Ms. Kolshuk
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Research Papers
  • Classrooms
    • Dharamsala, India
    • Shenzhen, China
  • Libraries
    • Student's Library
    • Teacher's Library
  • Facilitation
  • Blog
  • Contact

Idiom Activity and Handouts

2/13/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Objective: To introduce students to common idiom expressions and have them actively build expressions into sentences for deeper understanding.

To first understand the reason why teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) idioms is important we first have to understand what they are.  Idioms are cultural phrases, which cannot be understood by knowing the individual word meanings alone.  For example, “raining cats and dogs.”  It is understood that the sky cannot literally rain cats and dogs, but what then do cats and dogs have to do with the rain?  In the meaning of this idiom they represent large and heavy raindrops.  To say, “it is raining cats and dogs” is to mean, “it is raining very heavily.”  Idioms pose a  challenge for ELLs because often they have not been raised in the culture the idiom is being used in.  Not being able to understand the meaning of phrases can lead students to misunderstanding and confusing situations.

When I have taught idioms with my classes I have first developed a definition I feel is appropriate for their level of understanding and then provided them with an Idioms List Handout (see attached).  Students can record the definition on the handout and read pages of idiom examples with their meanings.  The Idiom List Handout was compiled using idioms from Idiom Site.  There are several other good websites for idioms; including Idioms The Free Dictionary and Using English-Idioms.

Once students have had a chance to explore the idioms on their own I introduce the Idiom Activity Handout (see attached) and provide and exemplar, using the idiom “back to the beginning” (see attached).  Each student should choose, or be assigned a different idiom to complete the activity.  The activity sheets can be displayed in the classroom or put into a book.

This is a basic activity that can be built into expanded lessons or used as filler between units or lessons.  Students can also be put into pairs to complete the activity.  There are many options…enjoy!!

Idioms List Handout
File Size: 92 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Idiom Activity Handout
File Size: 24 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Idiom Sample Activity-Back to square one
File Size: 34 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

    Ms. Kolshuk's Blog

    Welcome to my blog where I post about my teaching practice, ideas, findings and discuss topics of an educational nature.  Please feel free to comment and/or email with any topic suggestions.

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Drama
    Environmental
    ESL/ELLs
    Lesson Handouts
    Lesson Plans
    Resources
    Special Education

    Archives

    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    September 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    RSS Feed

Photos used under Creative Commons from Jorge Pindorama, s2art, jikatu, elPadawan
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Research Papers
  • Classrooms
    • Dharamsala, India
    • Shenzhen, China
  • Libraries
    • Student's Library
    • Teacher's Library
  • Facilitation
  • Blog
  • Contact