Pre-Intermediate & Above
Words of
e
2
m
pl
WISDOM
Twelve Lessons from Proverbs
about everyday living
Sa
ESL Writers’ Team
English as a Second Language
Preface
The concise Oxford dictionary states that a ‘proverb
is a traditional saying which offers advice or
presents a moral in a short and pithy manner’. Most
cultures and languages have their own proverbs.
Understanding these proverbs helps us to understand
a language and culture better. It follows then that
learning and understanding English proverbs is
important if one is learning English.
m
pl
e
The Bible also has a book named Proverbs. Those
proverbs are not just part of one culture but are
relevant for people in every time and in every place.
While learning common secular proverbs from
Anglo-Australian culture we have also stressed some
Biblical proverbs. We want our students to learn and
understand the rich treasures of the Biblical proverbs
and so understand the true ‘Words of Wisdom’.
Here then are twelve lessons based on proverbs both
Biblical and secular. They include such vital topics as
family, time, work, generosity and money.
I wish to thank our writers’ team who have given
their time to write the lessons, our teachers and
students who have trialled them and those who have
formatted and checked and rechecked.
Our prayer is not only that these lessons will help our
students to improve their English in an interesting
way but also that they might know the real ‘Words of
Wisdom’.
Sa
Cathryn Thew
Anglicare
Sydney
January 2010
ESL- Words of Wisdom
1
e
m
pl
ESL Writers Team
Patricia Bell
Marilyn Clerke
Jennifer Kerr
Patricia MacCabe
Stephen Mansfield
Megan Presbury
Pamela Riley
Cathryn Thew
Kath White
Publisher Contact Details:
Sa
ANGLICARE, Diocese of Sydney
English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry
PO Box 427
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124
AUSTRALIA
Ph: 02 9895 8000
http://www.anglicare.org.au/our-services/migrant-refugee-services/esl
[email protected]
Copyright Notice:
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form
or by any means - for example, electronic, photocopying, recording - without the prior permission of the publisher.
Teacher instructions and student worksheets used for the purpose of conducting a lesson for students in your ESL
class may be photocopied without permission.
Scripture Quotations are from the Contemporary English Version
CEV © American Bible Society 1991, 1995.
2 ESL - Words of Wisdom
CONTENTS
Words of Wisdom 1
5
Proverbs - an Introduction
Reading Proverbs from different countries
Writing Writing proverbs for today
Bible Introduction to Proverbs
3
What work do you do?
Proverbs about work / ‘A Hardworking Woman’
Phrasal verbs
Matching proverbs to dialogues
The prince and the servants
e
2
8
Wisdom for Work
Speaking
Reading Language Listening Bible m
pl
12
Wisdom about Money
Vocabulary Words used with money
Reading/Speaking Understanding proverbs about money
Listening Matching proverbs to texts
Bible Proverbs about money
4
15
Wisdom about Generosity
Listening
‘Real Generosity’?
Language ‘I’d’ for ‘I would’. Do you like?/Would you like?
Listening
Our response to bushfire victims
Bible Proverbs about generosity, Matthew 25:40
5
Sa
18
Wisdom from the Animals
Speaking
Animal characteristics
Reading
Matching meanings of proverbs
Listening Lisa’s swimming carnival
Language
Future tense
Bible
Proverbs about animals, Matthew 6:25-26
6
21
Wisdom about Friendship
Speaking
Interview about friends
Listening
Dialogue between mother and daughter
Speaking Responding to listening text
Language
Keeping a conversation alive
Bible
Proverbs about friendship, John 15:14
7
24
Wisdom about Speech
Speaking
Discussion of proverb
Pronunciation
‘Right way to speak’
Vocabulary
Words about speaking
Reading Match the proverb to the situation
Bible
Proverbs about speech
ESL- Words of Wisdom
3
Wisdom about Time Speaking
Questions about time / Tell your own story
Reading
Joining parts of proverbs together
Listening
King Canute
Language
Past tense
Bible
Proverbs about time, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
9
30
Wisdom for Husbands and Wives
Speaking
Characteristics of a good husband / wife
Reading
From Proverbs 31
Language Vocabulary to describe husbands / wives
Reading/speaking
Matching proverbs with meanings
Bible
Proverbs about marriage Matthew 19:4-6
e
8
27
11
36
Wisdom for Families Speaking
Describing relationships
Language Sentence order
Speaking Meanings of proverbs
Reading
Grandparents, parents and children
Bible
Proverbs about families
12
39
Wisdom - Revision
Reading Listening Language
Bible
42
Teacher Notes
55
Student handout for Lesson 4
56
Activity for Lesson 11
57
CD tracks
Sa
m
pl
10
33
Wisdom for Parents and Children
Speaking
What would you do about this situation?
