Luận Văn A study on techniques to learn English idioms and proverbs

Khóa luận tốt nghiệp
Đề tài: A study on techniques to learn English idioms and proverbs


TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
1. Rationale . 1
2. Aims of the study 2
3. Methods of the study . 2
4. Scope of the study . 3
5. Design of the study . 3
PART TWO: DEVELOPMENT . 4
CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND . 4
1. An overview on idioms and proverbs 4
1.1. What is idiom? . 4
1.2. What is proverb? 7
2. The characteristics of English idioms and proverbs 9
2.1. The characteristics of English idioms 9
2.2. The characteristics of English proverbs . 12
3. The influence of British culture on their idioms and proverbs 13
3.1. The influence caused by geographical conditions . 13
3.2. The influence caused by weather 14
3.3. The influence caused by history 15
3.4. The influence caused by religious beliefs . 16
3.5. The influence caused by literature . 17
3.6. The influence caused by social fashions 18
3.7. The influence caused by food and drinks customs 19
3.8. The influence caused by pets . 20
CHAPTER II: THE STUDY ON TECHNIQUES TO LEARN ENGLISH
IDIOMS AND PROVERBS . 22
1. Studying English idioms and proverbs basing on thematic categories . 22
2. Practising on English - Vietnamese idiomatic expression translation . 37
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3. Studying English idioms and proverbs through their origins 39
4. Studying English idioms and proverbs through pictures, songs, games,
etc. 45
CHAPTER III: IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY 70
1. Some problems when learning English idioms and proverbs of
Vietnamese people . 70
2. Suggested solutions to learn English idioms and proverbs well . 73
PART THREE: CONCLUSION . 79
REFERENCES 80
APPENDIX . 82


PART I: INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
Nowadays, English is considered the global language and used in every field
of our life. English is the first criteria concerned when we want to apply for a
good job. The development of the whole society requires us not only to know
English but also to reach a high level satisfying the high requirements of the
job we want to apply for. Therefore, the need of studying this language today
is higher and higher.
Apart from improving four skills including Listening, Speaking, Reading and
Writing, it will be a big shortcoming when studying a foreign language
without taking notice of the treasure of idioms and proverbs of the country
where it was born. Studying and applying creatively English idioms and
proverbs help students reach the flexibility in using this language and the
creativity of simple but vivid sentences in daily speech. Moreover, this
treasure can bring us the approach of other cultures. That is the quintessence
of the linguistic treasure, the efficient tool for human‟s thought and affection
exchange.
The diversity of English idioms and proverbs may make students confused at
first. Thus, it is really important to have effective studying methods and I
decided to choose a study on techniques to learn English idioms and proverbs
as my final report.
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2. Aims of the study
English idioms and proverbs are a fantastic treasure to discover for the
benefits it brings. And my study aims at the following concrete targets:
 Enriching the English idioms and proverbs for students to learn this
language.
 Assisting students to express thoughts and affection accurately,
polishedly, concisely and vividly.
 Helping students to approach to British culture, customs and traditions
and have a deeper look at our own culture, country and people as well.
 Giving some suggested advices and specific exercises.
3. Methods of the study
In order to finish my graduation paper, I try with my best effort to search the
necessary documents in reference books or from websites on the Internet. I
selected valuable information relating to my study after carefully reading
those references.
I also applied my knowledge and experiences achieved during the process of
studying at Haiphong Private University.
Especially, I received lots of useful advices from my supervisor and my
friends as well.
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4. Scope of the study
Idioms and proverbs can be seen in every situation when we learn English.
They make our daily speech become more natural, vivid and attractive.
Except from developing the necessary skills, idioms and proverbs can bring
us a better feel for this language and British culture as well.
5. Design of the study
This paper consists of three parts:
PART I: INTRODUCTION - shows the rationale, aims, methods, scope and
design of the study.
PART II: DEVELOPMENT (the main part of the study) is divided into three
chapters:
Chapter I: Theoretical background – provides an overview on English idioms
and proverbs, their features and the influence of British culture on their
idioms and proverbs.
Chapter II: The study on techniques to learn English idioms and proverbs
Chapter III: Implication - Some problems when learning English idioms and
proverbs of Vietnamese people and suggested solutions to learn well
PART III: CONCLUSION – The references and specific exercises.
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PART II: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1. An overview on idioms and proverbs
1.1. What is idiom?
What is an idiom?
Dubrovin (1995) defines "idiom" to be a set of phraseological units which
meaning does not result from the meaning of its components.
The definition by Dean Curry (1994) is “the assigning of a new meaning to a
group of words which already have their own meaning”.
Moon (1998) says that idioms are typically institutionalized, lexicogrammatically fixed and non-compositional expressions.
Collins (2000) defines idioms as a group of words, which have a different
meaning when used together from the one it would have if the meaning of
each word were taken individually and that are usually employed in everyday
language to precisely express ideas and concepts that can not be compressed
into a single word.
(http://www.languageinindia.com/june2009/urduidioms.pdf)
According to Irujo (1986), “An idiom is a conventionalized expression whose
meaning cannot be determined from the meaning of its parts” and “Idioms