Creativity is key in expanding your vocabulary, and some students really use their creative potential to the max. Recently in class, 2 students were trying to figure out the meaning of the acronym TGIF. They tried their best, coming up with some very creative ideas. Chiharu helped them by giving some examples of where they might see the acronym, such as in a restaurant menu or on a sign outside of a bar. The next hint was that it was said at the end of the work week. This inspired the students to come up with the following creative thought:
Thank God I’m Free
Thank God for Ideal Fridays
Too Great is Friday
Thank God I got to Friday
I love that they came up with such great, creative ideas. Unfortunatelty they couldn’t quite nail it. After they found out the original meaning, Thank God It’s Friday, they immediately set about using it. How many acronyms do you know? Do you what the following Japanese acronyms stand for?
JAL – Japan Air Lines
JAF – Japan Auto Federation
JFA – Japan Football Association
JSA – Japan Sumo Association
Ok. More challenging ones:
FBOFW – For Better or For Worse
LOTR – Lord of the Rings
BYOB – Bring Your Own Beverage
BLT – Bacon Lettuce Tomato
Activities like this are a great way to stretch your vocabulary and also strengthen your creative ability.
Edward, SSE Ohtsu
Edward,
I too have enjoyed this with students. There are also so many used in Japan in the middle of Japanese sentences. In daily life they see them too. ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) is a challenging one that they have all seen but don’t usually know what it ‘stands for’. I have fun with TANSTAAFL sometimes too, but then you have to explain ‘ain’t’ which is challenging. C U L8R. Have fun!