9 TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU MASTER ENGLISH IDIOMS

Today, I'm going to teach you nine techniques that will help

you master English idioms.

Are you ready?

Well, then I'm teacher Tiffani.

Let's jump right in technique.

Number one, contextual learning.

Now, this technique involves studying idioms within real life situations,

using authentic materials, like books, movies, and podcasts.

Learning idioms can be very tricky at times, but when you learn them in

real situations, it will help you not only understand them, but start to use

them Faster, for example, let's say you learned this idiom on cloud nine.

Now just saying that idiom, it sounds like, okay, there are nine clouds in

the sky and you're sitting on a cloud.

But if I told you this real life situation yesterday, oh my gosh, my

mom, she can cook true story, she made this amazing banana nut bread.

And as it came out of the oven, oh my gosh, everything inside of me was excited.

I was on cloud nine because I knew I was about to eat the best

piece of banana nut bread ever.

You see how that changed, right?

Yeah.

I told you my story, a real life situation.

And I said, I was on cloud nine as I watched the banana nut bread come out of

the oven on cloud nine, just to means, just means to be extremely happy when

you learn the idiom based on a real life situation, you'll remember it.

So here are three reasons why this technique is so powerful.

Reason number one.

It helps you understand how idioms are actually used in everyday language.

Just like with my story, I said, ah, as I watched the banana nut bread

coming out of the oven, I was on cloud nine and you saw my facial expression,

if you're watching this lesson.

Change, a big smile came on my face.

You're able to see how the idioms are used in everyday language.

Reason number two, you'll pick up on the nuances and cultural

context surrounding each idiom.

Ah, teacher Tiffani really likes banana nut bread.

True story.

And she really likes her mother's cooking.

True story.

And she was very excited about this banana nut bread.

And I watched her body language change.

These things help you because you're learning in context and reason number

three, it makes learning more engaging and memorable when you encounter

idioms in relatable situations.

Just like I said, I love banana nut bread.

I'm sure there's something you love, something your mother made

as you were growing up, or maybe even makes for you right now.

And when she makes it, Ooh, you just get excited.

You would get elated.

You are on cloud nine.

You got that, right?

Yes.

All right.

So again, technique number one is contextual learning, learning the idioms

in context, based on real life situations.

And Technique number two, chunking.

Yeah, you heard me right chunking.

Now I said, I loved.

Technique number one, but I also love this technique.

Now, let me explain what chunking actually is.

So chunking is the practice of grouping related terms or concepts

together for easier memorization.

Again, grouping things together.

So that you can remember them later.

Did you notice earlier when I was giving you my experience about my mom making

banana nut bread, and I said, I was on cloud nine, I also said, I felt elated.

I was elated.

Elated is a word that I teach students in my Academy, the speak English with Tiffani

Academy, and it means extremely happy.

Well, on cloud nine also means extremely happy.

So now we have an idiom and a vocabulary word.

What's going to happen now, next time, when you are excited or very happy,

both of these terms will pop in your head, the idiom and the vocabulary word.

This is called chunking, relating terms together and learning them together.

So here are three reasons why this technique is so powerful.

First, it reduces cognitive load, making it easier for you to

remember multiple idioms at once.

When you are thinking about, Hey, happiness, how can I describe happiness?

If you have multiple idioms that you learn at the same time, chunking, it

will be easier for you to remember and it won't take too much mental strain.

Here's the second reason why this is so powerful.

You'll start recognizing patterns in idioms, which will aid in understanding

and recall your brain is amazing.

Yes, you, my friend, your brain is absolutely amazing and it

can do more than you realize.

So when you learn by chunking the idioms together, which have

similar meanings, your brain starts trying to make connections.

To help you remember them in the future.

And reason number three, it's a time efficient way to expand your

idiomatic vocabulary quickly.

When you learn by chunking, you're cutting down your study time, but increasing your

efficiency and also improving your memory.

This is a powerful technique.

So again, technique number two is.

