Idiom Comparison Essay Example for Free

Idiom Comparison Essay As a foreign student learning English, comparison idioms are really a big problem for me as well as other learners. There are over 3000 idioms in the dictionary, so understanding and memorizing all of them are a hard issue. Some students, even though, live in America or England for such a long time, they are still unable to understand what the native people are saying. In a circle of students, native English speakers speak to other native speakers differently from the foreign students. And the foreign students here is unable to follow what they are saying to each other. More than that, comparison idioms are one of major aspects that can easily discourage a person in conversation with each other if he/she does not know what to imply. If somebody ask me: Is it necessary to study an idiom like â€Å"rain like cats and dogs†? , I will asnwer Yes because idioms are part of daily speech. It makes our utterances smoothly and transmit the information to listeners in a smart way. As a matter of fact, in this essay, we will firstly find a clear view of the definition of idioms and some structures to recognize a comparison idiom, then will be a part related to contrastive analysis; that is similarities and differences between english and Vietnamese comparison idioms; lastly, some problems and solutions of studying idioms may be important to learners. Definition of idioms Definition Idioms have become very popular with the linguistic learners; however; not everyone can find the complete definition for this term. Each professor has his or her own assumption and we, the learners, have to consider much when we want to apply those idioms into study. For example, the Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, idioms were defined as: â€Å"an expression which function as a single unit and whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate parts. †. Moreover, with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the writer defines idioms differently: â€Å"a phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit. As we have seen, definition of idioms is quite different between the Longman Dictionary and Oxford one and maybe different from other books as well, but on reflection, they do not have much conflict, all of those share the basic idea: â€Å"they are words, phrases or expressions that cannot be taken literally; when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary. †. Learning them make understanding and using a language a lot easier and more fun. Structure used for comparing Although we have worked out some definitions of idioms above, most of learners are still confused with the question: â€Å"How can we identify an idiom of comparison? †. Consequently, identification should be taken into consideration so as to have an insight into different types of idioms of comparison. There are various ways of identifying based on different criteria because the exploration is quite hard and unfeasible. Here are just two main ways that have been considered most: * Identification based on component words or phrases Identification based on grammatical structure By word and phrase With this aspect, idioms of comparison can be divided into three groups: * Comparison with adjectives This kind of comparison can be constructed as the following structure: As + adjective + as + (a/an/the) Noun It is used to describe the similarities between people, things or places. However, in this structure, the similarities are exposed in a clear way, explicitly rather than other s tructure. The meaning as well as the characteristics of the adjectives are conveyed symbolically through some related things in our lives so that people can easily think of when they come across those adjectives. For example: as sharp as razor, as innocent as love, as unchangeable as the past, as jolly as a sandboy. In Vietnamese idioms, typical examples of comparison are: nhat nhu th? d? , den nhu than, d? p nhu tien†¦

Reflecting on My College Experience :: Personal Reflection

When I first enrolled here at State University, I never thought I would ever be in the position to graduate. Finishing college was a huge goal growing up but it was also my biggest fear. But after three and a half years of dedication I plan to get my degree in the fall. Getting this far in college was not easy, it took encouragement from family, dedication, and assistance from others to reach this position. Many years ago I remember my parents telling me that in order for me to become successful a college education was a must. They always told me that if I wasn’t in school I could no longer live at home. Both of my parents attended college but neither of them finished. They did not want me to go down that same road because they really regret not getting their degrees. My grades in elementary school were poor because I had trouble paying attention to things that were not challenging. I tried to play sick just about every day but my parent were not falling for it. My favorite classes were gym, music, and art. Competing in sports is where I spent most of my time. The words of my parents and teachers went in one ear and out the other. â€Å"School just wasn’t interesting to me† My senior year of high school I decided to dedicate my self to school work. All I did was take school a little more seriously and pay attention. Before you know it I had made the honor roll for the first time and continue to make it the rest of the year. Finally the extra work was reflecting in my grades. My parents were glad to see that my education had some meaning. That summer after school I just wanted to find a job and start making some money. Going to college for anther four year was something I thought I could not handle. I final got a job at UPS unloading trucks. At first I thought how hard could it be? But every day I would come home exhausted from working in the heat. And then when I got tiny pay check, it hit me. From then on I decided that manual labor was something that I could not do the rest of my life and I could definitely not support a family on that income. A job behind a desk in the air conditioning was what I wanted.

