When I was little, I used to have a book with a collection of Russian proverbs and sayings. I remember being absolutely fascinated by the depth of knowledge and wisdom that I discovered on the pages of that book. Those proverbs opened a door for me to a better understanding of the Russian culture as well as important norms, morals, and life values. Indeed, I can say they helped me become a more mature and intelligent human being.
Speaking about second language learners: Proverbs can—like in my own experience—help them learn a great deal about the target culture and the norms and values that people in that culture respect and treasure. A writing class is a great venue for incorporating proverbs into teaching. With the effective use of proverbs, a teacher can both help students develop their writing skills and deepen their cultural knowledge. In other words, the use of proverbs kills two birds with one stone!
I want to share some activities that teachers can do in the writing classroom. Hopefully, they can inspire you to further ideas.