Resumen de Learning of English idioms during a work experience abroad: a study of its effectiveness
There is a considerable amount of literature focused on the study of second language learners’ comprehension of idioms. All these studies acknowledge the relevance of idiomatic language when adapting to a different culture. Moreover, they stress the high frequency with which idioms appear in daily conversations. However, the effect that working abroad may have on idiom learning has not received much attention. This study aims to determine the number of idioms accurately learnt by Spanish professionals currently working in an English-speaking country. In order to analyse their comprehension of idioms, the participants (N = 30) were asked to complete a questionnaire which contained open-ended, multiple-choice, and dichotomous questions. In addition to this, some of the questions specified the context in which the idioms may be used, while others did not mention that information. Once data were collected, the meaning of the idioms for which the participants had repeatedly given incorrect answers was analysed, in order to find a pattern for their mistakes. Moreover, participants were divided into three groups according to the number of questions in which they had been right, so that their particular idiomatic competence after a labour experience abroad could be determined. We expect the results to demonstrate how important it is to properly identify the situational context in which the idioms are used, in order to understand them accurately. Similarly, the quantitative analysis may also extend our knowledge of idiom learning by proving the limited effect that a work experience abroad has on it.
