The comprehension and usage of American idioms by third year college students of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic College

Abstract

This study was conducted during the academic year 2007-2008 to investigate the students’ comprehension and usage of American idioms.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in March, 2008 with third year college students of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Estancia, Iloilo as respondents.

Data were gathered using a questionnaire to determine the students’ personal background and a researcher-made test to measure their comprehension and usage of American idioms. Means, standard deviation, frequency counts and percentages were used for descriptive analysis. The T-test was used to determine the significant differences between means and ANOVA for the differences among means of the variables identified.

The level of significance was set at 0.05 level for two-tailed test. Pearson’s r, set at 0.01 level, was used to determine significant relationships between variables.

It was found out that there was a significant difference in the students’ comprehension and usage of American idioms when they are classified according to gender. It was also noted that the students’ family income and most factors related to American culture do not contribute to their comprehension and usage of idioms.

Furthermore, results of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between the students’ academic performance and comprehension and usage of American idioms, but no significant relationship was noted between the students’ family income and comprehension and usage of American idioms.