The Effects of Image-Schema on Learning and Retention of English Prepositions by Intermediate Kurdish EFL Learners

Subject Areas : Journal of Applied Linguistics Studies

Ahmed Aaeez Mohammad Mohammed ¹ , Fatemeh Mirzapour ² , Nesa Nabifar ³

1 - Department of English, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2 - Department of English, Sofiyan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sofiyan, Iran
3 - Department of English, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

Received: 2024-01-25 Accepted : 2024-06-05 Published : 2024-09-01

Keywords: Cognitive linguistics, English prepositions, Image schema, Kurdish learners,

Abstract :

Although a small proportion of English language is taken by prepositions, they play an important function. Foreign language learners fail to learn them and show difficulties in using propositions correctly. This quantitative study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Image schema method in helping intermediate Kurdish students in learning ten English prepositions including in, on, at, to, behind, in front of, between, beside, over and under. 100 intermediate EFL Kurdish learners within the age range of 18 to 20 from Lebanese French University in Kurdistan, Iraq made the participants of the present study. An Oxford Placement Test (OPT) was administered in order to have relatively two homogenous groups regarding their language proficiency. Based on the results, the students whose scores were +_1 standard deviation above or blow of the mean score were selected as the members of the two groups namely, one experimental and one control groups (50 in each group). To assess the participants' learning and retention before and after the intervention, a pretest and a posttest were employed. The findings of statistical analysis revealed that Image schema method had a greater impact on English preposition learning in comparison with rote learning. Thus, the present study has some pedagogical implications for English language instructors in Iraq to be aware of cognitive linguistic usage as a frequent practice in the EFL classroom.