Pigs Might Fly?

Katarzyna Wiącek and Katarzyna Łaziuk, Poland

Katarzyna Wiącek is a teacher at Zespół Szkół Ekonomicznych in Mińsk Mazowiecki, Poland. Her current interests include student motivation, exam preparation and literature (both for using in the classroom and reading for pleasure). E-mail: k.wiacek@zsemm.edu.pl

Katarzyna Łaziuk is a teacher at Gimnazjum i Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Mińsk Mazowiecki, Poland. Her current interests include teaching tolerance, critical thinking. She hopes to instill open-mindedness in her students. E-mail: kasia.laziuk@gmail.com

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Introduction
Procedure
Activities
Key

Introduction

Time: 45min. Level: B2 Methods and techniques: pair work, guessing from context, drama, vocabulary practice, speaking Materials: worksheet with vocabulary exercises, dictionaries Aims:

• to make students familiar with ten popular idioms
• to provide controlled and free practice on idioms
• to make SS realize when they can use the idioms
• to practise speaking

Procedure

1. SS work in pairs. Each pair receives an idiom, SS have to check the meaning of the idiom and then prepare a visual representation of an idiom (it could be a short sketch to show the meaning of the idiom and/or draw a picture to make it easier to guess what the idiom is). They cannot say or write the idiom. Each pair presents their sketch and/or picture, other SS try to guess what idiom it is and what it means. If students have difficulty to guess the correct expression, T may provide them with a list of idioms to choose from. The answers could be checked after five pairs of SS not to confuse them.

   see eye to eye pigs might fly butterflies in my stomach get sth off your chest look for a needle in a haystack

   cost an arm and a leg feel a bit under the weather every cloud has a silver lining a piece of cake hit the books

2. SS receive sentences and complete them with one of the idioms.
3. SS walk around the classroom and answer T’s questions. After two questions they change the pair.
   When was the last time you felt butterflies in your stomach? Why?
   What school subject is a piece of cake for you? Why?
   What school subject is definitely not a piece of cake for you? Why?
   In what situations do you hit the books?
   When was the last time you felt a bit under the weather?
   What things cost an arm and a leg? Give as many ideas as possible.
   Do you think it’s a good idea to buy something which costs an arm and a leg?
   Who do you see eye to eye with? Why?
   Who don’t you see eye to eye with? Why?
   When was the last time you felt as if you were looking for a needle in a haystack?
4. T sets homework, SS can choose one of following tasks.
   1. SS choose five idioms and write a logical story with them of maximum 10 sentences.
   2. SS write a short story (two, three sentences) that could be described with one of the discussed idioms. During the next lesson some SS read out their story and the other SS try to guess the idiom.

Activities

Complete the sentences with one of the idioms discussed during the lesson.

1. You’d better …………………………………… before the exam if you want to pass it.
2. I got caught in the rain yesterday and today I’m ……………………………………….. .
3. My wife was angry at me when I purchased my new golf clubs. I know they ………………………………………………., but they are perfect for playing.
4. When I was a youngster I ……………………………. with my parents. It changed when I became an adult and saw how difficult it is to raise children.
5. Oh, come on. …………………………………….. . It’s better to reveal the secret than to keep it and deal with it alone.
6. Jane always ………………………………………….. before a date. She’s so excited that this man might finally be Mr Right.
7. - Mom, I promise I’ll clean my room tomorrow. And I’ll help you in the garden too.
   - Yes, yes. …………………………………………… .
8. The English exam was ……………………………………, it took me just 40 minutes to do all the exercises. I’m almost sure I’ll get an A.

Key

1. You’d better hit the books before the exam if you want to pass it.
2. I got caught in the rain yesterday and today I’m feeling a bit under the weather.
3. My wife was angry at me when I purchased my new golf clubs. I know they cost an arm and a leg, but they are perfect for playing.
4. When I was a youngster I didn’t see eye to eye with my parents. It changed when I became an adult and saw how difficult it is to raise children.
5. Oh, come on. Get it off your chest. It’s better to reveal the secret than to keep it and deal with it alone.
6. Jane always feels butterflies in her stomach before a date. She’s so excited that this man might finally be Mr Right.
7. Mom, I promise I’ll clean my room tomorrow. And I’ll help you in the garden too. Yes, yes. I know and pigs might fly.
8. The English exam was a piece of cake, it took me just 40 minutes to do all the exercises. I’m almost sure I’ll get an A.

Please check the Methodology & Language for Secondary Teachers course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Teaching Advanced Students course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the English Language Improvement for Teachers course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the English Language Improvement for Adults course at Pilgrims website.