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Teaching slang and idiomsPlanning lessons we, as teachers, pay attention to many aspects: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, etc.; but what about slang and idioms? Is it necessary to teach them at school as a separate language aspect or just let it be a part of the main process? I think it can be entertaining and motivating to get as close as it is possible to real, ?street? language. In a classroom atmosphere it is like the gulp of fresh air which provides a huge range of possibilities for different games and other activities. But it is more interesting and appropriate for intermediate and advanced levels. These students already have certain knowledge about english and it can be the next step in understanding the cultural aspect. As we know the language is closely related to the mentality of people. It is also the way to step aside from the ordinary teaching process. What exactly is slang? Using slang means replacing a common word or sentence with a totally new one. It is always associated with younger people, different bands, rock-groups and social movements. Sometimes it is something that confuses students because they cannot understand the exact or even approximate meaning. On the other hand it is something that enriches the speech. Let`s take a look at some simple examples of slang. Instead of saying the word ?Great? we could say: ace (He's an ace reporter.), awesome (What an awesome sunset.), that`s bad/bona (Wow, that was really a bad movie.), cool (This is a really cool place to work.), far-out (This music is really far-out.), intense (This is a very intense situation we are discussing.), etc. Some slang terms are more common for these days, others are no longer used. Idioms are other interesting part of any language. Some students can think that there is no difference between an idiom and a slang word but it is not true. Idiom is a group of words with a meaning of its` own that is different from the meaning of each separate word put together. For example, ?under the weather? is an idiom meaning ?ill?. Other example is ?early bird catches/gets the worm?. A person who gets up early in the morning has the best chance of succeeding: When Sam's father woke him up for school he said: "The early bird catches the worm." Charles began looking for a summer job in February; he knows that the early bird gets the worm. There are some problems for the teacher to explain what this or that slang or idiom means. As a matter of fact, such words indicate something abstract. It is difficult to show it using body language. That is why it is better to pass such lessons with higher level students who already know lots of synonyms and antonyms. You should always remember about the correct intonation because these words frequently express feelings and thoughts. Discovering such everyday life expressions can be interesting not only for the students but for the teachers as well. So do your best and keep moving learning more about this fascinating world of english!
