Is it just me, or do students act like phrasal verbs are some secret code? I had a lesson last week where ‘put up with’ turned into an all-out debate on whether it’s more about patience or just tolerating bad jokes. sometimes I feel like our curriculum needs to include a comedy section on the quirks of English.
phrasal verbs can really drive me nuts! I had a similar discussion on ‘put up with’ last month, and it’s wild how deep students can go — it’s like they miss the point. A comedy section could totally spice up the curriculum, but sometimes I wonder if they’re just testing our patience with all the debates.
But you’re so right! I’ve found that using cartoons to illustrate phrasal verbs, like ‘put up with,’ really gets students engaged. They start sharing their own funny stories, which makes the lesson feel more like a casual chat.
I totally relate! Last week, I used a funny skit for ‘put up with,’ and they loved sharing their own experiences — what’s your go-to comedy tool? 
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I get where you’re coming from; i’ve had success using real-life scenarios to teach these expressions, too. For instance, I had students role-play a situation where they had to ‘put up with’ a difficult coworker – it really sparked some amusing exchanges.
I’ve found storytelling works wonders with these expressions. Last week, I encouraged students to share their own ‘tolerating bad jokes’ moments, and it really sparked some laughter and engagement. What do you think about using personal stories to make it relatable?