The Advantages and Importance of Learning and Using Idioms in English - La importancia de aprender y usar modismos en una lengua extranjera: inglés

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Fez

A small-scale action research project investigated how guiding students to learn and use English idioms through dialogues and readings can enhance communicative ability. Implemented at Universidad Santo Tomás–Tunja with a group of eleven undergraduate Electronic Engineering students during the second semester of 2009, the study collected data via dialogues, interviews, and informal conversations. Results indicated increased idiom knowledge, expanded vocabulary, and measurable improvement in communicative skill.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Teaching and learning of idioms

Activities and classroom role

Influence on communicative skill

Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica ISSN: 0121-053X[cuadernos.linguistica@uptc.edu.co](cuadernos.linguistica@uptc.edu.co) Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia Colombia ROBERTO DE CARO, ELIANA EDITH The Advantages and Importance of Learning and Using Idioms in English Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica, núm. 14, julio-diciembre, 2009 , pp. 121-136 Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia Tunja-Boyacá, Colombia Available in: [http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=322227520009](http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=322227520009) How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in [redalyc.org](redalyc.org) Scientific Information System Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica N. ° 14 ISSN 0121-053X Julio-Diciembre 2009; p. 121-136 The Advantages and Importance of Learning and Using Idioms in English La importancia de aprender y usar modismos en una lengua extranjera: inglés ELIANA EDITH ROBERTO DE CARO* [elidith@hotmail.com](elidith@hotmail.com) Recepción: 27 de abril de 2009 Aprobación: 27 de mayo de 2009 Este artículopertenece al Grupo de investigación Skills inAction, adscrito a lalínea de investigación Innovación Pedagógica en la Enseñanzadel Inglés. Abstract This article has as main purpose to share the results of a small scale project based on guiding students in the use of idioms through dialogues and readings, in order to improve students'communicative skill. The project was applied at Universidad Santo Tomás-Tunja, with one group of eleven Electronic Engineering students who attend to an undergraduate education program. Dialogues, interviews, and informal speech or conversations were used to collect the data in this action research study. Findings demonstrated that by learning and using some idioms the learners were able to increase their knowledge about idioms, they learned new vocabulary, and improved their communicative skill. Key words: idioms, dialogues, communicative skill. Resumen Este artículo tiene como propósito compartir los resultados de un proyecto orientado a guiar promoción de modismos en lengua inglesa a través de diálogos y lecturas, con el objetivo de mejorar su habilidad comunicativa de los estudiantes. El proyecto fue aplicado en la Universidad Santo Tomás de la ciudad de Tunja, con un grupo de estudiantes de Ingeniería Electrónica, programa presencial de educación superior. Se utilizaron diálogos, entrevistas y discurso informal o conversaciones para recoger los datos de esta investigación acción. Los resultados demostraron que mediante el aprendizaje y la utilización de algunos modismos, los alumnos aumentaron sus conocimientos sobre modismos, aprendieron nuevo vocabulario y mejoraron su habilidad comunicativa. Palabras claves: modismos, diálogos, habilidad comunicativa. 122 E. E. Roberto de C. Introduction This article aims at sharing the results of a small scale project based on guiding eleven undergraduate Electronic Engineering at Universidad Santo Tomás, in the correct use of specific idioms in order to improve communicative skill. This project was carried out during the second semester of 2009. I, as English teacher, have been concerned about the way English is taught at USTA (Universidad Santo Tomás) into the process of learning idioms. It is very interesting to university students to be enrolled in the procedure of learning specific idioms because of this way they can performance several activities through the use of idioms. According to the researcher of this project, the integration of idioms has a very important attention in the teaching and learning process of English, especially as a form to implement effective techniques to incorporate idioms in the classroom. Idioms in and outside the classroom are widely believed to help t

FAQs

What was the main purpose of the project?

To guide students in learning and using English idioms through dialogues and readings in order to improve communicative skill.

How were data collected in the study?

Dialogues, interviews, and informal speech or conversations were used to gather the data.

What were the key findings after learning idioms?

Learners increased their knowledge about idioms, learned new vocabulary, and improved their communicative skill.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Fez