Idioms and Advanced ESL LearnersAdvanced ESL learners will often have different requests than beginning or intermediate learners. They may want specific types of cultural or workplace information, or may even be interested in preparing for specific exams such as TOEFL (an examination used to determine eligibility to some postsecondary institutions). While it would be impossible to provide information regarding all the needs your advanced learners may have, included below is a brief overview of an area that will likely be problematic. Idiomatic expressions often pose difficulty for advanced learners; native speakers often use them without even recognizing how these expressions function or the literal meaning that ESL learners may be deriving from their use. Idioms Idioms are commonly used expressions that have no literal meaning.
For example, Advanced ESL learners will find idioms such as this particularly difficult to understand. Many of the methods that these learners have used to gain meaning (through the analysis of grammar or word parts) will not be useful when applied to idiomatic expressions. Idioms need to be learned as whole expressions; knowledge of the individual words will not help the learner understand the intended meaning of an idiomatic expression. Naturally, this can be time consuming. The learner will need to learn each idiom individually and, whenever possible, in context so she can better understand the definition you give. It is important to note that learning the meaning of an idiomatic
expression does not necessarily mean that the learner will be
able to use it.
A minilesson on idioms should include both controlled practice
(fill in the blank,
choose the best idiom) as well as free practice where the learner can
use the new expressions in a conversation. Free practice is particularly
important when learning idioms because idiomatic expressions are
situational. For example, it may be appropriate for you to tell a friend
that
she is
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