Abstract:
This study aims at investigating the difficulties of understanding and
using English idioms that encounter Sudanese English language majors at
the tertiary level
The study adopted the Descriptive Analytical Method of research. The
researcher designed for his instrumentation a test on idioms for the students
in addition to a questionnaire for ELT teachers. The idioms test aimed at
measuring the students’ abilities in dealing with the difficulties posed by
idiomatic expressions. It was administered to a total sample of 200 students.
The ELT teachers’ questionnaire, on the other hand, aimed at assessing the
ELT teachers’ perspectives and views on the relevance of idioms to
language curricula and to the learning and teaching contexts. It was
administered to a total sample of 40 ELT teachers at the tertiary level. The
above mentioned tools used satisfied the criteria of validity and reliability.
Penetrating into the research problems, the researcher raised five key
questions about the semantic, structural and lexical difficulties of English
idioms. Moreover, five hypotheses were formulated corresponding to these
questions. These hypotheses were all confirmed except for the first one
which was only partly confirmed.
Findings revealed low abilities of the respondents in recognizing the
characteristics of idiomatic expressions. Findings also revealed that
respondents did not use a particular strategy while encountering unknown
idioms. The results of the ELT teacher’ questionnaire showed that
participants generally agreed that the difficulties related to idiomatic
expressions arose from their complex characteristics.
It was found that the negligence of idioms in language curricula led to
their negligence in the context of teaching.
In light of the findings of the study the researcher recommended
incorporating idioms in language curricula. He also recommended providing
adequate materials for the learning and teaching of idioms. Allowing greater
exposure to idiomatic expressions was recommended as well.
Finally, the researcher suggested assessing the teachers’ attitude
towards the teaching of idioms. He also proposed conducting research on the
effect of context on the teaching of idiomatic expressions.
