engleski

Analysis of comprehension of the meaning and use of english idioms by university students

English is the widely accepted language of communication in the contemporary world. Good communication skills are a prerequisite for better understanding and success in the business, social and educational environment. Communication skills and language skills should therefore be continuously exercised and improved. Idioms or idiomatic phrases are specific expressions that consist of a number of words which when used together give the meaning that is not identical to the meaning of each individual word. The word order is specific and cannot be changed. The meaning is not literal, so it is necessary to know the expression in order to interpret it correctly. Idiomatic expressions are often used in everyday communication in English, mostly in informal but also in formal contexts, e.g. lectures, business reports or meetings. Knowledge of these expressions contributes to the enrichment of vocabulary and the contextual use of language. According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the need to use languages with a dose of eloquence and spontaneity that enable contact and fluent communication with the native speaker is emphasized. When using idioms, fluency and good command of the language are shown. In this paper, results of a survey carried out among undergraduate and graduate students (N = 143) are presented. The aim of the research was to explore comprehension of the meaning and use of selected English idioms in the higher education context. To collect data, the Questionnaire for Research of Comprehension and Use of English Idioms, compiled for the purpose of this research, was used. The data collected were entered into the statistical software package SPSS 20.0, and analysed by appropriate statistical procedures of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the research were compared with reference to the programme and year of study. The results obtained suggest more time could be dedicated to teaching the meaning and use of idioms in English. In order to maintain high standards of language teaching, in addition to grammar and vocabulary, it is necessary to continuously work on comprehension and use of idioms in order to achieve better learning outcomes and enable students to be spontaneous and fluent in written and spoken English. Further research on the comprehension and use of idiomatic expressions could include a larger sample, different programmes and years of study and different educational contexts, applying different methods and research instruments.

English language ; idioms ; students ; communication

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