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AN APPROACH TO AMERICAN IDIOMS
Abstract
This dissertation proposes a method for the teaching of American idioms to non-native speakers of English. It consists of two main parts: an introduction, "American Idioms: Teaching and Learning," and a program, "Working American Idioms," designed to improve the non-native speaker's command of idiomatic speech. Part One is further divided into three sections. In the first section, the author discusses the typical language problems of non-native speakers of English: the problems of understanding and using idiomatic speech of the target language, and how these problems can be met by classroom teaching and the preparation of textbooks designed especially to serve that purpose. In the second section, the nature of English idiomaticity is discussed. The author classifies the types of English idioms based on their figurative nature and their grammatical uses. The adjustment of idioms is also discussed in this section. The third section contains a proposal for the organization of the program presented in the second part of this dissertation. The program has an entry of one hundred and ninety-five idioms as well as thirty proverbs. These idioms and proverbs are divided into thirty lessons. Each lesson contains the following five sections: (1) Dialogue: to introduce the American idioms to the students. (2) Situations: to illustrate a situation for each idiom and to show which particular idiom can be used under that situation. (3) Model Sentences: to show to the students how an idiom is used in a sentence. (4) Exercises: three exercises are prepared to reinforce the students' command of the idioms. (5) Just for Kicks: a proverb together with its interpretation and example is introduced here.
Subject Area
Language
Recommended Citation
CHU, MIKE SHAN YUAN, "AN APPROACH TO AMERICAN IDIOMS" (1985). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8521449.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8521449