At Foreign Friend Online, we offer a range of online English classes for learners at all levels who want to improve their English proficiency and we are excited to share what we know about sayings, phrases, and idioms in this blog!
As we explore the nuances and charms of the English language, don’t forget to make use of the glossary at the end of the page or simply hover over any underlined words or phrases to reveal their definitions.
English is just a language, and not even the most beautiful or poetic, in my opinion. It happens to be so widely spoken that everyone wants to learn it. The reasons my clients come to me for lessons vary tremendously but there is always one thing in common – some kind of desire or need to expand their opportunities. In order to access these opportunities on the horizon, they need to improve their fluency. So, what exactly is fluency and how can it be measured in general terms?
In terms of English fluency, a few essential qualities indicate whether or not someone is truly proficient in the language. These include:
• The capacity to understand native speakers and a variety of dialects.
• Vocabulary that is extensive enough for most conversation topics.
• Clear communication aided by grammatical precision.
• Familiarity with a high level of idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs and slang words.
English is a key that opens a door to a huge world. It makes me think of that door in Alice in Wonderland – you know the one? She wants so badly to get through that door! That’s how all my students feel too. They want to master their English and enter the world it offers. But what happens to Alice once she goes through that door – it isn’t what she expects, is it? Likewise, the actual process of learning English, mastering it, is far from what we think it will be. Nevertheless, your curiosity has been roused and it’s here to stay, like an itch you need to scratch.
Here is a hard, unavoidable fact that none of my clients want to hear - learning a language takes a long time. If you resolve to learn English, to become as fluent in it as your mother tongue, it will take years (see my upcoming blog article on how long it takes to learn a language). How familiar do the following catch phrases sound…
Learn English in 30 days!
Speak like a native in just a few weeks!
Follow our tips to master English effortlessly!
… it takes a lot more than 30 days and it definitely is not effortless.
Quick-fix offers with ‘specially designed programs’ that guarantee you a C2 certificate in four weeks, are exactly what they sound like – bottomless pits that guzzle your cash. These offers are perfectly packaged false hopes. They are there to appeal to the comfort-loving side of you. Please don’t fall for those schemes. They are what they appear to be – too good to be true. You will be left feeling duped, foolish, and put off from studying English.
What you should want, instead of a quick fix that will run you in circles like Alice does in Wonderland, is someone who will traverse the wild and wacky world of English with you. Let’s be honest, English spelling makes no sense, the grammar will twist your mind and the phrasal verbs will down-right piss you off. But, if mastering English is a goal you just can’t shake, and you’re willing to persevere through the moments of frustration, you will also find laughter along the way, and undoubtedly experience moments of immense pride in yourself when you achieve that target you simply had to go after.
We all have strong desires we yearn for in our heart and for many people mastering English is one of them because they know what that will do for their futures. If you are one of these people, you don’t need a liar to tell you that the road will be easy. What you need is someone to be your guide, a companion through the nonsense and adventures along the path to English fluency. Foreign Friend English offers you that companionship.
So, how similar is English to the oddly outrageous world of Alice in Wonderland? Let’s take a look…
As we venture into the peculiar landscape of English vocabulary, we must navigate a vast lexicon that is both beautiful and illusory. It reminds me of Alice’s encounter with the mysterious Cheshire Cat. Much like the cat's grin that appears and disappears, English words can be elusive, their meanings changing with context. Many words are not always as they seem. Homonyms and homophones abound— words that look and sound the same but whose meaning changes with the context of a sentence can leave us feeling as disoriented and confused as Alice when she is taunted by the chuckling grin of the Cheshire.
At Foreign Friend, our approach to vocabulary retention is straight-forward - learn what you are attracted to. Many other approaches will tell you to make lists and memorise tons and tons of words. That doesn’t render results and leads to instant procrastination. When learning vocabulary, two things matter - attraction and usage. Focus on words that you gravitate towards, be it for the way they look/sound or their applicability to your life, and then most essentially, make sure you actually start using them in your spoken English! If you don’t speak the words out your own mouth a good few times, then they won’t become part of your automatic speech. That’s the simple truth of it.
Unraveling English Grammar Rules can absolutely be likened to the chaotic tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter. A seemingly loopy world of intricate rules and exceptions. Just as the tea party's strangeness bewilders Alice, the nuances of English grammar can be equally perplexing. Yet, within the madness lies the opportunity for learners to embrace the intricacies, finding joy in deciphering the language's rules and exceptions. By weaving a unique narrative through grammar instruction, educators can transform what might seem tedious into an adventurous linguistic journey.
At Foreign Friend, we use language diagnostic tests in order to provide you with targeted grammar practice that will not only save you time, but also the frustration of learning isolated grammar rules outside of the contexts in which they are most commonly used. We help you make the connection between the grammar and why it should matter to you and the ways you intend to use English.
