Июн
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Today our students often need some idiomatic language which can be taught in a number of different ways. Here I share my experience. It unites presenting idioms in a context, a high degree of idiomatic language concentration, and practicing various genres of writing/speaking. Examples are provided below. They can be used in many ways, starting from tests end ending with imitation.
1.The Importance of Teaching Idioms /filled with idioms/
Possible assignment is to spot the idioms/reword it, etc
Essay for teachers.
I have always believed it to be an open secret that nowadays one can never do without idioms in learning a foreign language, especially at advanced levels, like English C1 and C2. In my book, idioms make up part and parcel of a language and add to its unique colouring. They are the plum of plums of a language. So I just take the necessity of learning (and in my case teaching) idioms for granted. But if you want serious arguments for teaching idioms I prefer not to beat about the bush and explain everything in plain English. Hopefully, my ideas will not leave anybody cold and nobody will ever give thumbs down to this activity.
First of all, let us agree that it is a matter of top priority to teach idioms, because using them students demonstrate linguistic competence; they get the hang of language and do not scratch the surface but get to the bottom. They feel the subtlety and nuances of language and learn the ropes of fully expressing themselves. It is a matter of life and death for language learner.
It is a must to fall over oneself and spare no effort in teaching idioms for students to feel at home in a language, be in their element and know the language like the palm of their hand. If teachers and students realize this, they will be on the beam. The communicative role of knowing idioms cannot be overestimated. It is worth exploring every avenue and leaving no stone untouched in mastering a language, moving heaven and earth. This will enable one not merely to keep his/her head above water but hit the jackpot in language usage and make it A1. Otherwise, the danger is to do wool-gathering and be a low man on the totem pole in any activity. The plans and dreams might go to pot, end in smoke and come to nothing in no time. This could be a bitter pill to swallow.
Teaching and learning idioms is an imperative as the process itself helps one to be always on the go and thus develop general academic skills and valuable human qualities. The process is not that easy; it is neither a bed of roses, nor a piece of cake. Sometimes both teachers and learners can see the seamy side of life or be in deep waters. We should not turn a blind eye to this. But still, they should take the bull by the horns and never say die. One ought not to get frustrated or desperate facing difficulties; it is a good idea to do things by hook or by crook, by any means, at all costs! Even if one feels butterflies in the stomach, it is useful to keep a stiff upper lip and keep one’s chin up. Unless one is able to do it, he/she will never be on a roll and have things well in hand. However, if it is crowned with success, they will have something to crow about. They will play their cards right and weather all storms. Therefore, it is highly advisable that one should not get cold feet or lose one’s nerve.
Summing up, it is vital to remember that the importance of teaching idioms – and any activity for that matter – depends on the teacher’s attitude: a sense of success and satisfaction can guarantee positive results. So let me wish my colleagues to be always able to see light in the end of the tunnel and hope for the best I do wish you good luck and keep my fingers crossed for you.
- Idioms Pool Topical Approach
Accumulate idioms (more than necessary) for the topic under discussion. Try to teach/learn them. Under the circumstances students will recollect and use 10%.
Examples /with and without explanations/.
-TO THE TOPIC OF ECOLOGY
an angel of mercy = a person who comes in time to help
to upset the apple cart = to obstruct progress
apple pie order = neat and tidy
to turn a blind eye to = to pretend not to see
to be in the same boat = to share the problems
to rock the boat = to endanger common safety
to strike a blow for = to do smth important to help
at all costs = not to spare effort
to open smb’s eyes to smth = to make smb see or understand
to sit on the fence = remain neutral, unconcerned
have a heart! = show pity and kindness
to make a mess of things = to ruin order
to face the music = to carry full responsibility, to save the situation
as safe as houses = absolutely safe
a matter of life and death = smth of great urgency
while there is life there is hope = don’t despair, you can improve it
to see light in the end of the tunnel = to have hope for the better
to sound alarm bell = to call to urgent action
— WEATHER IDIOMS
As right as rain: to feel fine and healthy.
Be a breeze: to be very easy to do.
Be snowed under: to have so much to do that you are having trouble doing it all.
Break the ice: to say or do something to make someone feel relaxed or at ease in a social setting.
Calm before the storm: the quiet, peaceful period before a moment of great activity or mayhem.
