Exploring the advantages and challenges of teaching idiomatic expressions to enhance speaking skills in university students.

Abstract

This research explored the advantages and challenges of teaching idiomatic expressions to enhance the speaking skills of university students. Idiomatic expressions enrich vocabulary, improve cultural understanding, and help students sound more like native speakers, but their figurative meanings and cultural contexts pose challenges. Qualitative methods, including interviews and observations, gathered insights from professors and students. Results revealed that idiomatic expressions significantly improved students' pronunciation, vocabulary, and ability to express emotions and ideas accurately. However, students faced difficulties with pronunciation, memorization, and contextual usage. Professors noted that students struggled with literal interpretations and limited exposure in textbooks. They also highlighted that idioms enhance fluency and cultural understanding but require effective teaching strategies. The study emphasized the importance of engaging activities such as role-plays and multimedia resources. Understanding the cultural context of idioms was crucial for effective use. The findings provided valuable guidance for educators to enhance their teaching strategies, emphasizing consistent practice and integration of idiomatic expressions into daily lessons, ultimately improving students' speaking skills and communicative competence.