Now I mentioned a few moments ago that I teach this to my students in my academy.

So if you want to join me, you can get 365 daily English lessons.

That's right for the entire year.

I've organized everything for you by going to 365 or 365 English or dayenglishplan.

com one more time.

365dayenglishplan.

com and you can enroll in my course and have an entire plan for the year.

All right.

Okay.

Let's keep going.

Here is the next technique, technique number three.

Spaced repetition, again, spaced repetition.

Now this involves reviewing new terms at increasing intervals to reinforce memory.

For example, let's say today you are going to learn.

Six new idioms, right?

You have six new idioms.

Now, tomorrow you can review idioms one and two.

Then the next day you can review idioms three and four.

Then the next day you can review idioms one, five, six.

You can determine which ones you're going to review, but there needs to be.

Repetition and space in between.

So you don't have to practice each one every day, but find a system that works.

Why is this so powerful?

Here are three reasons why spaced repetition will help you learn idioms.

First, it helps move idioms from your short term to your long term memory.

Your short term says, okay, we're learning this today and maybe

we only need it for 24 hours.

But the moment you go back to that idiom, go back to that place in your

notebook, your brain says, Oh, this is more important than we realized.

We need to store this information in our long term memory.

Reason number two, you'll retain idioms for longer periods, reducing

the need for constant revision.

And reason number three, it's an efficient way to learn as you focus

more on idioms, you find challenging.

You're going to improve because you're going to learn idioms

that will become easy to you.

And then you'll learn the newer idioms that are hard, but you'll connect them

to the other ones you've already learned.

So again, technique number three, spaced repetition technique number

four, again, to master and learn.

English idioms using visual aids.

I love visual aids.

We're human beings.

We're constantly looking at things unless you might be blind.

And I have some students that are blind.

So if you are blind.

This won't work for you, but you might enjoy the audio aspect, right?

Finding different sounds to connect to the idioms you're learning.

But for those that are able to see visual aids can help you immensely.

Now, visual aids using them means representing idioms.

Through images or mind maps.

Think about it like this.

At the very beginning of this lesson, I described the situation

where a mom made banana nut bread.

So I could find a picture of either my mom cooking or of banana nut bread.

And whenever I see it, I say, ah, on cloud nine.

Why?

Because banana nut bread makes me happy.

It makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine.

That's a visual aid.

It's now a trigger to my brain.

Ah, that makes you happy.

You're on cloud nine.

Makes sense.

Right?

Excellent.

Here are three reasons why this is such a powerful technique.

Reason number one.

It caters to visual learning styles, making idioms more memorable for you.

You'll remember them like, ah, yes, I remember that I'm connecting

it to a situation or an event.

Reason number two, you'll create strong mental associations

between the idiom and its meaning.

Again, you'll create these triggers, basically connecting your mind.

I have this image, this idiom.

Now, whenever I see this.

Image I think of the idiom.

Whenever I hear the idiom, I immediately think of the image.

Reason number three, it's a fun and creative way to

engage with language learning.

I used to use this technique when I was in South Korea and I realized

that the students were getting either a little bit tired or overwhelmed.

I would close the books.

I would say, Hey guys, close your books.

And I take out some pictures, I'd show some pictures on my computer and

we would use those to either create sentences, or I would use them to

describe different words or idioms.

It's very powerful.

So again, technique number four, visual aids.

Now, technique number five.

Technique number five is role playing.

Role playing.

Now for this one, it involves practicing new expressions or

idioms in simulated conversations.

So you can either.

Use chat GPT now that it's being very, uh, widely spread.

Now it's widely spread, right?

People are using it all over the world.

Create a conversation based on the idiom and practice it with your partner.

Or you can actually simply.

Come up with your own conversation using the idiom, which actually might work

better because it'll stick in your mind longer and then actually act it out.

Hey girl.

Hey, what's up?

I heard that your mom made some banana nut bread girl.

You heard right?

Yes, I was on cloud nine.

Again, role playing, right?

