Actions speak louder than words

Introduction:

This is a high level activity to introduce and practise idioms related to words. Students first complete the idioms with the missing verbs, match the idioms with their definitions and interview their classmates.

Level: C1

Time: 45 minutes

Objectives:

To increase familiarity and correct use of word idioms.
To complete the idioms with the missing verbs.
To match the idioms to their definitions.
To interview a classmate using questions containing the target language.

Materials (Click on the worksheet below to download the PDF file):

Actions speak louder than words Worksheet, one per student.

Procedure:

Write the following verbs on the board: break, eat, get, hang, have, put, twist, waste, weigh and in pairs ask students to brainstorm any idioms and expressions containing the word ‘WORD(S)’ and the verbs above.
Elicit answers from students and write them on the board.
Hand out a copy of Actions speak louder than words Worksheet and ask students to individually complete the idioms on the left hand side with the verbs given.
When the students have finished, put them in pairs and ask them to compare their answers with their classmate.
Check together as a class.
Individually again ask students to match the idioms on the left to their definitions on the right.
When the students have finished, ask them to compare their answers with their partner – they must discuss and agree on their answer.
Check together as a class.
When the students have finished, put them in pairs or groups of 3 and ask them to interview each other (Exercise 2).
At the end, take the sheets away and divide students into small teams. Give them 4 minutes to write down as many idioms as they can remember. The team with the highest number of correct idioms wins.