EXPLORING CHALLENGES TO DEVELOPING ADVANCED SPEAKING PROFICIENCY AT KOHAT UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE ROLE OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Abstract

This research is designed to explore the general speaking challenges to developing advanced speaking proficiency of high qualified language users, with the special focus on the role of idiomatic expressions in advances spoken language proficiency at Kohat University of Science and Technology(KUST),Kohat, KP,Pakistan . The study discusses the barriers that kept high qualified language users away from using idioms in their communication. Correspondingly, this research is purely qualitative and exploratory in nature. The study includes those high qualified language users as participants, who have taken IELTS and are done with their doctoral studies Total 10 participants selected for the study from numerous disciplines of Kohat University of Science and Technology. Under purposive sampling technique the relevant participants were selected for the deeper insights about the difficulties faces by high qualified language users at (KUST). Accordingly, semi-structured interviews are designed to gather detail information/data from the respondents. The audio recorded interviews were then transcribed and analyzed via Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic content analysis framework. The labeled data is categorized into codes for grounded themes. The findings of the study suggest that even the highly qualified language users are unaware of the standardized criteria set by IELTS, for reaching advanced spoken proficiency.  The knowledge of the descriptor is necessary for knowing the strength and weakness of different levels of spoken proficiency. Likewise, the results indicate that the overemphasis on the foundational knowledge and traditional methods of teaching language need to replace by modern classroom and communication skills. Furthermore, future research can further explore the frequency and the evaluation of practical implications of modern methodologies in language classrooms.