Journal of Language Studies
Tikrit University

Difficulties in Translating Idiomatic Expressions in the French as a Foreign Language Classroom: Fourth-Year Students in the Department of French Language at the University of Mosul, Iraq, as a Case Study

Document Type : Original Article

Author

إحسان شكر محمود

قسم اللغة الفرنسية, كلية الآداب, جامعة الموصل

https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.9.4.P2.25
Abstract
In the teaching and learning of French as a foreign language, both students and teachers face numerous challenges, including understanding and translating idiomatic expressions from French into Arabic and vice versa. These expressions are deeply rooted in the culture, traditions, history, and way of thinking of a particular people or country. They carry figurative and metaphorical meanings associated with a specific context, which makes their literal translation difficult. Consequently, the ambiguity of meaning, which is often figurative and indirect, hinders students from understanding the precise meaning of these expressions. In addition, the lack of knowledge of their equivalents in the mother tongue constitutes an additional obstacle. From this perspective, the teacher should develop a specific strategy for teaching these expressions, while providing supportive tools that enhance students’ understanding of them first and then enable them to translate them accurately and acceptably.

Keywords

Idiomatic Expressions
Translation
Difficulties
Teaching
Learning
Crossmark
Journal of Language Studies
Volume 9, Issue 4, Part 2
Autumn 2025
Pages 546-566

  • Receive Date 22 June 2025
  • Accept Date 08 July 2025
  • Publish Date 01 December 2025

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