Should
we or shouldn’t we teach English idioms to ESL students? Although it is
uncommon for ESL students to use them comfortably and effectively, if we choose
to not teach idioms, they’ll be missing an important cultural element of the language.
However, it stands to reason that idioms should be taught to upper-intermediate
or advanced students, individuals who are ready to take their English fluency
to the next level.
How to proceed
Choose 5 to 8 idioms that may be easily
grouped
Most idioms fall into simple categories,
like idioms with animals or parts of the body. Choose 5 to 8 from any category,
for example idioms with time. If you choose more than 10, you’ll only succeed
in overwhelming your students, and they won’t remember any of the idioms they
saw in class
Introduce idioms in context, never in isolation
Some ESL teachers simply go over a list of English idiom and their
definitions or explanations. However, to ensure that students not only
understand them, but also learn to use them, present idiom examples in context,
for example, in simple conversations where the meaning of the idiom is clear.
Use real life, authentic material
Show students how some of these idioms are used in the
media, in newspaper and magazine articles, and in songs, cartoons, videos,
advertisements, etc…
