TEFL Fort Winnebago Wisconsin

Teaching Slang and Idioms (48) Slang english and idioms can be very difficult for efl students due to their often irrational and grammatically incorrect nature. However, there are multiple ways in which these can be effectively taught. Here, I seek to explain the nature of slang and idioms, common problems with them and ways in which a teacher can most effectively teach them. efl students may want to learn slang and idioms for a variety of reasons ranging from plans to vacation in english speaking countries to watching television shows or chatting online. Idioms often arose many years ago due to historical situations which are not applicable today. For example, ‘the rule of thumb” and “raining cats and dogs” actually have historical truth to their names, although, today they are rarely known. Slang, however, is new and always evolving. Although it is controversial to teach slang due to inaccuracy and vulgarity, it can be beneficial in mild doses so students understand english songs and natives, especially youths. It is easy to imagine the problems students have when learning idioms. There is an infinite number of them; some of them are used often and others not. Some idioms fade out with generations. Students' biggest challenge when learning idioms is the sheer number of them and their seemingly irrational meanings. Learning which situations are appropriate for each idiom is also challenging. Slang presents a different problem. Although incorrect, slang has many patterns which can be easily recognized and reproduced. The omission of helping verbs or only using ‘be' is very popular nowadays. For example, “You annoying” or “I be in the club every weekend” is easily understood, but definitely incorrect. teachers must ask themselves if it is right to teach students grammatically incorrect english. While lengthy discussions about slang and idioms are rarely recommended, it can be beneficial for students to learn some idioms and identify or understand some slang. Spending one or two lessons on idioms can help students feel confident in their english abilities. Students love to impress native speakers by slipping an occasional idiom into conversation. Likewise with slang, it can give students inspiration to watch english series or listen to music at home. In my opinion, teaching idioms and slang should be incorporated into english classes but on a basic level. One of the most preferred ways of teaching idioms is through memorization of a select few. Because idioms are predefined, they usually cannot be assumed when standing alone, therefore, they should be memorized. Despite this, they can be presented in a few ways. Watching video clips, TV shows or showing music in the classroom can be a fun way for students to hear idioms and slang for the first time and later discussed. teachers can also provide stories or dialogs in which the speaker uses multiple idioms. One benefit of this is they can sometimes be guessed by context clues. Additionally, interaction with native speakers outside the classroom can be a great homework assignment when possible. In the end, students may and should only learn a handful of idioms, but more can always be learned later. Similarly, slang can often seem irrational and difficult. A teacher must consider his students heavily when teaching slang. The country and age of the students can greatly influence if they even want to learn slang. However taught, students should be warned of the vulgarity of some words and what reactions they can expect if repeated. The upside of slang is it can be very easily taught, much more easily than idioms. The words can be taught as simple vocabulary items and the ‘grammar' of slang is often simpler than proper english. Sometimes slang ‘grammar' closely resembles a student's native grammar. I would recommend teaching only non-vulgar slang words to students if requested. Otherwise, students can discover slang words on their own through media outside the classroom. Overall, in my experience as a language learner, conversation partner and english teacher, I have found that idioms and slang are best taught in small doses. teachers can even slip them in casually without dedicating entire lessons to them. While controversial and not entirely necessary, I believe it to be beneficial to students to know and recognize some colloquial expressions.