1. Using Proverbs
in the English Classroom
Presented by Vera Tabureanu

2. DEFINITION
A proverb is a short well-known
supposedly wise, saying, usually
in simple language.
Proverbs contain truth,
common sense, experience and
wisdom, and they are
indisputable.

3. Difference between a proverb
and saying
Proverb: a short sentence, etc., usually
known by many people, stating something
commonly experienced or giving advice or a
short popular saying, usually of ancient
origin, that expresses effectively some
commonplace truth or useful thought; .
E.g. Slow and steady wins the race"
A bad cause requires many words.
A broken hand works, but not a broken
heart.

4. Saying: a well-known and wise statement
made by famous people, which often has a
meaning that is different from the simple
meanings of the words it contains:
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in
two bodies.
Aristotle .
Try not to become a man of success, but
rather try to become a man of value. - Albert
Einstein
Hinduism is not a religion, its a way of life.
-Swami Vivekananda

5. The average length of
proverbs constitutes
7 words

6. COMMON PATTERNS OF PROVERBS
Better X than Y
Like X, like Y
No X without Y
One X doesn’t make a Y
If X , then Y

7. PAREMIOLOGY
IS THE SCIENCE STUDYING
PROVERBS

8. PAREMIOLOGISTS differentiate among
the proverbial subgenres
Proverbs as such
Proverbial expressions e.g. to bite the dust
Proverbial comparisons e.g. as busy as a
be
Proverbial interrogatives e.g. Does a
chicken have lips?
Twin formulas e.g. give and take
Wellerisms e.g. ‘Each to his own,’ as the
farmer said when he kissed his cow.

9. PROVERBS are used to
strengthen arguments,
express generalization,
influence people,
rationalize our own shortcomings,
question behavioral patterns,
satirize social evils
and make fun of ridiculous situations.
Mieder

10. PROVERBS
advise,
console,
inspire,
comment on events,
interpret behaviour
foster attitudes, such as optimism,
pessimism and humility.
Nippold

11. USING PROVERBS IN THE CLASS HELPS TO
diversify the teaching process and
make it brighter,
solve some educational problems
improve students’
-learning experience,
-their language skills
-their understanding of themselves
and the world.

12. WHEN AND WHY TO USE
PROVERBS IN CLASS
can be used at any stage of the lesson
as warm-up activities, for presenting
and/or practising lexical items and
grammar structures and practising
pronunciation.
Using proverbs in class the teacher
can stimulate a discussion or a debate,
provide a topic for a project work or
essay writing.

13. Both the Bible and medieval
Latin have played a huge
role in distributing proverbs
across Europe

14. Proverbs change with time and
culture
Some old proverbs reflect a
culture that no longer exists
Let the cobbler stick to his last.
New proverbs appear instead
Garbage in, garbage out,
a proverb created due to our
computerised time..

15. Old proverbs are also used as so
called anti-proverbs today
Nobody is perfect,
is changed to
No body is perfect

16. Top 10 proverbs from print
media ( 1975-2000)
Enough is enough
Time will tell
First come, first served
Forgive and forget
Time is money
History repeats itself
Time flies
Better late than never
Out of sight, out of mind
Boys will be boys

17. Many proverbs also contain
metaphors.
e.g. A watched pot never boils
Proverbs often have
multiple meanings and are
therefore dependent on
context.

18. STYLISTIC FEATURES OF PROVERBS
Phonetic
Practice makes perfect. - alliteration
A little pot is soon hot. - rhyme
Semantic and structural
More haste , less speed -ellipsis
Easy come, easy go.- parallelism
The longest way around is the shortest way home.
– paradox
All is fair on love and war- hyperbole
Hunger is the best cook -personification

19. NON-METAPHORICAL PROVERBS
Honesty is the best policy

20. Phonetics
Nothing seek, nothing find.
Не that will thrive, must rise at
five.
What is worth doing is worth
doing well

21. Modals
All men can't be first.
Beggar can never be bankrupt.
Fair face may hide a foul heart.
Cracked bell can never sound
well.

22. Activities with proverbs to
be used in class:

23. MATCH THE PROVERB WITH ITS
MEANING
A rolling stone gathers no moss. fiend in need is a friend i
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Empty vessels make the most noise.
Good walls make good neighbours.
As you make your bed so must you lie on it.
1. You must accept the consequences of your act.
2. Your relationship with your neighbours depends, among other
things, on respecting one another's privacy.
3. Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the
most and make the greatest fuss
4. A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
5. A person who never settles in one place or who often changes
his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his
mind will never get anything done. A

24. Divide one long word composed of
words in a proverb
Myhouseismycastle.
Dontjudgeabookbyitscover.
Helaughsbestwholaughslast.

25. Complete the proverbs by
matching the columns

26. Fill in the blanks with the options
given in the brackets.
All cats are _______ in the dark.
(Black, blue, grey, green)
A bad workman always blames his
______. (shoes, tools, bosses)

27. Unscramble these proverbs
A HTICTS IN MITE VASES NEIN
HETRE SI ON KOSME OTIWHTU
RIFE

28. Guess the proverb using the
given initials
Example: R. wasn't B. in a day.
Answer: Rome wasn't Built in a day.
B. late than N.
D. count your C. before they are H.
L. before you L.

29. Complete the following proverbs
All's well that
All that glitters
The early bird
Where there is a will
Every cloud
A bird in hand
Don`t judge a book

30. List proverbs that you live
your life by
e.g. Handsome is what
hansdome does

31. ROLE-PLAY THE PROVERB TO EXPLAIN
ITS MEANING
You cannot eat your cake and have it.
Keep your mouth shut and your eyes
open.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
As you make your bed so you must lie on
it.
The way to a man’s heart is through his
stomach.
You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.

32. MIME THE PROVERB SO THAT YOUR
COLLEAGUES WILL GUESS IT
When in Rome do as the Romans do.
Bad news travels fast.
There is no place like home.
All roads lead to Rome.
Time is money.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Money is the root of all evil.

33. DRAW THE PROVERB SO THAT
YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL
GUESS IT

34. Thank you for your attention!!!!