Resumen:
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.