An Investigation into Difficulties of Understanding and Using English Idioms Facing Sudanese Students Majoring In English Language

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.