IDIOMATIC PHRASES AS A BRIDGE FOR QUALITY INTERCULTURAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

The paper provides the theoretical background for a case study on idiomatic expressions building on the lexical and conceptual domains of food and health. The study was conducted in a collaborative effort between two universities (The University of Life Sciences 'King Michael I' from Timisoara and the 'Victor Babe?' University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Timisoara, Romania). The participants are learners of English or Romanian as a foreign language who study medicine and the life sciences in the two universities. Mixed groups consisting of international students from both universities were included in the case study presented in an additional paper we also propose on the topic. This preliminary discussion explores ways in which idiomatic vocabulary in our fields of interest might be used in teaching foreign language classes. Additionally, the follow-up we are elaborating for an in-depth study focuses more on particular types of activities to kindle language learners' interests.

Keywords

• idioms
• foreign languages
• intercultural competence
• communication
• conceptual metaphor