Origins of Words and Expressions

In a classroom where ESL students learn, there will always be questions where certain English words and idioms come from. How to field such questions? Share online resources like the following with your students, especially if they are expected to attain an intermediate or advanced level of proficiency. (By the way, I often tell my students that there is only a limited amount of English grammar to be learned, but when it comes to English expressions, their learning possibilities are almost limitless.)

• "Words and Their Stories" (http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/words-stories/) - part of Voice of America's "Special English" radio broadcast, now also available as online podcast; focused, interesting, student-friendly
• "Phrases, Expressions & Sayings" (http://www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrases.htm) - a glossary of the etymology of many commonly used phrases, expressions, and sayings
• "Dictionary.com" (http://dictionary.reference.com/) - seemingly the number one choice for many US-educated students; has a section called "Word Origin & History" for some words (try "shellacking" to see for yourself)
• "A Way with Words" (http://www.waywordradio.org/) - a weekly hour-long San Diego-based public radio show now gone national; also available as online podcast; also receives emails and phone calls from people with questions about definitions, grammar, and pronunciation; very advanced
• "A Phrase a Week" (http://www.phrases.org.uk/a-phrase-a-week/index.html) - out of UK; a free emailed weekly newsletter subscription