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Mastering Idioms: Strategies and Activities for Teaching and Learning
17.03.2023
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5 minutes
Is it necessary to teach idioms to students? I think many teachers have asked this question and secretly hoped that the answer would be ‘No’. However, there are quite a few reasons for working with idioms.
These are some of them:
1. Understanding listening and reading texts.
2. Participating in conversations, understanding what people are saying.
3. Making speaking and writing more natural.
4. Achieving higher scores in examinations.
5. Understanding cultural peculiarities of the English language.
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There are different types of idiomatic expressions and teachers should make students aware of them.
Type of idiomatic expression | Example |
Verb-based | Take advantage of smth |
Prepositional phrase | In charge of smth/smb |
Noun phrase | A piece of cake |
Sayings/proverbs | Better late than never |
Fixed phrases with two key words | More or less |
Idiomatic phrasal verbs | Laugh smth off |
Exclamations or short spoken phrases | Thank heavens |
The procedure of teaching idioms could be the following:
- Let students work with the context: e.g.: Reading/listening task, dictogloss, running dictation;
- Ask students to identify idioms in the text (you might need to introduce the term ‘idiom’);
- Ask students to try to work out the meaning of the idioms from the context;
- Ask students to match the idioms with their meanings;
- Highlight articles and prepositions;
- Ask students to test each other;
- Board race;
- Gap filling activity;
- Ask students to create their own stories or sentences using the idioms that they have learnt.
Let’s look at the examples of the tasks.
Task 1
Read the text and think if you have a colleague like that.
The other day I fixed up a meeting with the staff for 10 o’clock. I was there at ten on the dot, and almost everyone else was there in good time: everyone, that is except Kevin. He kept us waiting for 20 minutes, then he turned up with his usual excuse that he’d been held up on the train. He does this over and over again, and it’s the same with his work: he only gets things done right at the last minute. I’ve spoken to him about all this, but I’m just wasting my breath. It’s only a matter of time before he has to leave.
Using tasks in language teaching
Effective methodsTask 2
Underline all idioms in the text.
Answer key
The other day I fixed up a meeting with the staff for 10 o’clock. I was there at ten on the dot, and almost everyone else was there in good time: everyone, that is, except Kevin. He kept us waiting for 20 minutes, then he turned up with his usual excuse that he’d been held up on the train. He does this over and over again, and it’s the same with his work: he only gets things done right at the last minute. I’ve spoken to him about all this, but I’m just wasting my breath. It’s only a matter of time before he has to leave.
Task 3
Match the idioms from the text with their meaning.
make smb late |
recently |
before the time you need to be somewhere |
say things that smb doesn’t listen to |
arrange smth to happen |
at the exactly the time arranged |
make smb wait for you |
repeatedly |
arrive (usually late) |
at the latest possible time |
smth will definitely happen, just you don’t know when |
How to teach vocabulary effectively
Answer key
In good time | before the time you need to be somewhere |
Hold smb up | make smb late |
The other day | recently |
On the dot | at the exactly the time arranged |
Keep smb waiting | make smb wait for you |
Waste your breath | Say things that smb doesn’t listen to |
Fix smth up | arrange smth to happen |
(Only) a matter of time | smth will definitely happen, just you don’t know when |
(Right) at the last minute | at the latest possible time |
Turn up | arrive (usually late) |
Over and over again | repeatedly |
Add as many practice activities as the time allows.
L1 in teaching English
Language 1 could be beneficial for teaching idioms.
You could use the task below.
Translate the following idioms into your L1. Are there similar idioms in your L1?
- It’s raining cats and dogs;
- To hit someone below the belt;
- To have a bee in your bonnet;
- To make ends meet.
You could give some advice to your students:
- Avoid overusing idioms;
- Use idioms mostly in informal writing and speaking;
- Use idioms when you are sure that you fully understand the meaning of them to avoid awkward situations and to keep writing natural.
Now you know how to effectively teach idioms to your students! By incorporating the strategies and activities discussed in this article, you can help your students comprehend and communicate more effectively in English.
Remember to make them aware of the different types of idiomatic expressions, allow them to work with the context, identify idioms, and match them with their meanings.
Reinforce their understanding of idioms with practice activities such as board race and gap filling.
And finally, caution them against overusing idioms and encourage them to use them only when they fully understand their meaning.
Make vocabulary recycling in class more interesting!
Best gamesWith these tools in your teaching arsenal, your students will be well on their way to mastering idioms.
Article authors & editors
Helen Taranenko
Author
CELTA, CELT-P/S Course trainer, International speaking examiner
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