Investigating Difficulties that Face Sudanese Students in Understanding English Idiomatic Expressions

Elbushari Abdoun Elbushra Mousa

Abstract: This study aims at investigating the difficulties of understanding English idiomatic expressions that encounter Sudanese students. This study adopted the descriptive analytical method of research. The researcher designed questionnaires on idiomatic expressions for ELT teachers at different universities. This study and difficulties encountered by the Sudanese students and strategies used to overcome these problems and difficult penetrating into the research problems, the researcher raised three questions about cultural difficulties of English idiomatic expressions. Moreover, three hypotheses were formulated corresponding to these five questions. Findings revealed low ability of the students in understanding English idiomatic expressions. Finding also revealed that English students did not use particular strategy while encountering unknown idioms. Students better understand idiom in context. Finally, the researcher proposed conducting research on the effect of context on teaching idiomatic expressions.

Keywords: Idiomatic Expression