Today I would like to talk about a very common every day phrases we use even without thinking, colourful, often metaphorical and truly insightful expressions which are rather concise but at the same time full of wisdom. For example, I often say - You can't make an omelette without breaking the eggs or A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. As you might have guessed I want to share a few thoughts about proverbs, which are really wise, laconic, fixed sayings that basically teach or guide us through our life as well as remind us about the values and moral choices.
Honesty is the best policy, right?
But first things first. Let's begin with the definion. This one comes from Longman Online Dictionary:
prov‧erb /ˈprɒvɜːb $ ˈprɑːvɜːrb/ ●●○ noun [countable]
This idea of being an invisible guide sounds very familiar. So I believe that the first proverbs were parents' phrases for their kids, somewhat masked preaching or hidden schooling. Learn to walk before you run or Always put your best foot forward. But kids rebel. So parents had to find a way out - teach them without actually teaching. Where is a will, there is a way. They came up with proverbs which took some reponsibility from parents's shoulders and were perceived as fixed expressions that came from the ancestors. In this regard proverbs function like fairy-tales (I will write my thoughts about them later). They absorb the wise idea and are viewed as a general piece of advice but not parents' moralization. Kids remember them, repeat, pass on to the next generation and so they thrive. When in Rome, do as Romans do.
Every culture has various sayings almost about any life situtations that often come true and are based on the common knowledge or mentality of the specific area and its people. Every now and then you'll find similar concepts within various ethnic groups that might only prove that when, for instance, we observe nature we may find certain consistent patterns that tend to repeat and thus get accumulated into the language wiring.
Some proverbs appear travel from language to language and can be found in different cultures, for example: Strike the iron while it's hot or Better late than never or Rome wasn't built in a day.
Naturally, proverbs come in handy when teaching English. As a lead-in to activate students schemata
or to initiate the discussion,
as a phonetc exercise to practice certain sounds
as a summary of the story you've just read or listened to,
as a topic of debate and what not.
VERSUS
Some proverbs turned into memes and a different ending has been created. Check this one out:
There is often a story behind the proverb - you can investigate it together with your students, if applicable, which eventually might turn into a project. So this post is just a tip of the iceberg - as there plenty more ways how you can include proverbs into your teaching.
If you happen to have your favourite proverb - you are more than welcome to share in the comment section below! The more we share, the more we have.
Images curtesy of:
1) https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-board-print/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-by-sevella-joy/25667310.7Q6GI
2) https://therooseveltreview.org/24986/op-ed/can-we-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/
3) https://www.e-motivation.net/birds-of-the-same-feather-flock-together/
4) https://www.amazon.in/Its-Crying-Over-Spilt-Milk/dp/9814765422
5) https://ru.pinterest.com/pin/555561304026388688/
6) https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-a-motivational-vector-24050964
7) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9369660-the-early-bird-catches-the-worm-but-the-second-mouse-gets-the-cheese
