Idioms Phrasal Verbs and Proverbs China Teachers Workshop

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Proverbs China Teachers Workshop Lynn Henrichsen

Idioms • Groups of words whose meaning does not equal the literal sum of the parts – Kick + the + bucket ≠ Die – Pull + your + leg ≠ Tease

Idioms • Vocabulary items that are especially difficult for Chinese learners of English to comprehend and learn • Vocabulary items that may mystify even proficient Chinese teachers of English • Vocabulary items that you know naturally (most of the time) and use frequently • Something you will probably teach in China

Phrasal Verbs • Two (or more) words, the first of which is a verb that is followed by what looks like a preposition (actually a “particle”), which function together as a verbal unit – Look + over = Examine • A phrasal verbs is not the same as a verb followed by a preposition: – Look + over = Peer across

Phrasal Verbs • Some phrasal verbs are separable – – Look over the fence Look the fence over Look it over (obligatory when object is a pronoun) Look over it (changes to verb + preposition meaning) • Other phrasal verbs are inseparable – They looked after our children – They looked after them – * They looked them after

Proverbs • Groups of words whose meaning may or may not be idiomatic but that are widely known and express some sort of wisdom – The early bird catches the worm. – Birds of a feather flock together • Chinese has many proverbs! • Many of them express wisdom similar to that of English proverbs, but the words they employ are different.

Video Examples from China Planned, thorough vocabulary teaching Impromptu vocabulary teaching Idioms and proverbs