The phonetic challenges in English pronunciation mirror the rhyming riddles of Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Much like their paradoxical rhymes, English pronunciation requires navigating irregularities and varied accents. Implementation of English phonetics will definitely have you thinking that our spelling must be one big riddle! This phonetic puzzle becomes an integral part of the language journey, where each twist and turn contributes to a deeper understanding and appreciation of spelling and pronunciation. So many students are afraid to make mistakes when speaking English. By consistently correcting the mistakes of our students, we are able to assist them in practicing correct pronunciation and expression. Our empathetic teaching style is one that works towards creating online learning spaces free of judgment.
A technique we often use at Foreign Friend to help students improve their pronunciation is that of spelling difficult words phonetically. For example, the word ‘chaos’ is difficult to learn because it is pronounced as, “Kay-yos”. Breaking words down into their phonetically applicable spellings helps our existing students massively and making new students aware of this difference is just one of the ways we help them build fluency in pronunciation.
Idioms and expressions, similar to deciphering the cryptic wisdom of the Caterpillar, add another layer to the language journey. Understanding English idioms requires grasping their figurative meanings and cultural nuances, much like decoding the advice of the cryptic Caterpillar. Through this exploration, learners not only enhance their language proficiency but also gain insights into the cultural subtleties embedded in the English language. There is so much fun to be had when exploring the figurative meaning behind idioms and common idiomatic language. You won’t be learning lists of idioms and phrasal verbs disconnected from their everyday use and contexts. Instead, you will explore their meaning by studying them in context and then applying them in your own speech, making the process of adopting these expressions a lot more manageable and a lot less overwhelming!
We encourage our students to think of their own associations and connections that they can use to remember the idioms they learn. Because idioms are non-literal, it’s not always easy to work out their meaning, but if you create a ‘story’ about them, it will help you to remember their meaning more effectively. This is a playful, creative process and our existing students are seeing great results with it.
Reading comprehension, which can be compared to the Queen of Hearts' croquet game where the parameters keep shifting, presents its own set of challenges. In this game of implicit and explicit meaning, the rules are ever-changing, reflecting the dynamic nature of interpreting texts in English. Just as Alice navigates the Queen's quirks, language learners must adapt to varying styles and contexts, finding joy in the interpretative dance that reading comprehension demands.
At Foreign Friend, we love literature, and we take great pleasure in finding texts that will appeal to the interests of our students while also catering to their specific English level. We cover a variety of genres, while also teaching our students valuable reading skills like: text summaries, scanning texts for the main ideas, how to work out the meaning of words in context, how to formulate conclusions by analyzing narrative clues, and understanding the purpose and intentions of authors (to name a few).
Perfecting precise writing skills, much like with the White Rabbit's obsession with precise punctuality, become crucial in the English language journey. Much like the White Rabbit's punctuality, English demands precision in expression, with correct grammar and punctuation serving as the key to effective communication. Navigating the realm of writing becomes an adventure in itself, where each word and punctuation mark contributes to the creation of a coherent and impactful narrative.
Writing is often an area of English that many students say they are not interested in working on because they “write emails all day” or “chat on WhatsApp in English all the time”. Due to this behavior they feel that their English writing skills are intact. This is simply not true. The difference between text and email English vs. actual written prose is vastly different and many of our current students have been humbled and then enticed by how much more they can learn within the written realms of English. We often teach reading and writing in conjunction as they offer rich opportunities for diving into written worlds and then reflecting on what has been understood. This is also one of the best vehicles for internalizing new vocabulary.
The Jabberwocky, a creature with a unique language, becomes a metaphor for the importance of cultural sensitivity in language learning. English learners must navigate the cultural nuances rooted in the language, akin to understanding the Jabberwocky's distinct communication style. Embracing cultural diversity becomes an integral part of the language journey, fostering a deeper understanding of the richness and complexity of the English language.
To be honest, this is probably our favourite part of the whole foreign language process. Foreign Friend's online English classes provide learning opportunities not only to the students but to us as educators too. We adore getting to know our students and the circumstances of their lives and cultures. Very often, even after English fluency has been attained, we remain in contact with our beloved students and what began as an educational relationship quickly turns into a lasting friendship. Sharing ideas around cultural similarities and differences is one of the many rewarding experiences that online teaching and learning provides both teachers and students. We hope that you will enjoy the exchange as much as we do. Learning about how people around the world think and live is another way to travel without moving. It’s an adventure of mind and heart that underpins, in our opinion, any successful learning environment.
And that brings us to the end of our weird meander. In the adventure of language learning, our exploration of the Wonderland of English is a journey filled with humour, challenges, and unexpected surprises. Like Alice's adventures in life, mastering English requires embracing the unexpected, finding joy in the twists and turns, and, most importantly, having a trustworthy guide that knows the tips and tricks to conquer it all. We’ve got you covered with the top-notch instruction given by our experienced and empathetic teachers at Foreign Friend English.
At Foreign Friend, we understand the journey to mastering English can feel like finding your way through a wonderland of challenges and surprises. That's why our online English lessons are designed to meet you where you are first, before taking you to where you want to be. No matter where you are in your process, we offer a supportive and engaging online learning environment.
Contact us to find out more about our English lessons online, and let us help you unlock the full potential of your English fluency.
Glossary:
Phrases and phrasal verbs:
Vocabulary:
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