Big Families Essay

Do you think there were more advantages or disadvantages to being part of a large family in the past? I think that there are advantages but also disadvantages.  It is an advantage because the family is a present that God gives to us for all the life, we have to take care of it and make it stronger as the years pass ; they are our support always, in good and bad moments, even when we don’t ask for help they are there giving a hand. We can count with them at all times, with no exceptions because there is a blood tie but also, and more important, there is an affective bond; which is stronger than any other link in the world. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages too. see more:disadvantages of small family When there is a conflict in the family, people can separate for a while because you need to calm down, take a breath and think the things well. Another weak point is to agree in a meeting point, because putting together a big amount of people is hard, taking into account the different activities and responsibilities of each individual; For example: In a birthday, in Christmas, for vacations or in any special date. I also consider that is a disadvantageous circumstance when we have a problem with a member of the family, and the rest of it starts criticizing you. Another difficulty can be presented when a family (mom and dad) have a lot of kids, and a bad economic situation, because of lack of food and lots of discomforts. In conclusion I can say that having a large family has a lot of benefits, but we have to deal with little problems that could be present with time.

The House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros - 2004 Words

In The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, twelve-year-old Esperanza Cordero must navigate through the trials and tribulations that one can associate when encountering young adulthood. The author Cisneros, utilizes her unique writing style of vignettes to illustrate the narrative voice of Esperanza in her text. A major theme that can be seen as the most prominent thus far, is on the feminist role of Esperanza as a female in her Latin American culture. The House on Mango Street is an overall Bildungsroman that can be considered to be a feminist work of literature. The Bildungsroman is encompassed by various feminist values throughout the text of written work, regarding the particular subject. The writer, Cisneros’ feminist views are†¦show more content†¦In her eyes sees this as wrong and in a way, she vows to not submit and even goes as far having thoughts of changing her given name. Esperanza desires to rename herself with an alias of strong women she has learn ed about previously, possibly in hopes of staying true to herself and her individualism. As the Bildungsroman starts to take a reader on a journey through these small vignettes, we see that Esperanza experiments with her female power only to be brought down by the overwhelming misogyny power in various forms in the writing along with other women figures. The first actual insistence Esperanza comes across from in the form of deprived freedom against women that portrays this Bildungsroman as a feminist literature is in the vignette Alicia Who Sees Mice. â€Å"Alicia who inherited her mama’s rolling pin and sleepiness, is young and smart and studies for the first time at the university.† Alicia a young adolescent, who we know lost her mother is going through a difficult time from this death. The first part of the quote can be seen as a metaphor, where Alicia has clearly inherited more than the mother’s rolling pin and sleepiness. The young Alicia has acquired the r ole of full time mother to her siblings through the father’s insistence. The young Alicia has to maintain a household while at the same time pursuing an education at a university where she has to take two trains and a bus toShow MoreRelatedThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros1132 Words   |  5 Pageslives. In the collection of short stories, The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, she focuses on a young Hispanic girl named Esperanza Cordero who grew up on Mango Street. As she is changing and maturing, she writes down her experiences about discrimination of gender, sexual orientation, and more. Esperanza s transformation from a young and innocent girl to a mature woman is displayed through her self-realization and experiences that help Cisneros reveal how one s own experiences can lead toRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros1297 Words   |  6 Pagesto think of a story to create, most of the advice given to them is â€Å"write what you know.à ¢â‚¬  This was perfect advice for Mexican-American writer Sandra Cisneros, who draws upon her coming-of-age events throughout her childhood and adolescence in â€Å"The House on Mango Street.