What's Your Take on Idioms?

We all want to give our English learners a leg up in life, and teaching academic vocabulary helps them get ahead of the game. But if you really want to go the extra mile, breathe new life into the classroom by teaching idioms. Research shows that many languages share similar, if not identical, idioms, and students often need extra help to connect the dots. Read on for our crash course on idioms, complete with classroom tips, and you'll be good to go.

(If you're not yet convinced your English learners need to learn idioms, take a look at how prevalent they are, and you might change your mind. In this article alone, we've already used nine. At a loss? Make that ten.)

Idioms are phrases we use each day that are not to be interpreted literally. They have a new meaning that is commonly understood by one culture. For example, if you read a book you think a friend would like, you might say to this friend, "I just read a book that is right down your alley." Of course, that doesn't mean your friend will find the book in the alley behind her house, but rather that the book seems to fit her interests.

English learners especially have difficulty with idioms because, while some are pretty transparent ("I was so hungry, I pigged out on some pizza"), some idioms can be very abstract. For instance, if someone told you to "put all your cards on the table," you might go searching for the nearest deck of cards, when all he or she really wants is for you to be honest about what you're thinking.

This example reveals another problem English learners may struggle with when interpreting idioms. Very often, idioms are based on culturally significant things, requiring some background knowledge. In the previous example, a knowledge of poker or a similar card game is essential to understanding the true meaning of the idiom. Think of all the sports-related idioms we use. Without a knowledge of football, your ELLs may be confused when you tell them to "tackle a problem" or "take the ball and run with it."

Idiom Ideas for the Classroom

• Create an idiom book. Assign each student an idiom (try searching here for ideas), and ask them to draw the idiom's literal meaning on a piece of paper. Write the idiom being illustrated across the top of each page, and then write the true meaning on the back. Compile the students' creations into a book, and read a few pages to the class each day.
• Play concentration. Using 36 note cards, write 18 idioms (one on each card) and their corresponding meanings on 18 more cards. Let your students take turns trying to match the idioms to their meanings. If they find a match, students must use the idiom correctly in a sentence before they can earn a point for their team.
• Only teach students one or two idioms in a day. Anything more can be overwhelming. After teaching the idiom's true meaning, as well as the reasoning behind it, go around the room and let each student use it in a new way. Or, ask each student a question that would allow them to use the new idiom. For example, if you taught the phrase "not on my watch," you could ask each student questions like "Does your dog chew on your backpack?" or "Are their fights out on the playground?" Using the phrase themselves in response will help students remember the idiom easier.