Abstract
In this study, the researcher examined how Kazakh language learners (KLLs) and Russian language learners (RLLs) in Kazakhstan comprehend idioms in jokes. The study involved 25 participants (20 KLLs and 5 RLLs) who were asked to read 10 English and 10 Russian jokes, with some containing idioms. The researcher analyzed the participants' Think-Aloud protocols, identifying 20 idiom comprehension strategies falling into three categories: cognitive, metacognitive, and socio-affective. The author also found five major difficulties that participants faced during the idiom comprehension task, such as unfamiliar idioms and cultural differences. The study's implications suggest that explicit teaching of comprehension strategies, including idioms and jokes, should be incorporated into FL instruction. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of idiom comprehension strategies for FL learners in decoding the meaning of unknown idioms encountered while reading FL texts.