TEFL Wellington Wisconsin

Teaching slang and idioms of the english language can be considered controversial. Some might consider it to be impure or polluting, others consider it necessary; regardless, all native speakers use slang and idioms, at a minimum, daily. As David Burke implies, using them are “essential to integrate into our culture; without slang or idioms, students will always be outsiders.” From personal experience as a foreign exchange student to buenos aires, learning Argentine slang helped me assimilate into their culture and was participating in many more conversations where I felt I could be a part of them. After leaving argentina and resumed taking spanish courses, my teachers and fellow students were often baffled at my use of slang and idioms, and more often than not, had to explain what I was actually saying. Unfortunately, I had to phase out certain slangs and idioms because there was no use to saying them in the united states, especially in academic spanish classes. I realized how important it was to me after returning to argentina because I felt I could relate much more effectively to Argentineans in their own dialect. According to TheFreeDictionary.com, slang is “a kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech…used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect” and idioms are “a speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its element.” In this respect, it is not the formal, proper english that some teachers prefer to teach exclusively, but pertains to individuals or groups in their cultures (or sub-cultures) where they feel they are best understood. The levels of vulgarity in the use of slang and idioms are open to interpretation, as in British culture “taking a piss” (making a joke) is literal in American culture for “going to the bathroom”. Certainly in particular settings, such as in the professional workplace or academic environment, people tend to “steer” away from them but, nevertheless, are inevitably used. When teaching slangs or idioms, it has to be well understood by the students when and where we are to use such vocabulary. Using the wrong or inappropriate use of slang or idioms can put the non-native speaker in an awkward or uncomfortable situation, almost better if they didn't speak at all. Especially in pop-culture where language never stops changing and evolving, students shouldn't feel excluded to certain themes and when they do understand, it can boost their confidence. Anne Merritt, an esl teacher points out, “slang is unavoidable, no matter what language you're speaking” and cites Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and communication mediums such as texting, as “moving so far from formal language that even native speakers can have trouble figuring out messages like ‘word' and ‘big up'.” This is all the more reason for non-native speakers to engage in slang and idioms, from academic sources or pop-culture, but teachers should cautiously and thoroughly teach them, as the students may be placed in an embarrassing position with native speakers. In any case teaching slang and idioms, a teacher's objective should be to make the non-native speaker feel more at ease when it comes to listening and speaking with native speakers. Granted, language is always moving forward into something new and different; therefore, teachers themselves need to update their own slang and idioms vocabulary to best keep their own students informed. In Squidoo.com's poll “Do you use slangs and/or idioms everyday?” 100% answered “Yes!” demonstrating that people are aware they use slang and idioms, sometimes without even thinking, and non-native speakers, once given the right opportunity, will use them too! As the debate whether or not to use slang or idioms in a classroom setting continues, students will undoubtedly encounter that type of language in communication Medias and/or traveling. It is better for them to be somewhat prepared in speaking or interpreting slang and idioms; better to understand the situation or be understood by native speakers, not feeling so much like an outsider.