Difference between the Effect of Video-based Materials vs. Still Pictures on the Retention of Idiomatic Expressions by Iranian Elementary EFL Learners

The present study aimed to explore the difference between the effect of video-based materials and still pictures on the retention of idiomatic expressions by Iranian elementary EFL learners. Second, it sought to find out whether there is a significant difference between high-motivated and low-motivated elementary EFL learners in the retention of idiomatic expressions taught by using video-based materials. Sixty Iranian EFL learners majoring in English Literature and English Translation and English Language Teaching were selected from those studying at the University of Zabol and Sistan and Baluchestan, to take part in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group received English idioms based on video-based materials, and the other group received the same English idioms based on still pictures. The instruments applied in this research were as follows: quick placement test, an idiom knowledge test, a pretest, a post-test, a delayed post-test of the target idioms, a motivational questionnaire, ۲۲ still pictures, ۲۲ video-based material, and a WhatsApp application. To analyze the data, a mixed between-within ANOVA was used. The results indicated that there was not a significant difference between teaching English idiomatic expressions through still pictures and video-based materials by elementary EFL learners. In addition, there was no significant difference between high-motivated and low-motivated elementary EFL learners in the retention of idiomatic expressions taught by using video-based materials. As most foreign language teachers regard teaching idioms as difficult and demanding, the results of the study could help them in addressing this problem. They can use both still pictures and video-based materials for increasing the motivation and interest of Iranian elementary EFL learners in learning idioms and helping the learners to keep idioms more effectively in their memory.