Discussion of proverbs about child rearing
Pronunciation
Emphasis on stress
Reading
The boy who called ‘wolf’
Language
Use of ‘used to’
Speaking
The joys and difficulties of raising children
Bible
Proverbs about raising children
4 ESL - Words of Wisdom
Matching proverbs and meanings. Contradictory proverbs
Complete the proverb
Sentence order
Revision of Proverbs studied
1
Proverbs - an Introduction
Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self control and how to understand sayings
with deep meanings. . . From these an ordinary person can learn to be wise. Proverbs 1:2
Introduction
1 Proverbs are short sentences that people often say to give help or advice.
Here are some proverbs. Match them to the picture.
1 A stitch in time saves nine.
2 Don’t climb too high or the fall will be greater.
3 Let sleeping dogs lie.
4 Little strokes cut great oaks.
□ □ e
□ m
pl
□
2 All over the world people use proverbs. Here are some proverbs from different countries.
With your partner draw a line to the country you think these proverbs come from. Ask your teacher for the answers.
Vietnam
1
A stranger nearby is better than a far away relative.
South Korea
2
The higher you climb the heavier you fall.
Sa
Thailand
3
4
5
Don’t show me the palm tree. Show me the dates.
China
A clever person turns great troubles into little ones and little
ones into none at all.
Afghanistan
In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed.
ESL- Words of Wisdom
5
Speaking
Tell the students in your class a proverb in your language. Translate the proverb into English. Discuss with your class what these proverbs mean.
Reading
1Here are some proverbs from different countries which have the same meaning.
Draw a line from the proverb in column 1 to its matching proverb in column 2.
You might need to look up some of the words in your dictionary.
a United we stand, divided we fall. (U.S.A)
2 There is great force hidden in a sweet
command. (England)
b Unless you fill up the crack, you will have to
build a new wall. (W. Africa)
3 A bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush. (France)
c Gentle words open iron gates. (Bulgaria)
d A bird in the hand is worth a hundred
flying. (Spain)
m
pl
4 A stitch in time saves nine. (Holland)
e
1 In multitude there is strength. (Nigeria)
2 Some proverbs tell the opposite truths.
Draw a line from the proverb in column 1 to its opposite meaning in column 2.
1
Many hands make light work.
a
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
2
Clothes make the man.
b
He who hesitates is lost.
3
Out of sight, out of mind.
c
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
4
Look before you leap.
d
The pen is mightier than the sword.
5
Actions speak louder than words.
e
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Sa
Speaking
1 Choose any proverb in this lesson and work out a mime or dialogue to illustrate the proverb.
The other students in the class have to guess which proverb you are acting.
2 The proverbs below are old and were not written for modern times. Try to make a modern
proverb which has the same meaning.
e.g. Don’t put all your eggs in the one basket. Don’t store all your data on the same compact
disc.
1 A single bamboo pole does not make a raft.
2 Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched.
3 Take care of the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.
4 You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
6 ESL - Words of Wisdom
1
Proverbs - an Introduction
Bible Worksheet
One of the books of the Bible is called Proverbs. These are proverbs that were
written more than 2,500 years ago. Many of the Bible proverbs were written by
a very wise king named Solomon.
Read this introduction to the book of Proverbs.
e
1
These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, the son of David.
m
pl
Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self-control and how to understand sayings
with deep meanings. You will learn what is right and honest and fair.
From these, an ordinary person can learn to be wise, and young people can gain
knowledge and good sense.
If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. And if you are smart, you
will learn to understand proverbs and sayings, as well as words of wisdom and
all kinds of riddles.
Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of knowledge.
Proverbs 1:1-7
2
Translate these words into your own language.
a wisdom ……………………. b
self control …………………….. d smart ……………………… e
knowledge ………………………. honest ………………
Sa
3
c
Answer these questions.
a What will you get from learning proverbs?
………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................
...…………………………………………………………………………………………............................................
b What does Solomon say is the beginning of knowledge?
………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................
c
How do we get wisdom?
………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................
ESL- Words of Wisdom
7