A comparative analysis of the effect of using translation, definition, etymology, and imageable expressions on the
retention of idioms
The present study aimed to examine the effect of four prevailing teaching methods, i.e., translation, definition,
etymology, and imageable expressions on the immediate and delayed retention of idioms in the receptive and productive modes. To
meet this end, 120 EFL Iranian learners participated in the study. Thirty of them received idioms through definition, thirty
through translation, thirty through pictures, and thirty through etymology in their first language. Twenty idioms were selected
and taught in two sessions. Retention of the idioms, in the productive and receptive modes was measured immediately after the
class and again two weeks later. The results indicated that etymology and pictorial methods had a remarkably more positive
influence on the immediate and delayed retention of the idioms in both the receptive and productive modes.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Review of the related literature
- 2.1Idioms
- 2.2Retention of idioms
- 2.3Receptive and productive knowledge
- 2.4Techniques in teaching idioms
- 3.Research questions
- 4.Methodology
- 4.1Participants
- 4.2Instrumentation
- 4.2.1Homogeneity test
- 4.2.2Target items, pretest, and posttests
- 4.3Procedure
- 4.4Scoring
- 5.Results
- 5.1Results of the pilot study
- 5.2Results of the main study
- 5.2.1Results related to the first research question
- 5.2.2Results related to the second research question
- 5.2.3Results related to the third research question
- 5.2.4Results related to the fourth research question
- 6.Discussion
- 7.Conclusion
-
References
References (46)
References
Abel, B. (2003). English idioms in the first language and second language lexicon: A dual representation approach. Second Language Research, 19(4), 329–358. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Abkarian, G., Jones, A., & West, G. (1992). Young children’s idiom comprehension: Trying to get the picture. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 351, 580–587. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Aliakbari, M., & Khosravian, F. (2013). A corpus analysis of color-term conceptual metaphors in Persian proverbs. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 701, 11–17.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ausubel, D. (1963). The psychology of meaningful verbal learning. New York, NY: Grune & Stratton.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bagheri, M. S., & Fazel, I. (2010). Effects of etymological elaboration on the EFL learners’ comprehension and retention of idioms. Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics, 14(1), 45–55.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Baleghizadeh, S., & Bagheri, M. (2012). The effect of etymology on EFL learners’ comprehension and retention of idioms. The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 18(1), 23–32.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Boers, F. (2001). Remembering figurative idioms by hypothesizing about their origin. Prospect, 16(3), 35–43.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Borko, H., Eiteljorg, E., Jacobs, J., & Pittman, M. E. (2008). Video as a tool for fostering productive discussions in mathematics professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24(2), 417–436. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Brophy, J. E. (2004). Using video in teacher education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cambridge international dictionary of idioms. (1998). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Carreres, A. (2006). Strange bedfellows: Translation and language teaching, the teaching of translation into L2 in modern languages degree; uses and limitations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cook, V. J. (1992). Evidence for multicompetence. Language Learning, 42(4), 557–591. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ellis, R. (2001). Investigating form-focused instruction. Language Learning, 511, 1–46. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Grant, L., & Bauer, L. (2004). Criteria for re-defining idioms: Are we barking up the wrong tree? Applied Linguistics, 25(1), 38–61. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hummel, K. M. (2010). Translation and short-term L2 vocabulary retention: Hindrance or help? Language Teaching Research 14(1), 61–74. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Irujo, S. (1986). Don’t put your leg in your mouth: Transfer in the acquisition of idiom in a second language. TESOL Quarterly, 20 (2), 287–304. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kinnuchan-Welsch, K., Rosemary, C. A., & Grogan, P. R. (2007). Accountability by design in literacy professional development. The Reading Teacher, 59(5), 426–435. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lado, R., Baldwin, B., & Lobo, F. (1967). Massive vocabulary expansion in a foreign language beyond the basic course: The effects of stimuli, timing and order of presentation. Washington, DC: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Landau, S. I. (2001). Dictionaries: The art and craft of lexicography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Laufer, B. (2007). Possible change in attitude toward vocabulary acquisition research. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 241, 69–75.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Le Fevre, D. M. (2003). Designing for teacher learning: Video-based curriculum design. Advances in Research on Teaching, 101, 235–258. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lightbown, P., & Spada, N. (1990). Focus-on-form and corrective feedback in communicative language teaching: Effects on second language learning. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 121, 429–448. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
McKeown, M. G. (1993). Creating effective definitions for young word learners. Reading Research Quarterly, 28(1), 17–31. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Moreno, R., & Valdez, A. (2007). Immediate and delayed effects of using a classroom case exemplar in teacher education: The role of presentation format. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99(1), 194–206. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nation, I. S. P. (2010). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Norris, J., & Ortega, L. (2000). Effectiveness of L2 instruction: A research synthesis and quantitative meta-analysis. Language Learning, 501,417–528. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Omazic’, M. (2004). Imagery in phraseology. In B. Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk & A. Kwiatkowska (Eds.), Imagery in language (pp. 625–633). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2nd ed.). (1999). Oxford: Oxford University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Oxford Dictionary of Contemporary English Idioms (3rd ed.). (2010). Oxford: Oxford University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Paivio, A. (1986). Mental representations: A dual coding approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Pryor, C. R., & Bitter, G. G. (2008). Using multimedia to teach inservice teachers: Impacts on learning, application, and retention. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(6), 2668–2681. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Richards, J. C., Platt, J., & Platt, H. (1992). Dictionary of language teaching and applied linguistics. London: Longman.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Richardson, V., & Kile, R. S. (1999). The use of video cases in teacher education. In M. L. Lundeberg, B. Levin, & H. Harrington (Eds.), Who learns from cases and how? The research base for teaching with cases (pp. 121–136). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Seago, N. (2003). Using video as an object of inquiry for mathematics teaching and learning. Advances in Research on Teaching, 101, 259–286. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Shen, H. H. (2010). Imagery and verbal coding approaches in Chinese vocabulary instruction. Language Teaching Research 14(4), 485–499. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sherin, M. G. (2003). New perspectives on the role of video in teacher education. Advances in Research on Teaching, 101, 1–27. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sprenger, S. A., Levelt, J. M., & Kempen, G. (2006). Lexical access during the production of idiomatic phrases. Journal of Memory and Language, 541, 16–24. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Swain, M. (1998). Focus on form through conscious reflection. In C. Doughty & J. Williams (Eds.), Focus on form in classroom second language acquisition (pp. 64–81). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Swinney, D. A., & Cutler, A. (1979). An access and processing of idiomatic expressions. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 181, 523–534. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Vasiljevic, Z. (2014). Effects of verbal definitions and etymological notes on comprehension and recall of L2 idioms. Journal of ELT and Applied Linguistics, 2(2), 92–109.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Wang, J., & Hartley, K. (2003). Video technology as a support for teacher education reform. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 11(1), 105–138.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Waring, R. (1997). A study of receptive and productive vocabulary learning from word cards. Studies in Foreign Language and Literature, 21(1), 94–114.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Zhang, L. (2009). The effect of etymological elaboration on L2 idiom acquisition and retention in an online environment (Unpublished master’s thesis). Iowa University. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Zhou, S. (2010). Comparing receptive and productive academic vocabulary knowledge of Chinese EFL learners. Asian Social Science, 6(10), 14–19. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cited by (1)
Cited by one other publication
Alnujaidi, Sulaiman
2023.
Enhancing EFL students’ proverb comprehension through the conceptual metaphor approach: A cognitive linguistic perspective.
Journal of Language and Cultural Education 11:2
► pp. 60 ff.
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 5 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.