Investigating the Use of English Idiomatic Expressions for University Students

Abstract

The study explored the area of idiomatic expressions as being important linguistic units for learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Idiomatic expressions are phrases that consist of two or more words and hence; acquire an idiomatic sense which differ from the literal meaning of the individual words. These expressions are peculiar to a language and therefore understanding them at first hand causes a dilemma for students majoring in English; let alone being able to use them in writing. The study aimed at investigating the role of idiomatic expressions in improving writing and communicative competence and whether these expressions have effective role in improving the students' performance in language. The study highlighted the important part that idiomatic expressions play in English as a foreign language. The study followed the descriptive and analytical methods. The tools used for collecting the data were an interview and a test. The interviews were conducted with English Language lecturers from different universities in Sudan. They were five lecturers. A Pre-Testand a post-test were conducted for the students majoring in English who were - eighty students from the department of English, Faculty of Education, University of Noble Quran ‘origination of Sciences’ department, Omdurman. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme was used for data analysis. The study reached many results. The main results revolve around the following: the importance of idiomatic expressions as being important linguistic units for the students of English. There was a significant difference between the students' performance in the Pre-Testand their performance in the post-test' There was an improvement of the students 'performance in the post test after studying the syllabus that included idiomatic expressions that was designed for them. This means the students' comprehension of idiomatic expressions has a significant role in improving their performance in language. The study reached the. Result that culture is considered a 'cornerstone' with regard to enjoyable and effective factors of learning a language. There is a broad consensus on the necessity of the inclusion of idiomatic expressions in university syllabuses. The results also show that effective teaching of idiomatic expressions will result in improving the students' writing and communicative skills. Another result shows that idiomatic expressions exist within some syllabuses of universities, but they are not taught effectively. The study recommends that idiomatic expressions should be focused on and included within the syllabuses of universities in Sudan, besides adopting effective methods and techniques in teaching such linguistic elements.