Difficulties Facing EFL Students in Using and Understanding English Proverbs

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the difficulties facing EFL students in using and understanding English proverbs. A Case Study of Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of Languages, 3rd year Students of English. The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical method in this study to collect the data required. The researcher used two tools, a test for students and a questionnaire for teachers. The test was designed and given to 25 students from College of Languages, 3rd year Students of English, and a questionnaire was given to 25 teachers of English from different educational foundations in Khartoum State. AlQabbas International Schools, Alnukhbah Secondary School, Kebeida International Schools, Omdurman Ahlia University, Nelein University and University of Khartoum. The data wereanalyzed by using the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS). The data revealed that SUST, college of languages, 3rd year students of English are poor in using and understanding English proverbs, as well as teachers of English rarely use English proverbs during the lectures and conversations with their students. The data also revealed that teachers of English focus on teaching grammar and comprehension and neglect English idioms and proverbs, moreover the university curriculums exclude English proverbs from their contents. The researcher, recommends that EFL students should be familiar with topics which enable them practicing English proverbs inorder to understand and use them correctly, as well as teachers should use English proverbs and communicate with their students during the lectures. Students should know that English proverbs are important in improving language competence. Finally, the designers of university curriculums should include English proverbs in the syllabus.