Job Discussion Forums

[matttheboy]

Just how do you actually go about teaching a class specifically on phrasal verbs. I've obviously taught them as part of a normal class but i'm going to be doing a grammar class for a couple of lessons focusing only on phrasal verbs.

The obvious choice is going through a verb and all its possible variations, then moving on to another verb. Presenting them in a story? I keep meaning to bookmark the telf websites that get mentioned here but never actually get around to it...i guess there's a fair bit out there but i'd be interested to hear your suggestions.

Cheers,

Matt

[Deconstructor]

First, grammar has nothing to do with phrasal verbs, which are mostly idiomatic vocabulary. The best way to approach it is through magazine or newspaper articles where student have to use the context for clues instead of running for the dictionary. Then special activities are brought to class to help students use the new vocab. If it�s not taught through context, it becomes pointless and even boring.

There is a whole methodology that you could follow. If you're interested, PM me and I'll be more than happy to share the wealth.

There are many books on phrasal verbs, albeit all limited in scope. I like The Idiom Advantage by Dana Watkins. Check it out.

[matttheboy]

Thanks for that Decon, as a different part of the lesson i've got a reading activity which, having just re-read, has a fair few phrasal verbs in it. It's surprising how often they crop up, they just sort of pass you by in everyday speech. Must a be a nightmare to learn. It's a 1-1 private class so there's plenty of time to go through everything, give examples, explanations etc.

I'd be interested in your methodology as well. I've never specifically focused on phrasal verbs before and am always open to ideas to make my life easier

Ta,

Matt

[Stephen Jones]

Asd decon says the presence of phrasal verbs in the grammar syllabus is an oddity.

If you are stuck just photocopy a few pages of Thompson and Martinet, or of Murphy if the standard is lower, but it will be deadly boring.

[Deconstructor]

[Stephen Jones]

If they are part of English vocabulary, then surely their presence on the grammar syllabus of most courses is an oddity? Like selling roast beef at the fishmongers.

[zaneth]

Once I tried just telling a story from my life into a tape recorder without thinking too much about what I was saying (I mean, not about the grammar and vocabulary as such). Then transcribed it and there were quite a few phrasal verbs there. Then prepare your lesson around that text.

I wouldn't go through all the different meanings of each one but some have amusing contrasts between slightly different forms. These might be worth highlighting to help students remember. It's nice if you have students with whom you can venture into taboo words with, as it's good for them to know what not to say and why.

In books I've noticed a lot of differences between British and American English. Watch out for this. You might want to rewrite an exercise into your own model so you can teach it naturally.

It seems to me that there is a lot of grammar in phrasal verbs. Different verbs have different restrictions on how they fit with other words in the sentence and whether they are reflexive, imply completion, take an object, and where the object is placed in the sentence.

Maybe someone else will have a better grasp of the technical definitions of these things. Embedded grammar? Syntaxt?

[amandajoy99]

I agree with Deconstructor - give them context. Let them read sample paragraphs or sentences. Then have them write example sentences of their own for several of the phrasal verbs. Just talking about the meaning won`t make them feel comfortable understanding and using them - you need to get them reading/understanding, and speaking/writing the phrasal verbs. Sometimes I give them a dialogue topic and write a list of good phrasal verbs on the board and tell them to use at least three. For example, I give the topic "you are members of a rock band and the band is having a problem. You have a concert tonight so you must discuss and resolve the problem." Then tell em they might use: mess up, kick out, work out etc.
I like to finish up a lesson on phrasal verbs with "phrasal verb pictionary." Of course not all phrasal verbs can be drawn easily but pick out a bunch that can, and split the group into teams and have them draw the phrasal verb. Probably a good idea to give the students who are guessing a list of the phrasal verbs because they will likely have trouble thinking of them spontaneously. This activity makes them think pretty carefully about the meaning and uses of the word.

[jr1965]

I agree with what others here have said about telling students that phrasal verbs are very common in English and about teaching them in context as vocabulary. I like the idea of choosing a topic (e.g., sports) and seeing how many phrasals you come up with (ha! I just used one there.).

When you present these, you may also want to mention that most phrasals are two-word verbs (e.g., run into: I ran into Mary on the street.), but some are three-word verbs (e.g., get back to (someone): I�ll get back to you after the meeting.).

I also think it will also be important talk about how many these verbs can be separated by an object, and to show that some phrasal verbs are inseparable:

Jane looked up the word in the dictionary.
Jane looked the word up in the dictionary.
Jane looked it up in the dictionary. [But not: � I looked up it in the dictionary.�]


But:

I ran into Mary on the street. [Ran into is inseparable.]
Not: I ran Mary into the street.

[dyak]

There's a book called something like, 'Really Learn 100 Phrasal Verbs'. Each page is devoted to one phrasal verb and has various gapfills. I didn't think much of it but gave a page from it as homework. The students loved it and demanded it every day... Why do students always love what you think is crepe?

[moonraven]

The phrasal verb "pass by" apparently passed Matt by.

[Glenski]

You might want to check out the book English In Context. Phrasal Verbs, by Betty Kirkpatrick. Also, English in Context, Idioms by the same author. As well, Essential Idioms in English, by Robert J. Dixson.

These books present phrasal verbs in a couple of ways that you might be able to adapt to lessons. As mentioned earlier, beware of the British vs. American differences.

I would be quite selective in choosing phrasal verbs for any lesson. Don't just copy a list from a book and leap into it. You might have to learn them yourself, or explain how archaic some are. And, be fully prepared to explain what each means without using an example. Careful choice of words is important.