Korean Job Discussion Forums

sumfunu · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Location: Canada

Hi,
I would like to pick your collective brains, as to a good activity book for teaching and giving practice with common idioms. A friend has an excellent book,("A Fine Kettle of Fish" by Kristin Pedersen), but alas, it is out of print. The book that I am seeking should be geared towards Intermediate to Upper Intermediate level students and hopefully have activities,(fill-in-the-blanks, matching,etc.), to give students practice with the idioms.
If you have had first-hand experience with any books which you thought were great, please pass along your recommendations. Thank-you in advance.

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

Only idiots teach idioms should. Teach students to speak like they are having a normal conversation. Why spend time teaching them idioms that are seldom used anymore.

SpiralStaircase · Joined: 14 Feb 2008

Can You Believe It? by Jann Huizenga
You can download sample chapters here:
http://www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/isbn/9300?cc=global

I�ve used this book with both middle and high school students. Students enjoyed it and the material never gets old. Led to some very interesting conversation.

All the best

The Grumpy Senator · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Up and down the 6 line

The "Can You Believe It?" series is very good. The series has three books that increase in difficulty and you can easily expand on the lessons in the books. They are available at Bandi & Luni's or Kyobo.

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

T-J · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae

I use and recommend:

Idiomatic American English by Barbra K. Gaines
published by Kodansha International

http://www.kodansha-intl.com/books/html/en/9780870117565.html

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Years ago I used a book titled 'Headline English'. It used news stories to facilitate conversational English. Every story and speaking exercise integrated idiomatic speech. It had a lot of exercises and activities. Can't remember the author(s), but it was published in Korea and came with a couple of tapes. Good luck. I gave all my ESL teaching stuff away, so if you can find it, let us know.

sumfunu · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Location: Canada

That you to all, with one exception Confused

, for the positive and constructive replies Smile

suwonkid · Joined: 31 Aug 2003

http://englishtips.org/index.php?newsid=1150808655

http://englishtips.org/index.php?newsid=1150793645

Or simply do a search on the above site.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

I've used Idioms for Everyday Use

http://www.amazon.com/Idioms-Everyday-Use-Student-Book/dp/0844207489

with great success. You can find it in Kyobo bookstore. Works like a charm every time.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

The very common idioms can be useful to teach. Beyond that, not so fruitful and only to be done in an EFL context if the students get motivation from it..... IMO.

Here's a nice fling the teacher game for some common idioms.
http://eflclassroom.com/flingtheteacher/idioms.swf

Go to our games page to get the generator and make your own fling the teacher game/s.

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com