[esllou]

I have used this for conversation classes. Students will talk about proverbs in their own language and it's a good discussion starter.

[vanchisel]

I was so used to using proverbs in Jamaica. But since coming here to America I became disappointed that every day folks don't seems to care about incorporating proverbs in their conversations.

[vanchisel]

Oh, by the way, "Absense makes the heart go fonder"........for somebody else.

[Eric]

Quote esllou

I have used this for conversation classes. Students will talk about proverbs in their own language and it's a good discussion starter.

great list, esllou! thanks!

Quote vanchisel

Oh, by the way, "Absense makes the heart go fonder"........for somebody else.

what do you mean?

[English-coach]

What a great exercise. I am starting to realize that proverbs are more useful and interesting that I though. Hmmm... interesting.

[Eric18]

Solid introduction to proverbs, and their flexibility. The beauty of proverbs is that they often make absolute claims, but are only appropriate to particular conditions.

I often use proverbs to introduce the idea of "hedging" language in writing classes. First, I ask students to write down five proverbs, sayings, or advertising slogans. (People know many more proverbs than they recognize, but seldom identify them as proverbs). Then we go back and make them more accurate by adding conditions, noting sources, and frequency adverbs. "The early bird gets the worm" becomes "According to a popular folktale, the early bird gets the worm" or "Sometimes the early bird gets the worm."

Studying proverbs, especially ones that contradict, can be a very powerful teaching tool.