Improve your English with a personal Bitmoji Avatar
Here I am again, telling you to close those textbooks! Pause that English lecture! Step outside the normal way that you have been learning! Here I am again, telling you to learn outside the box with me, and outside what you’ve been doing. In case you’re new around here, and haven’t had a chance to browse my Instagram or past blog posts, you’ll quickly learn that I am consistently looking for outside the box, non-traditional ways to help my students, readers, and fellow English lovers review, practice, and improve their language skills. I strive (try very hard) to provide content that illustrates real English in use. When I say real English, I mean situations that you can relate to and content you can personalize, not an outdated textbook story/situation where John and Sally finally get a smart phone that can send picture texts. Yes, I’ve worked in a place that provided this type of (irrelevant) material for teachers to use in the classroom.
While the students may get a slight benefit from that, perhaps reading comprehension, it most likely won’t resonate (have meaning or importance) with a learner to take their English to the next level. What does resonate and connect with a learner is something that they can personalize to themselves, and an example that has meaning is more likely to be remembered and used in later English use. This is the point, right? Learn vocabulary, grammar concepts, etc.. and apply them to language use.
So what is more personal and relatable than your very own Avatar?!
Bitmojis? Avatars? If you don’t know what I am talking about then we will need to get you up to speed (get you the latest information and knowledge needed to continue). Open up a new tab on your Internet browser and type: www.bitmoji.com.
Are you recognizing these cartoon-like avatars? Have you seen them around the Internet, Instagram or in your Whatsapp groups? If not, that’s all about to change! It’s time to join the millions of users, including celebrities, because not only are these cartoons and comic strips fun to create and hilarious to share, they can be a truly authentic learning experience. So download yours now, because I am here today to share with you, 7 things in English that your Avatar will teach you and ways to learn on your own.
Please note, this is not a paid advertising or affiliate post. I am speaking with 100% authenticity because I believe it will help your language skills.
Bitmojis will teach you…
# 1: Idioms & Expressions
Remember this post with an idiom definition + example?
Or this one from a couple of months ago….
Well, the learning doesn’t stop there. Review the following Bitmojis, and click the image for their definition and meaning. All images come from my personal Bitmoji keyboard. Get yours today!
Teachers, see below to find out the ways to utilize this post (or YOUR own Bitmoji) in the classroom!
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- use “hang in there” to offer support and well wishes to someone in a difficult situation, used to tell someone to keep trying/going
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- “my bad” is used when you want to accept responsibility for your own mistakes
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- “bite me” is an slightly offensive expression used to tell someone you are annoyed or very angry at them; used in response to something that angers you
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- use “mind blown” as an expression when you are extremely impressed with something
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- “break a leg” is used to wish someone luck (often before a performance)
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- to have ‘someone’s’ back is to fully support them, and offer protection in a risky situation
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- “no worries” is similar to saying, “don’t worry about it” or “that’s alright”
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- “give me” some sugar is a request to get a kiss from someone (or other love and affection)
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- to be all in is to be fully invested in something (can be in poker with your money/chips or in life with a choice)
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- to be down is to be interested in doing something
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- to love someone to bits is to love them a lot
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- to nail “something” is to make/do it in a successful, perfect, or impressive way. *note: nail + someone means to have sex
you’ll also learn…
# 2: “Texting” Language [shortened English]
Click on the image for the definition & meaning
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- I owe you (an expression used when you owe [need to repay] someone something)
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- “you there?” which is the shortened question: are you there? (it’s common to cut out the auxiliary in informal, texted questions)
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- too much information (an expression used when someone has told you details that were too personal , or not wanted/needed)
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- totally adorable (extremely cute)
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- fuck you (an offensive expression similar to “bite me”, when you are telling someone to leave you alone because you’re upset)
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- shaking my head (used when you disapprove with someone’s words or actions because they’re just so dumb)
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- later (an expression used to say goodbye–notice the similarity in the pronunciation of “8” and “ate”)
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- laughing my ass off (used to respond to something very funny; similar to ‘lol’ and ‘rofl’)
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- obviously
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- “O.M.F-ing.G” (OMFG= oh my fucking God) *This one makes me *SMH* because it’s not even shortened! It’s the same length as the long form. Anyway, it’s an expression used to show shock, surprise, and/or disapproval
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- Oh really? (a response to something that surprises you or you don’t agree with)
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- rolling on the floor laughing (used in response to something very funny; similar to ‘lol’ and ‘lmao’
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- estimated time of arrival? (used to ask when someone plans on being somewhere, or doing something)
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- see you (an expression to say goodbye)
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- best friends forever
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- a common hashtag (#) used to identify the ‘outfit of the day’ (clothing)
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- okay, thanks
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- talk to you later (an expression used to say goodbye)
#3: New Vocabulary
Click on the image for the definition & meaning
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- [often + over] to have a crush on someone; to become very excited about someone or something. ::EX:: “I totally swooned over Paulo when I first saw him!”
