Kurdish EFL Learners’ Competency in Recognizing the Meaning of Contextual English Idioms

Idioms generally comprise basic elements of any language and culture. Master control of English idioms assists as a prime indication of language proficiency. The present study aims to explore the ability of Kurdish EFL undergraduate learners in recognizing the contextual meaning of English idioms. The researchers carried out the study using a quantitative method. The sample of the study comprised 76 learners, including 57 females and 19 males. Concerning the academic levels, 33 third year and 43 fourth year constituted the participants of the study. The research attempts to explore the variation between both genders and academic levels in recognizing the contextual meaning of English idioms. The participants undertook a test to detect their level of comprehension of the idioms. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to assess the differences between genders: male and female, and academic levels: third-year and fourth-year participants. The statistical test, Independent Sample T-test was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study demonstrated the lack of statistical differences between male and female participants in recognizing English idioms. Furthermore, no significant variations were observed between the academic levels. The results offer an understanding of our perceptions at which point gender and academic level of the learners may have implications in determining English idioms among Kurdish learners. This study focuses on the significance of using quantitative methods to investigate language competency, highlighting the need for targeted instruction in language strategies to enhance the understanding of English idioms in language teaching.