Analysis of Difficulties in Understanding Idiomatic Expressions among Language Preparation Students and Proposed Solutions تحليل صعوبات فهم التعبيرات الاصطلاحية لدى طالبات قسم الإعداد اللغوي والحلول المقترحة لها

Abstract

Understanding idiomatic expressions is considered one of the important aspects in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers due to the figurative meanings they convey, which are closely related to linguistic and cultural contexts. This study aimed to analyze the difficulties encountered by female students of the Language Preparation Department at STIBA Ar-Raayah in understanding idiomatic expressions in Silsilah Al-‘Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk (Volume Four, Part Two), to identify the factors contributing to these difficulties, and to propose appropriate solutions for overcoming them. The study employed a descriptive-analytical method with a qualitative approach and used open-ended questionnaires as the primary instrument for data collection, supported by interviews and documentation. The sample consisted of ten female students and two reading instructors during the 2024/2025 academic year, selected through purposive sampling. In analyzing the data, the researcher applied the model of Miles and Huberman, which includes data classification, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicated that linguistic difficulties were more prominent than cultural ones, including the literal interpretation of idiomatic expressions, difficulty distinguishing between literal and idiomatic meanings, limited understanding of expressions within context, and difficulty comprehending their cultural meanings. The study also revealed four major contributing factors, namely the students’ language proficiency, their cultural and background knowledge, the teachers’ instructional methods and teaching strategies, and the learning environment inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, the study proposed linguistic, cultural, and educational solutions to address these difficulties.