Using Proverbs in the English Classroom

Presented by Vera Tabureanu

DEFINITIONA proverb is a short well-known supposedly wise, saying, usually in simple language.Proverbs contain truth, common sense, experience and wisdom, and they are indisputable.

Difference between a proverb and saying

Proverb: a short sentence, etc., usually known by many people, stating something commonly experienced or giving advice or a short popular saying, usually of ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought; .

E.g. Slow and steady wins the race"A bad cause requires many words.A broken hand works, but not a broken heart.

Saying: a well-known and wise statement made by famous people, which often has a meaning that is different from the simple meanings of the words it contains:

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. Aristotle .Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. - Albert EinsteinHinduism is not a religion, its a way of life.-Swami Vivekananda

The average length of proverbs constitutes

7 words

COMMON PATTERNS OF PROVERBS

Better X than YLike X, like YNo X without YOne X doesn’t make a YIf X , then Y

PAREMIOLOGY IS THE SCIENCE STUDYING

PROVERBS

PAREMIOLOGISTS differentiate among the proverbial subgenres

Proverbs as suchProverbial expressions e.g. to bite the dustProverbial comparisons e.g. as busy as a beProverbial interrogatives e.g. Does a chicken have lips?Twin formulas e.g. give and takeWellerisms e.g. ‘Each to his own,’ as the farmer said when he kissed his cow.

PROVERBS are used to

strengthen arguments, express generalization, influence people, rationalize our own shortcomings, question behavioral patterns, satirize social evils and make fun of ridiculous situations.

Mieder

PROVERBSadvise, console, inspire, comment on events, interpret behaviour foster attitudes, such as optimism, pessimism and humility.

Nippold

USING PROVERBS IN THE CLASS HELPS TO

diversify the teaching process and make it brighter, solve some educational problems improve students’ -learning experience, -their language skills

-their understanding of themselves and the world.

WHEN AND WHY TO USE PROVERBS IN CLASS

can be used at any stage of the lesson as warm-up activities, for presenting and/or practising lexical items and grammar structures and practising pronunciation. Using proverbs in class the teacher can stimulate a discussion or a debate, provide a topic for a project work or essay writing.

Both the Bible and medieval Latin have played a huge

role in distributing proverbs across Europe

Proverbs change with time and culture

Some old proverbs reflect a culture that no longer exists

Let the cobbler stick to his last. New proverbs appear instead

Garbage in, garbage out, a proverb created due to our

computerised time..

Old proverbs are also used as so called anti-proverbs today

Nobody is perfect, is changed to No body is perfect

Top 10 proverbs from print media ( 1975-2000)

Enough is enoughTime will tellFirst come, first servedForgive and forgetTime is moneyHistory repeats itselfTime fliesBetter late than neverOut of sight, out of mindBoys will be boys

Many proverbs also contain metaphors.

e.g. A watched pot never boilsProverbs often have multiple meanings and are therefore dependent on context.

STYLISTIC FEATURES OF PROVERBS Phonetic Practice makes perfect. - alliterationA little pot is soon hot. - rhymeSemantic and structural More haste , less speed -ellipsis Easy come, easy go.- parallelism The longest way around is the shortest way home.

– paradoxAll is fair on love and war- hyperboleHunger is the best cook -personification

NON-METAPHORICAL PROVERBS

Honesty is the best policy

Phonetics

Nothing seek, nothing find.

Не that will thrive, must rise at five.

What is worth doing is worth doing well

Modals

All men can't be first. Beggar can never be bankrupt. Fair face may hide a foul heart. Cracked bell can never sound well.

Activities with proverbs to be used in class:

MATCH THE PROVERB WITH ITS MEANING

A rolling stone gathers no moss. fiend in need is a friend i A friend in need is a friend indeed. Empty vessels make the most noise.Good walls make good neighbours.As you make your bed so must you lie on it.

1. You must accept the consequences of your act.2. Your relationship with your neighbours depends, among other

things, on respecting one another's privacy. 3. Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the

most and make the greatest fuss4. A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.5. A person who never settles in one place or who often changes

his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done. A

Divide one long word composed of words in a proverb

Myhouseismycastle.

Dontjudgeabookbyitscover.

Helaughsbestwholaughslast.

Complete the proverbs by matching the columns

Fill in the blanks with the options given in the brackets.

All cats are _______ in the dark. (Black, blue, grey, green)

A bad workman always blames his ______. (shoes, tools, bosses)

Unscramble these proverbs

A HTICTS IN MITE VASES NEIN HETRE SI ON KOSME OTIWHTU RIFE

Guess the proverb using the given initials

Example: R. wasn't B. in a day. Answer: Rome wasn't Built in a day.

B. late than N.D. count your C. before they are H. L. before you L.

Complete the following proverbs

All's well that All that glitters The early birdWhere there is a willEvery cloudA bird in handDon`t judge a book

List proverbs that you live your life by

e.g. Handsome is what hansdome does

ROLE-PLAY THE PROVERB TO EXPLAIN ITS MEANING

You cannot eat your cake and have it.Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.An apple a day keeps the doctor away. As you make your bed so you must lie on it.The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.

MIME THE PROVERB SO THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL GUESS IT

When in Rome do as the Romans do.Bad news travels fast.There is no place like home.All roads lead to Rome.Time is money.A friend in need is a friend indeed.Money is the root of all evil.

DRAW THE PROVERB SO THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL

GUESS IT

Thank you for your attention!!!!