This is what you can do to improve your ability to understand

English idioms and master them.

Here's the first reason why this is so powerful.

It gives you practical experience using idioms in realistic scenarios.

Reason number two, you'll gain confidence in using idioms in actual conversations.

And reason number three, it helps you understand the appropriate context

and tone for using specific idioms.

Role playing is extremely powerful.

So again, technique number five, role playing technique, number six.

Journaling now, this is another one that I also think is powerful.

You see journaling means keeping a language journal to record

and reflect on new vocabulary.

I kept tons of journals when I was in South Korea, studying Korean.

And I have so many of those journals in my closet.

I'm actually going to get some of the journals I keep now.

Now, these journals are connected that you see, if you're watching the

video connected to the lessons I'm teaching you right now, actually, but

I have a journal based on the platform.

So I have one for Instagram, one for YouTube, one for

Tik TOK, one for my Academy.

Why?

Because journaling is a powerful way to not only document and remember,

But also track your progress.

Journaling is very, very powerful.

So here are three reasons why you should journal in order to master English idioms.

First, it provides a personal record of your learning journey,

showing your progress over time.

Actually, I want to show you a journal that I started.

When I first created this YouTube channel.

All right.

So this is one of my journals, literally from what year is this?

If you're watching it, you'll see, but I want to show you some of

the images in my journal, right?

Let's see if you can see this.

This is literally a journal I had when I was starting this YouTube

channel, I would draw out every frame to create the lessons.

So what has happened?

We've come on this journey.

I'm here today, but I have this why to look back at how far I've come.

Right.

So it's important for you on your journey to keep a journal and you'll

track your progress over time.

The second reason is you can revisit.

And review idioms easily, reinforcing your learning, reminding

yourself, ah, that's what it means.

This is powerful and reason number three, it encourages active engagement

with the language, improving retention.

You will retain the information more again, the power of a journal.

I cannot emphasize it enough.

That is why I have so many journals behind me for those watching

and so many in my office closet.

So again, technique number six, journaling.

What about technique number seven, technique number seven, teach others.

Again, teach others so powerful.

Now teach others.

This involves explaining new concepts to peers, to solidify understanding.

So let's say, for example, you have your journal, you wrote everything down.

You wrote down this new idiom that you learned.

And then you see, Oh, my friend, wait a minute.

Ah, should I teach him?

Should I tell him?

Yes.

Hey, John, guess what?

I learned this new idiom.

Can I teach it to you?

It's, it's called it.

Ah, where's it at again?

Uh, on cloud nine.

It just means really happy.

All of a sudden, the very fact that you taught John that idiom is

going to reinforce it in your mind and you will remember it later.

Three reasons why this is so powerful.

The first reason it forces you to fully understand the idiom in order to

explain it clearly to others, because what's going to happen as you're

explaining the idiom to John, Hey, John, yeah, the idiom, uh, on cloud nine.

John is going to say, oh, well, wait a minute.

Can I use it whenever I'm happy?

The only way you're going to be able to answer his questions is

if you understand it completely.

This is going to help you master English idioms.

Here's the second reason why this is so powerful.

You'll gain confidence in your knowledge as you share it with others.

This is something I love.

I love to help you build confidence in yourself.

And when you teach somebody else, you'll be more confident in your

ability to actually use the idiom.

Your shoulders will go back.

Your head will go up.

You'll be more confident.

The third reason it provides an opportunity for you to use the idiom

in a practical conversational setting.

Hey, John, I just want to talk to you real quick, man.

Let me help you understand this new idiom that I learned.

This is a powerful technique.

Again, teach others technique number eight technique.

Number eight is to.

Paraphrase it's the paraphrasing technique.

This means restating idioms in your own words to check your understanding.

We've been talking about being on cloud nine.

I mentioned, I love my mom's banana nut bread.

How can you rephrase on cloud nine?

I feel absolutely amazing.

I'm super happy at this moment.

Rephrasing the idiom to make sure you understand it.

