Metaphoric competence : an analysis of Iraqi EFL university learners

الملخص EN

Metaphoric competence is the knowledge of and ability to use metaphor appropriately and effectively.

It contributes to all aspects of communicative competence, and is therefore highly relevant to foreign language learning, teaching and testing.

This study investigates the effect of instruction on the use of the conceptual metaphors.

The sample of this study consists of forty students.

Twenty students were enrolled in an experimental group that received instruction designed to increase their ability to useand understand metaphors.

The other twentystudents were enrolled in a control group, which received no instruction.The results show that, compared to the control group (traditional-based approach), systematic presentation of the target figurative expressions on life around the two conceptual metaphors they instantiate improves comprehension and spontaneous preservation of these expressions among Iraqi EFL learners.