LitART puts a lot of value in idioms, proverbs, and rhyming riddles.  Phrases such as these provide countless ESL benefits and learning opportunities. But due to their nature they also have their own unique hurdles. Understanding every word of "a watched pot never boils" doesn't clue you into the actual meaning.

Sometimes a straight out explanation clears up any lack of understanding. Other instances, such as a migrant program with a high ESL population, new techniques are needed to get the point across. For times like these only one technique will do—pantomime!

1. Write the expression on the board.

2. Read the expression aloud to students.

3. Discuss the expression so that students have some sense of its meaning.

4. Give students 30 seconds to think of a way they could conduct a pantomime or improvisational performance that suggests, defines or incorporates the example (slightly more time if students are working with partners or small groups).

5. Allow students to involve another person in their performance, if necessary.

6. Invite a student or group to make one word per form. The performance should last no more then one minute.

7. Following the performance, engage students in a discussion and help them see how the performance reflected the example.

8. Allow other students or groups to perform, and repeat.