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Author Topic: Suggestions for colloquialisms  (Read 3150 times)

Offline #basedcowboyshirt

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Suggestions for colloquialisms
« on: March 24, 2011, 11:03:45 AM »
I've started a 10 minute segment at the beginning of all my classes where I teach one common English colloquialism. I'm trying to avoid slang and jargon, because those are kind of dated and regional, but now I'm stumped for ideas.

My first one was on greetings "What's up?" and "How's it going?"

Now I have absolutely no idea what to follow up with that isn't region specific.

Offline colmmccann

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2011, 11:14:49 AM »
In Belfast/other parts of Northern Ireland we sometimes greet people by say, "'Bout ye!" or "Whata 'bout ye!" = How are you?

You can use that if you want!

Offline Alli-SAM

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2011, 01:28:33 PM »
My kids were brainstorming about greetings and came up with things like "How was your lunch?" or "What did you have for breakfast?"  and so we ended up on a short tangent about "small talk" diferences in Korea and the USA and how we often bring up things like the weather as a way to converse with someone and show we're interested, when we really don't care about the answer.   "What do you think about this weather?" or similar questions might be fun things to bring up for a few minutes...
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Offline joneslb

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2011, 04:08:58 PM »
For colloquialism:  'hanging out'

Offline complex303

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2011, 04:47:00 PM »
I happen to say the phrase "That's crazy!" all the time, so I did 10 minutes on the word 'crazy' for my 6th graders so they could understand how I was using it.  I've attached that PPT.

Other colloquial phrases I'd like to teach (specifically these phrases because I say them):

That's cool. 
So far so good.
No way!
Take your time.
For the time being.
It's about time.
Mind you, __.
Don't get me wrong, __.
It doesn't make sense.
Whatever.
Anyway, __.
I'm just kidding. / I'm not kidding.  I mean it.
'just' - Just do it.  I just can't take it anymore!
'like' - They, like, don't like you.  He was like, "I know."
You're getting on my nerves.
fun vs. funny


Offline EPSK

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2011, 04:54:47 PM »
I taught my kids "Howdy!", "TGIF!", "chilling," (among others) and they seem to remember those three in particular.

Offline pyeager

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2011, 05:03:43 PM »
I think phrasal verbs can be more important than really colloquial sayings.

For example throw away, bring up, stand out...etc.

There's a list at that other cafe...
http://www.eslcafe.com/pv/

Offline peasgoodnonsuch

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Re: Suggestions for colloquialisms
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2011, 05:16:40 PM »
Trying to find timeless and non-regional things may prove too difficult. Honestly there's a lot that we say that we assume everyone else does, but that often isn't the case.

For example, in the States we'd say "She cracked up" and it means she laughed. In the N. Ireland if you say the same thing, it means she got angry. In the states if someone "takes a crack at it" they're giving it a try.
Likewise in the UK/N.Ireland, if someone is "cracking" or "cracked" they're crazy. But then again if you ask "what's the craic/crack?" You're asking what's new.

Without travelling to N. Ireland and learning all of this, I would have just assumed that "cracked up" means "to laugh" everywhere.

I'm sorry I can't really offer any actual suggestions. I just can't think of anything that's guaranteed to be region-neutral, at least for now. Maybe it's best to just teach what you know with the preface that this stuff is only used in whatever country you hail from?

 

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