Investigating the Challenges and Strategies of Thai University Students in Mastering English Idioms

Aisah Apridayani; Natthayos  Chatwichit; Tiparoon  Supanpong; Sukanya  Kanto

doi:10.17323/jle.2024.16842

Aisah Apridayani Walailak University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6794-9590
Natthayos Chatwichit Walailak University, Thailand
Tiparoon Supanpong Walailak University, Thailand
Sukanya Kanto Walailak University, Thailand

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2024.16842

Keywords: Communication skills, English idioms, learning difficulties, learning strategies, Thai students

Abstract

Background: The acquisition of English idiomatic expressions is a critical aspect of language proficiency that unquestionably contributes to the improvement of effective communication skills. A number of studies have been conducted in the field of English idioms; however, there are still unanswered questions in this area. Since learning English idioms is a complex process, further investigation is needed, especially among students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in the specific educational milieu of a university setting.

Purpose: This study investigated the attitudes of Thai university students towards the importance of learning English idioms. In addition, it examined the challenges faced by these students in learning and comprehending English idioms, along with the effective strategies employed to overcome the difficulties.

Methods: This study adopted a descriptive research design involving 50 fourth-year English major students (12% male, 88% female) from a university in southern Thailand. A survey questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale adapted from Orfan (2020) was used to collect the data from the participants.

Results: The findings demonstrated that Thai university students had a positive attitude towards the importance of learning idioms and recognized the critical role they play in successful communication in English. Nevertheless, they faced various challenges when learning English idioms. They reported that idioms were challenging to grasp when taken out of context, and they faced difficulties due to their limited knowledge and cultural background. The participants in the study also reported utilizing different strategies to learn and comprehend idioms, such as guessing the meaning of idioms, using descriptive definitions in English, and memorization.

Conclusion: This study offers valuable insights for both educators and researchers, serving as a foundation for the development of more efficient language teaching methodologies and promoting cross-cultural understanding in language acquisition.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alexander, R. (1987). Problems in understanding and teaching idiomaticity in English. Anglistik and Eneglichunterricht, 32(2), 105–122.

Aljabri, S. S. (2013). EFL students' judgments of English idiom familiarity and transparency. Journal of Language Teaching & Research, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.4304/jltr.4.4.662-669

Al-Kadi, A. (2015). Towards idiomatic competence of Yemeni EFL undergraduates. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 6(3), 513–523. http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0603.06

Al-Khawaldeh, N., Jaradat, A., Al-Momani, H., & Bani- Khair, B. (2016). Figurative idiomatic language: Strategies and difficulties of understanding English idioms. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 5(6), 119–133. http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.5n.6p.119

Al-Mohizea, M. I. (2017). The comprehension of body-part idioms by EFL learners: A cognitive linguistics-inspired approach. Journal of Cognitive Science, 18(2), 175-200.

Anjarini, R. D., & Hatmanto, E. D. (2021, December). Challenges and strategies in understanding English idioms: English as a foreign language students’ perception. In International Conference on Sustainable Innovation Track Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICSIHESS 2021) (pp. 241-247). Atlantis Press.

Apridayani, A. (2022). Exploring Thai EFL students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies and English proficiency. MEXTESOL Journal, 46(1), 1-10.

Arifuddin, A., Arafiq, A., Sujana, I. M., & Apgriyanto, K. (2020). The mastery of and strategies for understanding the idiomatic expressions applied by the students of hospitality and tourism. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 32(3), 167-177. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2019.1685392

Asri, A., & Rochmawati, D. (2017). Innovative teaching of English idiomatic expressions for EFL learners. Journal of English Teaching Adi Buana, 2(01), 47-58. https://doi.org/10.36456/jet.v2.n01.2017.714

Bortfeld, H. (2003). Comprehending idioms cross-linguistically. Experimental Psychology, 50(3), 217-230. http://dx.doi.org/10.1026//1617-3169.50.3.217.

Cieślicka, A. B. (2015). Idiom acquisition and processing by second/foreign language learners. Bilingual Figurative Language Processing (pp. 208-244). Cambridge University Press.

Ding, Y. (2007). Text memorization and imitation: The practices of successful Chinese learners of English. System, 35(2), 271–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2006.12.005

Dobrovol'skij, D., & Piirainen, E. (2021). Figurative language: Cross-cultural and cross-linguistic perspectives (vol. 350). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.

Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics. Oxford University Press.

Erman, B., & Warren, B. (2000). The idiom principle and the open choice principle. Text & Talk, 20(1), 29–62. https://doi.org/10.1515/text.1.2000.20.1.29

Given, L. M. (Ed.). (2008). The Sage encyclopaedia of qualitative research methods. Sage Publications.

Glucksberg, S. (2001). Understanding Figurative language. From metaphors to idioms. Oxford University Press.

Grant, L., & Bauer, L. (2004). Criteria for re‐defining idioms: Are we barking up the wrong tree? Applied Linguistics, 25(1), 38-61. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/25.1.38

Hu, G. W., & Chen, B. (2007). A protocol-based study of university level Chinese EFL learners’ writing strategies. English Australia Journal, 23(2), 37-56.

Hung, P. F., & Nippold, M. A. (2014). Idiom understanding in adulthood: Examining age-related differences. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 28(3), 208-221. https://doi.org/10.3109/02699206.2013.850117

Hussein, R., Khanji, R., & Makhzoomy, K. (2011). The acquisition of idioms: Transfer or what. Journal of King Saud University, 12(1), 23–34.

Karlsson, M. (2019). Idiomatic mastery in a first and second language (vol. 130). Multilingual Matters.

Larson, M. (1984). Meaning- based translation: A guide to cross language equivalence. University Press of America.

Littlemore, J., & Low, G. (2006). Figurative thinking and foreign language learning. Palgrave Macmillan.

Liu, D. (2008). Idioms. Descriptions, comprehension, acquisition, and pedagogy. Routledge.

Mäntylä, K. (2004). Idioms and language users: the effect of the characteristics of idioms on their recognition and interpretation by native and non-native speakers of English (No. 13). Jyväskylän yliopisto.

Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge University Press.

Nation, P. & Meara, P. (2002). Vocabulary. In N. Schmitt (Ed.), An introduction to applied linguistics (pp. 35-54). Arnold.

Nippold, M. A., & Taylor, C. L. (2002). Judgments of idiom familiarity and transparency: A comparison of children and adolescents. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 45, 384-391. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2002/030)

Orfan, S. N. (2020). Afghan EFL students’ difficulties and strategies in learning and understanding English idioms. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 7(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2020.1796228

Oxford., R. L. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Heinle & Heinle.

Phan, N. H., Le, T. V., & Pham, T. T. T. (2022). Learning idioms for English majors: Vietnamese students’ perceptions of difficulties and learning strategies. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(11), 97-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i11.4531

Qualls, C. D., & Harris, J. L. (2003). Age, working memory, figurative language type, and reading ability: Influencing factors in African American adults' comprehension of figurative language. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 12, 92-102. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2003/055)

Ranong, S. N. (2014). Idiom comprehension and processing: The case of Thai EFL learners. Journal of Studies in the English Language, 9, 51-97. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jsel/article/view/25407

Richards, J., & Schmidt, R. (2013). Longman dictionary of language teaching and applied linguistics. Longman.

Saleh, N., & Zakaria, N. (2013). Investigating the difficulties faced in understanding, and strategies used in processing English idiom by the Libyan students. International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies, 1(2), 69–90.

SelvaRaj, S., & Hua, T. (2019). Rural ESL teachers’ acumen in teaching idioms: Traditional and modern methodology. International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering, 9(2), 2594-2601.

Smadi, O., & Alrishan, A. (2015). Strategies used by Jordanian EFL university graduate students in translating idioms into Arabic. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(6), 45–55.

Szepietowska, E. M., & Filipiak, S. (2021). Interpretation of familiar metaphors and proverbs by Polish people in middle and late adulthood. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 56(4), 841-857. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12631

Tadayyon, M., & Ketabi, S. (2014). Iranian EFL learners’ attitude towards idioms in English. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 4(3), 608–612. https:// doi.org/10.4304/tpls.4.3.608-612

Türker, E. (2019). Idiom acquisition by second language learners: The influence of cross-linguistic similarity and context. The Language Learning Journal, 47(2), 133-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2016.1221441

Webb, S. (2007). Learning word pairs and glossed sentences: The effects of a single context on vocabulary knowledge. Language Teaching Research, 11(1), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 1362168806072463

Zyzik, E. (2009). Teaching and learning idioms: The big picture. University of California