Nina Sun. 06/09/13

AmericanIdioms

Learn

Designed for GSL 520, CALL. Saint Michael’s College

Zhongyi SunComputer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)Saint Michael’s CollegeSummer 2013

Image source: Chinese food delivery

Image source: Deposit photos

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Dialogue

Susan: How is the food?

Jeff: Hum…

Susan: This is my first

cooking experiment.

Jeff: What?

So I’m your guinea pig.

Image and audio source : YouTube: A guinea pig

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Image source: YouTube

Hum, Wait!

Image source: Ruth Catchen

I’m your guinea pig???

Meaning: (Click the mouse to show the meaning)

Someone who is used as an experiment.

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Idioms are phrases: • which people use in everyday language • and which do not make sense literally

• but we understand what they mean.

Let ‘s discover more!

IdiomsWhat is that?

Image source: Northwoods Woman

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

A very studious and academic person.

Image source: American Anthony (food)

1. Egg head (Click the mouse to show the meaning)

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

An influential person

Image source: American Anthony (food)

2. Big cheese (Click the mouse to show the meaning)

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Mischievous or deceitful behavior

Image source: American Anthony (animal)

3. Monkey business (Click the mouse to show the meaning)

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

An exhausting and repetitive routine.

Image source: American Anthony (animal)

4. Rat race (Click the mouse to show the meaning)

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

It is your turn to

guess the meaning of idioms.

Image source: Thewizoffodd

Instruction

If you don't know

them already, take a

guess at their meanings

and then check to see

how close you were.

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Cat Burglar

A thief who climbs into buildings.Top dog

The most important person in a group

Cash cow

A dependable source of income.Road hog

A dangerous driver.

Image source: American Anthony (animal)

Exercise 1 Match the idioms in Column A with their translations in Column B.

* Click the mouse to get the answers

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Which one do you think is the best answer?

A. Bad apple.

B. Top banana.

C. Tough cookie.

D. Couch potato.

• Andy is a lazy person who always watches TV.

__________________

• Nick is a very determined person.

__________________

• Heidi is the chief person in a group.

__________________

• Nina is a troublemaker.

__________________Image source: American Anthony (food)

Exercise 2 Guess and fill in the blanks.

* Click the mouse to get the answers

* Click the mouse to get the answers

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

What we have learned in this class?1. Idioms are_____________________________________

_________________________________________________

2. American idioms

Animal Idioms Food Idioms

Guinea pig Egghead

Monkey business Big cheese

Rat race Bad apple

Cat burglar Top banana

Top dog Tough cookie

Cash cow Couch potato

Image source: Nairaland Forum

3.Follow-up activities from Idioms—free games and activities

phrase which people use in everyday language and

which do not make sense literally but we understand what they mean.

Nina Sun. 06/09/13

American Idioms. Designed for GSL 520

Image source: The olive Tree

Enjoy Animal idioms song from YouTube (click

here)

The End

Thanks to:

1. American Anthony.org

2. YouTube: A guinea pig

3. YouTube: Animal idioms song

4. CALL, GSL 520

5. All classmates