† Drawing from life stories, her alter ego â€Å"Esperanza† describes everything from the house she lived in, to the hair on people’s heads. These personal stories show a stark contrast for any reader of a different culture, and confirmRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros913 Words   |  4 Pagesvignettes that made up â€Å"The House on Mango Street†, a coming-of-age novel by Mexican-American writer Sandra Cisneros. Cisneros in this specific vignette reveals the inherent oppressiveness of all marriages, which by their nature rob people of their independence. Sally is not even eight grades and she gets married. Her husband is a marshmallow salesman that she meets at a school bazaar. She moves to another state where is legal their marriage. Sally tells Esperanza about her house and domestic objects thatRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros1854 Words   |  8 Pages The Street That Changed a Life The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, displays a great emphasis on culture and people helping form a young girl into a young lady. The main character, Esperanza, has to navigate a mentally and physically challenging life growing up in a poor, Hispanic neighborhood while still learning how to mature and rise above the poverty that surrounds her. Thus, the question arises: in what way and to what extent does close human interaction change Esperanza’s lifeRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros886 Words   |  4 PagesThe House on Mango Street is a novel by Sandra Cisneros. The novel is acclaimed by critics and used in schools all around the world. â€Å"The House on Mango Street† is about a young Latina girl who is about the age of 12 when the novel begins. Sandra’s novels have sold over two million copies. Sandra was born on December 20, 1984, in Chicago, Illinois. In 2016, President Barack Obama presented her with the medal of ‘Nat ional Medal of Arts’. Title: The House on Mango Street Author: Sandra Cisneros TheRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros753 Words   |  4 PagesWhen you look at the cover of the book, The House on Mango Street, you see bright colors and a fun font. The first vignette that Sandra Cisneros writes is about Esperanza, a young Latino girl wishing that she had her own house, a house with trees and white fences. The way that Cisneros writes screams â€Å"little girl.† However, as you dive deeper into the book, the subject of each vignette gets darker. Slowly, we start to see the dangers of growing up as a young Latino girl in a Chicago neighborhoodRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros1688 Words   |  7 PagesThe House on Mango Street, a novella by Sandra Cisneros, revolves around the idea of a developing Latino girl facing the difficulties of transitioning to a young mature woman. Esperanza moves into a house on Mango Street, where she meets many diverse influential people as she attempts to discover her true identity and und erstanding of the world. While doing this, she encounters the struggles of her community, socioeconomic class, and heritage. Esperanza’s opposing view of herself slowly adjusts asRead MoreThe House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros766 Words   |  3 Pagesliterary analysis on â€Å"The House on Mango Street† by Sandra Cisneros. This story takes place in the center of an over populated Latino neighborhood in Chicago, a city where many of the poor areas are ethnically segregated. This novella uses two main symbols shoes and trees. Later in the literary analysis I will explain what these mean to the main characters. There are three main characters in the novella Esperanza, Sally and Nenny (short for â€Å"Magdalena†). The House on Mango Street tells the life of EsperanzaRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros1087 Words   |  5 PagesRiaz Salehi The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, portrays the life of a teenage girl named Esperanza living on Mango Street. Though Esperanza lives in a diverse city, pre-existing stereotypes are affecting how others(women?) are perceived and treated. Esperanza starts to see how to change her community and the negative view of herself by taking the wrong actions of other women and connecting them to her own life experiences. To begin with, Esperanza always saw this great distinctionRead MoreThe House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros2190 Words   |  9 Pagessociety centuries after its foundation. One of the books I feel perfectly touches on ethnicity in America specifically is Sandra Cisneros The House on Mango Street. Cisneros tells a coming of age story through brief episodes of a girl named Esperanza her life varying from things about her family, neighborhood, and different dreams and goals that she has. The House on Mango street is a personal and touching look at what it means to be a minority/immigrant in America as well what it means to grow up