Topic: Idioms, Phrases, and Words
Fun Fact of the Day: “1,525,000,000 miles of telephone wire are strung across the U.S.” (tealdragon.com).
Topic:
1. What is an “idiom”? Are idioms literal or figurative phrases? How are idioms used in everyday interactions? How often do you use idioms? When is the last time that you used or heard an idiom? Was it a conscious decision or did it just come out without a thought?
Fun Fact of the Day: “1,525,000,000 miles of telephone wire are strung across the U.S.” (tealdragon.com).
Topic:
1. What is an “idiom”? Are idioms literal or figurative phrases? How are idioms used in everyday interactions? How often do you use idioms? When is the last time that you used or heard an idiom? Was it a conscious decision or did it just come out without a thought?
2. What do you think these common idioms mean? Do you or will you use any of these?
Piece of cake Cost an arm and a leg
Break a leg Hit the books
Let the cat out of the bag Hit the nail on the head
When pigs fly Can’t judge a book by its cover
Bite off more than you can chew Scratch someone’s back
Love me, love my dog To give someone the cold shoulder
Between a rock and a hard place To dig deep
To chicken out Bite your tongue
The pot calling the kettle black Cream of the crop
Once in a blue moon Birds of a feather, flock together
3. How important are idioms in basic communication patterns? Do you think that it is possible to fully understand a foreign language if you do not use such phrases? How can idioms help you to develop a level of closeness with others and build rapport with those around you?
4. Are idioms related to anecdotes? What is an “anecdote”? Are they more similar or rather different from idioms in common speech? What are some interesting anecdotes that you know? How often do you use them? Do you think that their general meaning can be easily understood cross-culturally?
5. Are idioms and anecdotes used more commonly in spoken dialogue or the written word? Do you think that it is important to use or avoid them in writing? Do you think that they make situations more or less formal, or is this irrelevant?
6. If you could make a new original idiom in English, what would it be and why would you choose it? What would its general meaning be, and how could you promote it so that the phrase gains in popularity?
Schedule: Please put topic ideas in the Suggestion Box!
Saturday, 13 April at 10:30 - SPECIAL CLUB on “Jazz” with a Guest Performance!
Thursday, 18 April at 5:30
Piece of cake Cost an arm and a leg
Break a leg Hit the books
Let the cat out of the bag Hit the nail on the head
When pigs fly Can’t judge a book by its cover
Bite off more than you can chew Scratch someone’s back
Love me, love my dog To give someone the cold shoulder
Between a rock and a hard place To dig deep
To chicken out Bite your tongue
The pot calling the kettle black Cream of the crop
Once in a blue moon Birds of a feather, flock together
3. How important are idioms in basic communication patterns? Do you think that it is possible to fully understand a foreign language if you do not use such phrases? How can idioms help you to develop a level of closeness with others and build rapport with those around you?
4. Are idioms related to anecdotes? What is an “anecdote”? Are they more similar or rather different from idioms in common speech? What are some interesting anecdotes that you know? How often do you use them? Do you think that their general meaning can be easily understood cross-culturally?
5. Are idioms and anecdotes used more commonly in spoken dialogue or the written word? Do you think that it is important to use or avoid them in writing? Do you think that they make situations more or less formal, or is this irrelevant?
6. If you could make a new original idiom in English, what would it be and why would you choose it? What would its general meaning be, and how could you promote it so that the phrase gains in popularity?
Schedule: Please put topic ideas in the Suggestion Box!
Saturday, 13 April at 10:30 - SPECIAL CLUB on “Jazz” with a Guest Performance!
Thursday, 18 April at 5:30
No comments:
Post a Comment