How to Work with
Idioms
Part 6
Part 6 of this free
online ESL course teaches the student how to learn and
pronounce English idioms. Idioms have a bad reputation
with ESL students. In reality, they are easy to work with.
In many cases students don’t have pronunciation problems
with idioms; they are just going about it the wrong way.
English is an easy
language in many ways. It is also a difficult language in
other ways.
It doesn’t matter how old
a student is, his native language, or his background, ESL
students always have problems with idioms.
Dealing with
Idioms
Idioms are not difficult.
We think they are difficult because we try to do five
things with them at the same time:
-
Recognize the idiom –
See or hear the idiom and know what it means.
-
Understand the idiom
– See or hear the idiom, and be able to explain it.
-
Use the idiom – Use
it in the right form, and in a correct context.
-
Remember the idiom –
Be able to use it when we need it, and without
translating.
-
Pronounce the idiom
correctly – A good pronunciation is as important as
recognizing, understanding, and being able to use the
idiom. We learn a language to communicate. If our
pronunciation is bad, it stops us from communicating.
Manageable Parts
This is a lot to do in
one go. The best way to learn something difficult is by
breaking the problem up into small, manageable part. Work
on each part separately and then put everything together.
Working with
Idioms
Example: Get
a letter.
Get is a
difficult word because alone or with a preposition it has
many different meanings.
Get a
letter = receive a letter.
Receive is different
enough from Get to remember.
1.
To begin
with, it is important to recognize the idiom and to
understand it.
2.
When you
speak use the word receive, but recognize Get
when someone else uses it.
3.
Work on the
pronunciation. Many students do not have this type of
idiom in their native language. English idioms are strange
for many ESL students. If he/she is sure of the
pronunciation, the battle is half over. Take the time to
learn the pronunciation. A good pronunciation of idioms is
an important part of learning how to use them. Once
comfortable with recognizing and understanding the idiom,
start using it.
Assignment:
1.
Ask a Study
Buddy for help with this exercise.
2.
Choose the
word. Example: Look.
3.
Find the
word in the dictionary.
4.
Read the
definition of the word Look.
5.
Go to the
list of idioms.
6.
Write each
one on a flash card.
7.
Choose
three of the Look idioms.
8.
On the flip
side of the flash card write a sentence using the idiom.
9.
Work on the
pronunciation.
10.
Work on
recognizing and understanding them.
11.
Find
synonyms.
12.
Add the
synonym to the flash card.
13.
Work on the
pronunciation.
14.
Become
familiar with the 3 idioms but use the synonym.
15.
Start using
the 3 idioms
16.
Continue
with the rest of the list.