Chase rainbows: when someone tries to do something that they will not achieve
Come rain or shine: you can depend on someone to be there no matter what or whatever the weather.
Every cloud has a silver lining: There is always something positive to come out of an unpleasant or difficult situation.
Fair-weather friend: a person who is only your friend during good times or when things are going well for you but disappears when things become difficult or you have problems.
Get wind of: to learn or hear of something that should be a secret.
Have your head in the clouds: to be out of touch of reality. Your ideas may not be sensible or practical.
It never rains but it pours: when things don't just go wrong but very wrong and other bad things happen too.
It's raining cats and dogs: it's raining very hard.
Put on ice: to postpone for another day.
Ray of hope: there is a chance that something positive will happen.
Save for a rainy day: to save for the future when it might suddenly be needed (unexpectedly).
Steal my thunder: when someone takes attention away from someone else.
Storm in a teacup: when someone makes a small problem larger than it really is.
Storm is brewing: indication that something is about to become bad or explode
Take a rain check: decline something now but offer to do it at a later date.
Throw caution to the wind: to go crazy and forget all responsibilities or commitments.
Under the weather: you are not feeling well
— TO THE TOPIC OF THE GENERATION GAP.
turn a blind eye to
come/be of age
make a mess of things
develop/have low/high/adequate self-esteem
face the music
go against the stream
be on edge
call a spade a spade
beat about the bush
say things in plain English
see red
become extreme
cut no ice with smb
smth gets into him
give and take
carry weight
meet smb halfway
be at peace with smb/oneself
be at odds with
find oneself
up in arms
live/do smth by the book
give thumbs down to
kick oneself
get out of hand
take some doing
be a pain in the neck
— TO the TOPIC of THE FUTURE, WORK, CHOICE, LIFE...
POSITIVE
get down to /work, activities.../ = put one’s hand to the plough = set one’s shoulder to the wheel
put one’s heart into = put one’s back into = be enthusiastic about smth
make a figure = carve a career for oneself = rise in the world; paddle one’s own canoe
fall over oneself = take pains = knock oneself out = try very hard & do one’s best
earn a living = earn one’s bread in the sweat of one’s face
make both ends meet, make a crust, gain one’s daily bread
be/feel at home in... = be/feel in one’s element, know smth like the palm of one’s hand
save face
get to the bottom = not to scratch the surface
suit smb to a T, a bang-up job
get the hang of smth = be competent
play first fiddle (second fiddle to smb)
learn the ropes of smth
be on the beam = be on the right track
take the bull by the horns
go against the stream, go one’s own way, have full cup
keep a stiff upper lip = keep one’s chin up
explore every avenue = leave no stone untouched = move heaven & earth
do smth by hook or by crook = by any means = at all costs
cudgel one’s brain over smth, go with a swing + with a run
start afresh = start from scratch = start anew = turn over a new leaf, strain every nerve, stand firm
get the plum of plums of life
never say die = hope dies last, call upon the voice of reason
NEGATIVE
life is not a bed of roses, nor a piece of cake
a bitter pill to swallow,
be in deep waters = between the hammer & the anvil = between the devil & the deep sea = ...the two fires
do woolgathering, be a low man on the totem pole, see the seamy side of life, a vicious circle
get cold feet = lose one’s nerve = lose face = give up =be in/fall into despair = put one’s foot down go to pot = go to the dogs = end in smoke = come to nothing, in no time
get dizzy with success, worship the golden calf
3.Students’ Production
IDIOM STORIES WRITTEN BY SCHOOL STUDENTS AFTER LEARNING IDIOMS
-Story.
When we heard that Tom would arrive it was in the wind that the time would be exciting. When he arrived, first he studied all garden-plot as if he was looking for something. We just watched him waiting for the decision he would get from that research. Until the evening, he was silent and only his eyes gave out his excitement. In the evening, he invited us to get together in my room and started his story.
“You so lucky to live in such place, and so ignorant not to appreciate it,” – he said. — “Don’t you know about Captain Hook?” We knew, but could not understand the connection between the pirate and our garden. “He sailed through the seas when the great storm covered his ship. They sailed close to the wind…” “Did they weather the storm?”- Jinnee asked. Tom only sobbed.