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- [crushing] to be feeling strong emotional/romantic feelings for someone that is usually new. ::EX:: “I was crushin’ on Paulo for weeks before he talked to me.”
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- very impressive. ::EX:: That winning soccer goal at the end of the match was epic!”
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- [an interjection] used to express approval of a performance. ::EX:: After Taylor’s dance recital, I cheered, “BRAVO!””
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- no; expressing dislike or disapproval. ::EX:: “Holly invited me to the movies, but I didn’t want to go. So I told her, “Nah.” “
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- angry and aggressive behavior from a driver who is upset with another driver. ::EX:: “People often get road rage when they are late, or in traffic.”
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- [exclamation] or [adjective] expressing a lack of interest or describing something uninspiring. ::EX:: “I didn’t care for that movie, it was only meh.”
#4: Morning, Evening, and Common Greetings & Salutations
Click on the image for the definition & meaning
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- rise (get out of bed) and shine (like the sun in the morning) – used as a morning greeting
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- morning – used to greet someone in the morning
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- sleep well; have a nice sleep – used to say goodbye at nighttime
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- good night – used to say goodbye at night time
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- a wish for someone to sleep well and peacefully – to say goodbye at nighttime
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- “What’s up”, “What are you doing?” (used to greet and ask about someone’s recent actions) “How is it going?” (used to greet, like “how are you?” “Do you want to hang” (used to ask someone if they want to spend time with you)
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- What are you thinking about? (notice that in conversational [informal] English, words are combined- ‘what are you’= ‘whatcha’ and the ending -G sound in -ing verbs are removed. Finally, words are often cut/reduced, “about”=’bout’)
and..
#5: Onomatopoeia
Not sure what this is? It’s the creation of a word for a natural sound. Read more and take a quick look and click here.
Click on the image for the definition & meaning
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- kiss
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- laughing
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- eating (especially delicious food)
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- a sigh of relief
#6: Terms of Endearment
These are sweet names that you call someone you love. I don’t think explanations or definitions are needed. ♥♥♥
and…
#7: Expressions we stole from French
Yup, we’re guilty!
Click on the image for the definition & meaning
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- used to wish someone a happy, good, and safe trip (travel)
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- used to wish someone a positive dining(eating) experience
So how can you continue to learn on your own with Bitmojis?
Well now that you have downloaded the app and installed it on your keyboard/Facebook, and have learned the meaning of over 55 bitmojis- you are ready to rock! The great news for you is that the app is continuously adding new themes, cartoons, and expressions, which means there is always something to learn! Browse through the various categories in the app and search for new words or expressions that are unknown to you. Then, get to google! You can either go straight to a dictionary, I like Merriam-Webster’s Learners, or you can simply write: “define: ____(word or expression)” The Google search will definitely help you find more slang-type expressions. So what are you waiting for? Start creating your avatar and connecting to your personal, new English teacher…you! Please share the new expressions and vocabulary words you learn along the way, and share your social media posts with me – @jenesl760. As you (may or may not) know, I love Instagram so find, follow, and tag me in your new Avatar experiences #bitmojilearning, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Happy Studying! ♥
. . . . .
Teachers:
If one thing is for sure, it’s that students love their cell phones (especially in class). Rather than fighting with them to put the phones away, create a lesson that allows their use! This would be a great place to start.
- Begin with a homework assignment: download the app and find a new expression to “teach” the class.
- In class, break the students into groups who have the same or similar expressions and review the meanings together.
- Mix up the groups! Switch students, and have them meet with others and share their expressions with these new groups (the same/similar avatar expressions will now be in different groups).
- Have each group choose “the best” (most interesting, creative, funny, etc..)avatar and expression and have the students present these expressions to the class to work on a more difficult speaking element: public speaking
Another idea would be for them to learn these expressions in a “race” style activity. (*Note, it would be best for the students to already have downloaded the app on their phone)
- Divide the class into equal groups
- Either on the board, or on a print out you made before class, give them expressions to find. For example, “Find the avatar that means to wish someone luck” (break a leg), or “which avatar would you send to someone you had a crush on?” (swoon).
- Students can either “race” to finish filling our their papers first, or once they find the correct avatar can raise their hands and then “teach” it to the class.
I hope you and your class enjoy! If you used any of these activities, or created your own variation, I would love to hear it!
Happy teaching! ♥
I had so much fun writing this blog post that I’ll be sure to write some more. Stay tuned for related articles, more Avatar learning, and ways to improve your English outside of the classroom (on in it for teachers)!
Please share this post with a friend, teacher, colleague, or someone you know who studies/loves/teaches English. Millions of people are already using Bitmojis, so I want to make sure millions of people can learn with them 🙂
xoxo, Jennifer
P.S…
Click here to get more English help! Receive a free e-book to improve your fluency.
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