Why Teach Idioms? A Challenge to the Profession

Document Type : Original Article

Author

University of South Florida, Tampa, US

Abstract

This article presents a rationale for making idioms and their use a mainstay of the second language (L2) curriculum. First, it offers a definition of the elusive term “idiom” as a point of departure for the ensuing discussion. Second, it offers five specific reasons why idiom instruction should be integrated into the L2 curriculum: here, it is argued that students’ knowledge of idioms needs to be anchored in language materials and situations that are both authentic and purposeful. It is further argued that requiring students to produce idioms in ways that native speakers use them enhances students’ mastery of them, facilitating the binding and mapping processes of idiom internalization. Finally, this article challenges the SLA profession to propose a systematic, theoretically informed program for developing idiomatic competence in L2 learners that is based on meaningful, authentic idiom use in the classroom and beyond.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research
Volume 5, Issue 3 (Special Issue)
October 2017
Pages 5-25

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 June 2017
  • Revise Date: 16 July 2017
  • Accept Date: 01 August 2017

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