Examining EFL learners' notions of learning English idioms

Öz

Idioms function as single units in semantically and syntactically restricted word sequences. Considered among deceptive transparent words, idioms in an L2 can be challenging to learn and retain due to a variety of reasons, such as their figurative nature of usage, inadequacy in understanding their sense that stems from their literal meaning, discourse features, and cultural background. This study aimed to investigate EFL learners' notions of learning English idioms. A total of eighty EFL learners with Turkish L1 background participated in the study. Based on a mixed method design, a 27-item questionnaire was applied and statistical analysis for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative responses were utilized in the study. The results showed that learning idioms is regarded as a crucial part of understanding the figurative language in English. To accomplish this, it was appointed that learners needed a variety of activities supported by contextual and authentic use of language. The results also showed that the congruence of idioms across two languages, the visual aids, specific learning strategies may help them retain idioms in English. The study also offers related implications to eliminate challenges in learning idiomatic phrases in an L2.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• English
• Figurative language
• Idioms
• Turkish

İngilizceyi yabancı dil olarak öğrenenlerin İngilizce deyim öğrenme algılarının incelenmesi

Öz

Deyimler, anlamsal ve sözdizimsel olarak kısıtlanmış kelime dizilerinde tek birimler olarak işlev görür. Yanıltıcı şeffaf kelimeler arasında kabul edilen deyimler, yanıltıcı olan ifadeler arasında yer alan deyimler, mecazi kullanım doğası, gerçek anlamlarından kaynaklanan anlamlarının anlaşılmasındaki yetersizlik, söylem özellikleri ve kültürel geçmiş gibi çeşitli nedenlerle ikinci dilde (L2) öğrenilmesi ve hatırda tutulması zor olabilir. Bu çalışma, İngilizce deyim öğrenimine ilişkin olarak İngilizceyi yabancı dil olarak öğrenen öğrencilerin görüşlerini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Çalışmaya anadili Türkçe olan toplam seksen İngilizce öğrencisi katılmıştır. Karma yöntem desenine dayalı olarak, çalışmada 27 maddelik bir anket uygulanmış; nicel veriler için istatistiksel analiz, nitel veriler için ise tematik analiz kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, deyim öğrenmenin İngilizce mecazi dili anlamanın önemli bir parçası olarak görüldüğünü ortaya koymuştur. Bunu başarmak için öğrencilerin bağlamsal ve otantik dil kullanımıyla desteklenen çeşitli etkinliklere ihtiyaçları duyduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, iki dil arasında deyimsel örtüşme, görsel destekler ve belirli öğrenme stratejilerinin, İngilizce deyimleri akılda tutmalarına yardımcı olabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Çalışma, ikinci dilde deyimsel ifadelerin öğreniminde karşılaşılan zorlukların giderilmesine yönelik ilgili çıkarımlar da sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İngilizce
• Mecazi dil
• Deyimler
• Türkçe

Kaynakça

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