سمیرا عباسی

Enhancing speaking ability is an important component of the acquirement of a language. The innovative aspect of this study is improving speaking ability through online strategy-based instruction by applying the Moodle course management system as an instructional platform. To this end, a group of 80 Iranian female and male students at the advanced level participated in the treatment. Participants of the study were divided into four groups of 20. The subjects in experimental groups benefited from two particular instructional focuses of this study include social and affective strategies. In order to assess the effect of the treatment pre and posttests design were utilized. Consequently, the data were analyzed through One-Way ANOVAs and t-tests. The findings revealed that strategy treatment was successful in improving the participants’ speaking ability. Therefore, the findings suggest that online strategy-based instruction can positively influence the speaking ability of Iranian advanced EFL learners. In addition, a questionnaire from Kitchakarn (2015) was employed to understand students’ perceptions and attitudes toward computer-based learning. The statistical analysis of the questionnaire revealed positive attitudes of participants toward computer-based learning.This study may have pedagogical implications for material practitioners, CALL package designers and distance learning planners to include strategy instruction in English courses.

A large number of studies show that uncontrolled and unplanned spatial and functional developments in old central districts of large and medium-sized Iranian cities in past few decades have resulted in many unpleasant transformations. Thus, the historic urban fabrics have gradually lost their socio-economic livability and quality and this issue has led to urban distress, blight and deterioration. The main objective of this research is to evaluate quality of historical neighborhood of zone eight of Shiraz metropolis municipality [Old CBD] according to set criteria based on New Urbanism Approach and Principles. This is applied research with descriptive – analytical methodology, using a hybrid AHP – TOPSSIS analysis methodology. By ranking these historical districts according to their current quality and capacity, we can determine best cases for development with the low intervention level strategy. The results of multi criteria analysis indicate that among the twelve districts in the historical fabric of Shiraz, Sang-e-Siyah, Mordestan and Meydan-e-Shah are the three best cases for development regarding the potentials and capacity and qualities in historical fabric of Shiraz.