FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE FOR ALL ESL CLASSES

What is Figurative Language?

ž  language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal meaning

ž  Literal: fact

¡  Ex.: It is raining two inches per hour.

ž  Figurative: not a fact

¡  Ex.: It’s raining cats and dogs.

ž  uses exaggerations

ž  very common in poetry, non-fictional stories, and every day American conversations

Literary Devices Used in FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

Simile: A simile is a comparison that often uses the words like or as.

ž  Example: Jamie runs as fast as the wind.

¡  She is as beautiful as a flower.

¡  He is hungry like a lion.

¡  The stars shine like diamonds.

¡  The stars are as shiny as diamonds.

Metaphor: A metaphor is a comparison made between things that are not the same

ž  similar to a simile, but does not use like or as

¡  Example: Nobody invites Carlos to parties because he is a wet blanket.

¡  Her eyes are stars in the night.

¡  I am a prisoner of the English language.

Personification:  When something that is not human is given human-like qualities, this is known as personification

¡  Example: The leaves danced in the wind on the cold October afternoon.

¡  The cell phone died, it does not work.

¡  My computer is crazy, it lost my file.

Hyperbole: Exaggerating, often in a humorous way, to make a particular point

¡  Example: I ate like a pig.

¡  I've told you a million times don't exaggerate.

¡  If I don't get these jeans, I will DIE!

¡  Maybe I'll do it in a million years.

¡  I was so embarrassed, I thought I might die.

¡  I am so tired I could sleep for a year.

Onomatopoeia: Words spelled they way they sound & shows an action

¡  Example: The bees buzz angrily when their hive is disturbed.

¡  He banged on the drum.

¡  The phone beeped in class.

¡  The cat meowed at the dog.

Idiom

ž  Cultural sayings

ž  http://www.englishdaily626.com/idioms.php

ž  http://www.sky-net-eye.com/eng/english/idioms/american

ž  http://www.rong-chang.com/idioms.htm

Homophone

ž  Words that sound the same but have different meanings

ž  http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/homophones.htm

Homographs

ž  Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings

ž  http://www.dailywritingtips.com/homograph-examples/

ž  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_homographs

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES:

ž  Similes: http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/simile/page2.html

ž  Homographs: http://a4esl.org/q/h/lb/homof.html

ž  Homographs: http://a4esl.org/q/h/lb/homop.html

ž  Idioms: http://a4esl.org/q/h/idioms.html

ž  Homophones: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/quiz/homophones.html

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE GAMES:

ž  *FLING A TEACHER (most popular game): http://www.newton.k12.ks.us/tech/fling3.html

ž  Hang-man Figure of Speech: http://www.quia.com/hm/80390.html

ž  Homographs / 2 players can play: http://www.quia.com/cb/8285.html

ž  Idioms / Answer correctly to creat a piece of art: http://www.funbrain.com/idioms/

ž  A Variety of Games: http://www.vocabulary.co.il/homophones/

TRANSITIONAL WORDS

What are transitions and how are they used?

• transitions are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next
• transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next
• transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or even within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas
• different transitions do different things....

Transitional Words List:

http://jc-schools.net/write/transition.htm

http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr6.htm

Transitional Words Power Point and explanation:

http://jc-schools.net/write/transitions_files/frame.htm

Transitional Words Games & Quizzes:

Games: http://www.studygs.net/trans/wrtstr6a.htm

Quiz: http://jc-schools.net/write/trans-quiz_files/frame.htm

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not just a day to eat turkey, watch sports, and sleep all day.  Thanksgiving was started by the immigrant experience!  Watch the videos and read a story to answer the questions to learn about Thanksgiving:

Click on:

WATCH AND LISTEN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFDSobNnfQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2yeQs8gXo0&feature=related

READ: 

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/thanksgiving/short-stories/the-first-thanksgiving.html

Answer the following:

1.      Why did the English people(Pilgrims) go to America?

2.      What was the name of the ship the Pilgrims used to come to America?

3.      Who originally lived in America before the Pilgrims came?

4.      Why did the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag (Indians) celebrate thanksgiving?

5.      How are the Pilgrims similar to the immigrants of today?

6.      What are some American Thanksgiving traditions?

7.      What does the word THANKSGIVING mean?

8.      Does your family celebrate thanksgiving? If no, why?  If yes, why?  Explain your answer.

All questions are to be answered using complete sentences.  Make sure to place your answers in the homework box for credit! All work is due on Wednesday Nov. 24, 2010!

LEARN MORE AT:

THE REAL THANKSGIVING

http://www.plimoth.org/education/olc/intro.html 

ESL 2: Verbs

Use the following sites to practice using verbs:

Action Verbs:
http://www.quia.com/quiz/799985.html

Linking Verbs:
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/linking_verbs/quiz522.html

Helping Verbs:
http://www.quia.com/rr/121293.html

http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/helping_verbs/quiz520.html

Linking & Action Verbs:
http://www.quia.com/quiz/424609.html
 
http://www.quia.com/quiz/653873.html