The Role of Age and Gender in EFL Students’ Perception towards the Use of English Idiomatic and Colloquial Expressions

Nowadays, in classrooms, colloquial and idiomatic expressions are gaining more significance among EFL learners due to their need for oral communication using a natural language which is mostly represented through colloquial and idiomatic expressions. However, the impact of using different aids, i.e. printed, auditory and visual, has not been investigated in EFL contexts or the studies have not been adequate. In this study, the role age and gender play in the participants’ attitudes toward the application of the three types of aids was studied. To carry out the research, ۶۰ EFL students studying in two language institutes were asked to participate in the study forming two experimental groups and one control group. Concerning the first research question, four themes emerged which revealed the dominance of formal English in EFL classrooms, younger students’ preference for colloquial English, students’ problems with the comprehension of colloquial English and also their inclination for visual aids. The second research question indicated that gender, as opposed to age, did not influence the participants’ perceptions. The outcomes of this research may have implications for EFL/ESL pedagogy involving syllabus designers, material developers, learners and teachers.

Keywords:

EFL , Idiom , Colloquial Expressions , Age and Gender