Dublin Core
Title
Taking the Bull by the Horns: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach to Teaching Idioms
Abstract
During the course of their English language studies, many students are asked to learn various kinds of idiomatic expressions in English, ranging from phrasal verbs to idioms. While learners may be able to memorize the standard meanings of such phrases, they frequently lack the contextual knowledge in order to use them appropriately. This presentation will describe a series of classroom activities conducted with 20 first-year English language students at the University of Tuzla in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The activities are designed based on cognitive theory of metaphor and metonymy (Lakoff and Johnson 1980, Kövecses 2002, Radden & Kövecses 1999) and are intended to bridge the gap between learners’ understanding of meaning and usage of idioms. Specifically, these activities will encourage learners to hone their fluency via appropriate use of idioms while also suggesting ways for instructors to devise assessment mechanisms for appropriate use of these phenomena. The benefits of linking cognitive linguistic theory to meaning-focused classroom approaches and materials design will also be discussed.
Keywords
Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed
PeerReviewed
Date
2012
Extent
982