The Impact of the Cultural Aspect of Phraseology on the Comprehension of Secondary School EFL Students in Kosovo
Session
Language and Culture
Description
This study examines the impact of the cultural aspect of phraseology on the comprehension of secondary school students in Kosovo who are learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Phraseology, particularly idiomatic expressions and other fixed linguistic units, often carries cultural elements that are not easily translated into the students’ native language. This creates barriers in the acquisition and accurate interpretation of English language content. The research was conducted with 60 students from three different secondary schools in Kosovo, through a reading test and a structured interview aimed at assessing their perceptions of culturally loaded expressions. The findings show that a lack of knowledge about the cultural context of English phraseology significantly affects text comprehension. Expressions such as “kick the bucket” or “break the ice” were often misunderstood or interpreted literally, leading to a distortion of the overall meaning of the text. The study highlights the need to integrate the cultural component into the teaching of phraseology, through authentic materials and intercultural learning methods. This research underscores the importance of intertwining language and culture in the process of learning English as a foreign language, suggesting a more culturally aware approach to language instruction. .
Keywords:
phraseology, cultural aspect, comprehension, EFL, secondary school students, idioms, interculturalism
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.262
Recommended Citation
Krasniqi, Kadri, "The Impact of the Cultural Aspect of Phraseology on the Comprehension of Secondary School EFL Students in Kosovo" (2025). UBT International Conference. 1.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/LC/1
The Impact of the Cultural Aspect of Phraseology on the Comprehension of Secondary School EFL Students in Kosovo
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
This study examines the impact of the cultural aspect of phraseology on the comprehension of secondary school students in Kosovo who are learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Phraseology, particularly idiomatic expressions and other fixed linguistic units, often carries cultural elements that are not easily translated into the students’ native language. This creates barriers in the acquisition and accurate interpretation of English language content. The research was conducted with 60 students from three different secondary schools in Kosovo, through a reading test and a structured interview aimed at assessing their perceptions of culturally loaded expressions. The findings show that a lack of knowledge about the cultural context of English phraseology significantly affects text comprehension. Expressions such as “kick the bucket” or “break the ice” were often misunderstood or interpreted literally, leading to a distortion of the overall meaning of the text. The study highlights the need to integrate the cultural component into the teaching of phraseology, through authentic materials and intercultural learning methods. This research underscores the importance of intertwining language and culture in the process of learning English as a foreign language, suggesting a more culturally aware approach to language instruction. .