To get to know a language properly, you need to understand that language’s use of idioms! Hmmm. Are you confused? – let me explain.

An Idiom – which means ‘Special Phrasing’ in Greek – is an expression that contains a figurative meaning but is unusual grammatically – an example is ‘Breaking the Ice’. The literal definition does not communicate any meaning.

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The individual words that form the idiom do not convey the same meaning when they are used together as an idiom.

Idioms are present in almost all languages but they become meaningless when translated from the one language to another. As a result a person who does not know the idiom and only understands the meaning of the different individual words will easily become confused. This is supported by the fact that any non-native to the language will not be able to understand the idioms used.

Why are idioms Important?

Idioms are a part of daily speech and used to convey a meaning quickly and are often easy to use and learn.  You must learn, however, the group of words that form an idiom and recognise idioms when you hear them or read them. You must do this in order to use them in a context that conveys the underlying meaning that you wish to communicate. They should be used carefully in a way that they add flavour to your writing and speech; using too much, however, will result in diverting from the original meaning that it was intended for. There are often context clues in the idioms that suggest the hidden meanings.

Some popular idioms used English language and their meanings

A fool and his money are soon parted - This means that people who aren’t careful with their money spend it quickly.

A pretty penny – Meaning to say that something is very expensive.

Ace up your sleeve – An ace up your sleeve is something that gives you an advantage that other people aren’t aware of.

Call a spade a spade - A person who calls a spade a spade is one who speaks frankly and does not conceal opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.

Carrot and stick – If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined with the threat of punishment.

Make a killing – If you make a killing, then you are about to make a lot of money.

Make a mountain out of a molehill – If somebody makes a mountain out of a molehill, they exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a problem.

Safe pair of hands – A person who can be trusted to do something without causing any trouble is a safe pair of hands.

Salad days – The happy days in your life are referred to as the salad days.

Uncharted waters – If you are in a situation where you have no prior experience then you are in unchartered waters.

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Online Resources

There are some fantastic resources on the internet that offer a comprehensive list of idioms in the English language along with their usage and meanings. Listed below are some of the best online resources.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

http://www.english-zone.com/idioms/idioms.php

http://www.idiomconnection.com/

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/

http://www.idiomsite.com/

That’s all for this post. Make sure that in your spoken English development you check out the links above. Getting to know the English idioms will take you one step closer!

Take Care – Poppy

It’s a system that I have developed over recent years which is effective in getting you, the student, to understand and speak English quickly and with confidence. To take part in an English conversation it is important that you are able to respond quickly to what is being said. To do this effectively means that you must have a broad range of phrases available at hand and you must be able to think in English. This is how to create spoken English fluency – to think in English. This does not happen overnight, but using some special techniques, it is possible to do this quicker than you may think.

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So let’s take a look at Quickfire!

Quickfire! way to spoken English fluency

What’s Quickfire? Simple – it’s a unique technique for developing spoken English fluency, by doing the following:

1. You listen to a short conversation;
2. You need to understand what is being said; and
3. Then you quickly answer some questions in English.

Why does this technique work?

Due to the intense focus required during these exercises, you have no option – to answer the questions quickly and correctly, you have no time to revert to your natural language. You have to think in English. These exercises are a lot of fun and can be repeated again and again so that you are able to learn new phrases as well get you to adapt to thinking in your new language.

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Oh and by the way, our experience shows that you will enjoy Quickfire – our students love these exercises.

So the obvious question you now have is, “How do I find out more?”

Please go to the home of spoken English and register as a Guest for FREE by completing a simple form. Once you have logged in, click on the ‘e-learning tools’ link. Not only will this give you access to our Quickfire exercises, but you will also receive unrestricted FREE access to our complete e-learning package for a limited period.

Any questions? Please don’t forget to leave a comment.

Take care, Poppy

Today I’m going to share with you some thoughts regarding what it takes to be successful in learning a new skill. This can apply to anything, but here my focus is spoken English training of course! Three things quickly come to mind:

1. Mindset.
2. Training material.
3. Training methods.

If any one of these elements is missing, you are going to struggle.  I know I have – many times over! In one of my earlier posts, I explained to you my story of how I eventually managed to learn spoken English fluently. Looking back on the struggles I had, I can now understand the reasons for my ‘failed attempts’ – either poor mindset, inappropriate training methods or poor quality training materials. All three areas need to be in place for success.

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It took me many years, and much frustration before I realised what was required. Let me explain each element separately:

1. Mindset. “I have paid for the course, all I need to now to do now is turn up. It’s going to be easy!” Has this happened to you? It has to me. It’s completely the wrong approach. Before starting any course, you must plan appropriately – is this course right for me? what are my objectives of the course? how will I fit the training into my schedule? There are so many similar questions like these that you need to answer. You also need to be disciplined in your approach and have the ability to focus and not get distracted. And let’s not forget perseverence – without the inner strength to push yourself hard when things may be getting a little tough, you may just give up. I found out the hard way. Don’t let this happen to you.
2. Training Material. Good quality and proven training materials are a must. Before purchasing any course, make sure you do the appropriate research. Speak to previous students of the course or go to the institute if it is classroom-based training. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the product and that by applying the right mindset and using the right training methods, it will deliver on your course objectives. Oh, I have been disappointed so many times with this! The only person I can blame is – ME. I have been ‘got’ by flashy advertising campaigns. Just make sure that before you invest your time and money that you are going to receive a great quality product that provides real value and is positioned at the correct level for your abilities.
3. Training methods. This is so so important. I cannot emphasise this enough, especially when it comes to spoken English training. Their are 4 different ways to be exposed to a language - writing, reading, speaking and listening. Now it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know which methods are important when applied to spoken English training – yes, listening and speaking. Therefore, make sure that when you select your spoken English training course that both of these elements (combined with lots of interactive practice) are the cornerstone of the training. Don’t do what I did and sit through lecture after lecture from a very dull English teacher – with the students just taking notes and reading books. This is not a great way to become fluent at spoken English.

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Hey, I hope you are still reading this. Just remember to consider each of these elements as part of your purchase criteria.

You have worked hard to be able to make the investment – make the right decisions, and get ready to learn spoken English.

Have fun! Popppy.