Abstract:
It has been observed that vocabulary constitute an essential factor in
foreign language learning. Learners of English language need to have
command of a wide range of complex lexical units which are
prefabricated as chunks of arranged patterns of phrases and words.
Biber, et al.(1999:991-992) define lexical bundles as '' recurrent
expressions or sequences of three or more word forms that commonly go
together in natural discourse''. They(ibid) add that ''lexical bundles can
be regarded as building blocks that tend to be used frequently by
different speakers in different situations''.They are retrieved and
reprocessed as whole units which may not only enhance the accuracy and
fluency of language, but also speed up language processing significantly.
The present study deals with the investigation of the role of
teaching lexical bundles in the development of Iraqi EFL proficiency in
the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Kufa. The most
important purpose of lexical bundles is creating discourse coherence
which helps students tocommunicate and practice language with effective
and successful facilities. The study attempts to answer the following
questions:
1) Is the use of lexical bundles necessary and effective in enhancing and
developing of Iraqi EFL?
2) What is the difference between students who are unaware and
unfamiliar with the use of lexical bundles and those who are familiar
and able to identify them?
The sample of the test consists of two types of questions (fill in the
blanks 'production' and multiple choices 'recognition' ) and 40 students
are selected randomly at the mentioned department. The participants are
divided into two groups , each group with 20 students. The first group
who are not aware how to use lexical bundles constructed the pre-test
exam and the second group with 20 students done the post-test exam who
are well constructed with the experience and knowledge of learning
lexical bundles.
The findings of the analysis have shown that students(pre-test) at the
level of production score high and low rates concerning noun phrase
based bundles. Whereas at the level of recognition students face
difficulty in the recognition of clauses. Here, phrases are recognized
more than clause are. The post-test which is concerned with those
students who have attended lexical bundles classes shows high rates of
correct answers in the use of noun phrase, verb phrase, preposition phrase
and it cleft clause at the level of production and recognition. Therefore,
learning such multi word expressions can contribute to gaining effective
proficiency in language communication and competence.