Here's the first reason why this is so powerful.

Reason number one, it helps you internalize the meaning of the

idiom beyond just memorizing it.

Again, this helps you understand the meaning of the idiom

beyond just memorizing it.

Reason number two, you'll improve your overall language skills as you practice

expressing ideas in different ways, your English idioms and the English idioms,

you know, and your ability to use them.

That's not the only skill that's going to improve.

You're going to improve your English fluency as well.

And reason number three.

It's a great way for you to check.

If you truly understand the idioms, meaning and usage, listen, when you

paraphrase, you actually are letting yourself know, Hey, I really got this.

I really understand.

So again, technique number eight, paraphrasing technique, number nine,

word association, word association is another technique that you must

understand it involves linking new terms.

To familiar concepts or personal experiences is a

little similar to chunking.

However, this one is attached to real experiences, right?

So word association, I can say, for example, ah, on cloud nine.

Ah, okay.

I'm happy when I eat banana nut bread.

I feel really good when I eat Indian food, attaching it to an experience.

Why is this so important?

Here's the first reason it makes abstract idioms more

concrete and relatable for you.

Number two.

You'll create stronger neural connections, making recall easier.

Your brain is connecting that idiom to other things already in your brain.

And reason number three, it personalizes your learning experience,

making idioms more meaningful To you, this is a powerful technique.

Again, word association.

Now I hope you enjoyed this lesson and I hope these techniques

help you moving forward.

I will talk to you in the next lesson.

You still there?

You know what time it is.

It's story time.

Hey, I said it's story time.

All right.

So this is another story that I enjoy telling.

Because it proves that when you are around someone who happens to be your teacher,

that individual can switch things up really quickly and you might not know

what in the world they're talking about.

So this happened when I was in South Korea, I had a class,

they were, Upper intermediate.

They're about level four, uh, great students.

Their English was good and I had them for my 11 AM class.

So I was teaching them.

We had a great time in class.

They had done well and class was basically ending and I decided to walk out with

them because it was my lunchtime.

So we're walking in the hallway.

I'm talking with the students and I spoke regularly with them at a normal pace.

Um, and then as we got to the main entryway, I looked up and saw another

teacher, my homeboy, he didn't work at the same school that I worked at.

He worked quite far away.

So when I saw him, I was shocked and I ran up to him and I was like, yo, what's good.

And so, you know, we hugged and we started talking.

Now, remember my entire class had been walking with me.

So they were behind me.

Right.

So I'm talking to him and we're just, you know, reminiscing

and talking and catching up.

And I noticed that it got really quiet in the entryway.

Now, remember my entire class was behind me.

So I looked back and I was like, why are you guys so quiet?

Like what's going on?

And I saw this look of confusion on their faces and they said, Tiff.

What are you saying?

And I, I realized, oh my goodness, I had just code switched.

So what is code switching?

Code switching is normally when African Americans are black people, right?

We are able to go between different speaking styles.

I'll say that, right.

When I'm teaching you, I'm speaking very clear.

I'm articulating, making sure you understand everything that I'm saying.

I'm not using too much slang.

Okay.

Sometimes during storytime, I do, or I'll use certain terms just to help you, I

guess, understand native English speakers.

But when we get together, our speech changes and our body language changes,

we're still speaking English, but we'll use terms that we understand.

And that's what happened with my friend.

He's also a black guy, but we didn't realize that it had happened.

He's also an, he was also an English teacher, but because we were kind of

in this zone, we saw each other and immediately we just started speaking

in the way that we understood.

And in that moment, I realized.

I have to teach my students, not just the book.

I have to also teach them real life English.

I don't want you to ever be confused when you come to America or speak

with another native English speaker.

There are certain terms we use that are not found in books.

So.

My friend and I got a good laugh out of that.

And I realized, okay, students, I'll start teaching you some extra

expressions starting tomorrow.

And they all laughed.

So I hope you enjoyed that story and I hope you have a wonderful day.