This study investigates differential effects of etymological elaboration and rote memorization on idiom acquisition and retention in Chinese college EFL learners. The sample (N = 70) involved two intact groups of college students. Subjects in one group exposed to instruction in the form of etymological familiarity while subjects in the comparison group were asked to memorize idioms on the basis of their given meaning. Subjects were then administered two post-tests: one to assess initial idiom acquisition, and another four weeks later to assess idiom retention. Statistical analyses produced sufficient support for both the first hypothesis (that the etymological elaboration condition would acquire more idioms than the rote memorization condition), and the second hypothesis—that the etymological familiarity would exhibit superior retention rates. The finding of this study suggests that for the purpose of encouraging long-term retention, elaborating on the original usage of idioms is preferable to requiring students to learn idioms by rote.
