocations

There's one day when I had to teach English collocations. The simplest explanation of them, besides the definition 'two or more words that often come together', is a question like this.

'In infotainment, the word prahara (chaos, trouble) is always followed by...?'

Most students will reply in unison, 'RUMAH TANGGA!' (household).

Then I'll go, 'Now, why can you answer it almost instantly? The phrase (prahara rumah tangga) sounds so natural to you, doesn't it? And so do English collocations. There are fixed phrases that would come in tandem automatically, like commit a crime, apply for a job, bid farewell, etc. If you want your English sounds natural to native speakers, make use of collocations.'

Now they understand.