“That is fine. But what is it to come across with us?”- I asked. “You know pirates saved their treasures for the rainy day. And it is here!”
The next day we took spades and started looking for the treasures. “Are you sure they are in granny’s asters? She would be not a storm in s teacup, if she know we have dug them over,”- we asked. “No doubt she would like treasures better”- he replied. In addition, we threw caution to the wind and start digging. Of course, there were no treasures. And Granny hurled thunderbolts. But we felt ourselves to be true pirates, and just hoped we would weather that storm.
— Essays
- On the Generation Gap
It’s an open secret that nowadays many people do not value relations with their relatives and throw their love and care to the wind saying some offensive things without thinking. They take it for granted that their nearest and dearest will always understand and forgive them.
We may take for example relations between parents and their children. Both sides often hurl thunderbolts because of a storm in a teacup. That is a very complicated problem of generation gap. Both parents and their children very often do not try to understand each other and sail close to the wind risking spoiling the relations.
To weather the storm one should try to imagine himself in the shoes of the “offender” and try to be fair. Very often we forgive other people the same thing that makes us hurl thunderbolts at home. So when the collision in the family is in the wind one should try to calm down and try to come to a compromise without offense. Why not try to save nerves for a rainy day?
Overall, in spite of misunderstanding and quarrels people love their families and maybe love is the cause of those collisions: parents want their children to be the best, children want their parents to be modern and fashionable and so on.
So many people, so many opinions. So, we should not quarrel and argue just because we are different, especially with people who love us and care about us. It is better to stop a storm in a teacup because our nearest and dearest, I mean our families, are the greatest blessing in our life.
- On Ecological Issues
Today some people, mainly ecologists pay much attention to ecological problems and it is not by chance. Nowadays we sail close to the wind as thanks to our «efforts» the Earth is not any more as safe as houses and I think it is high time to be afraid that our planet will begin to hurl thunderbolts. I mean all these global issues of human activity in the world those are destruction of natural zones, disappearance of animals, exhaustion of natural resources, the decline of people’s health etc. This list can be endless that is why it is a matter of life and death to sound alarm bell now.
To understand that this fuss about the ecological situation is not a storm in a teacup it is enough to imagine our planet without its creatures, water, soil, air, in a word without LIFE.
Sometimes it seems all these disasters are in the wind. Every day the threats to our environment become clearer and greater in scope. Nowadays we often confront the consequences of global warming: weather is unpredictable and besides we have to endure such climate anomalies as snowy summer or winter without snow. If we sit on the fence when it concerns only nature, we should not at least turn a blind eye to people who suffer physically from frequent changes of weather.
People should understand that rocking the boat and making a mess of things on the Earth they destroy the natural balance. That time will lead to such a situation when humanity will have to weather the storm and to face the music. And who knows if there will be any light in the end of the tunnel or not. That is why we should not throw the predictions of scientists to the wind. At all costs do we need to save all the natural resources we still have for a rainy day, for our children, for future generations. Every man ought to take care of our planet because its destiny depends on everyone.
As it is well known, while there is life, there is hope. The only problem is to save this life.
- Wishes with IDIOMS
Keep your head above water = survive
Be on a roll! = enjoy continuous success
Don’t put your feet up too early! = relax
Get your act together! = prepare yourself for action
Keep off the hook! = keep out of trouble
Avoid hot water! = avoid trouble
Be on top of the world! = be happy
Be on cloud nine!
Be always on the go! = be active
Don’t miss the boat! = don’t be too late
Make a killing! = make a big profit quickly
Get off the ground! = start to be successful
Get on board! = get actively involved
Play your cards right! = take the fullest advantage of your chances
Be a bright spark! = a very lively & cheerful person
Have broad shoulders! = be able to accept responsibility
Let’s keep our fingers crossed! = hope for the best
Let your life be A1! = of the highest quality, very good
-RHYMED WELL-WISHING with IDIOMS
*
Get your act together,
Be always on a roll,
Stay safe and sound forever,
As right as rain in all!
*
I wish you to be on top of the world
And always to be on the go,
Remain a bright spark, keep getting on board,
Not having a hard row to hoe!
*
I wish you to carry all before one,
Be as fit as a fiddle, and fine!
I’m sure your life will just be A1,
You’ll be feeling on cloud nine!
