فرهاد قربان دردی نژاد

This study is intended to examine the relationship between critical thinking disposition and English learning achievement among Iranian high school third-grade EFL learners mediated by emotional intelligence. A sample of 264 students (145 males and 119 females) was assessed for their level of critical thinking disposition and emotional intelligence. Participant's scores on their final English test were also used as the measurement of their English achievement. The results revealed a positive correlation between total critical thinking dispositions (r=.506, p<.01) and its subscales i.e., engagement(r=.33), maturity(r=47), and innovativeness (r=44.6) with English learning achievement. The results also suggested that emotional intelligence acts as a mediator of the relationship between critical thinking disposition and English learning achievement.

Despite extensive research on factors influencing student engagement (SE) from a positive psychology perspective, the connection between adaptability and SE has been underexplored. The present study investigates the relationship between learners' adaptability, plurilingual and pluricultural competence (PPC), and SE in second language acquisition, guided by the PERMA model, which posits that well-being consists of Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (Seligman, 2018). The researchers employed stratified random sampling to collect data from 599 male and female Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. These students then completed questionnaires, including the PPC scale (Galante, 2022), the adaptability scale (Feng et al., 2005), and the SE scale (Lam et al., 2014). Findings have shown that adaptability significantly predicts enhanced PPC, which in turn fosters greater SE. However, analysis of covariate variables revealed that gender and age were not significant predictors of PPC. Grade was a significant predictor of engagement, and language background was a significant predictor of PPC. These results underscore the importance of integrating adaptability training and PPC development into EFL curricula to cultivate culturally responsive learning environments and enhance SE. Further research is needed to determine the moderating roles of demographic variables. This will contribute to a more engaged, adaptable, and globally competent student body, better prepared for success in diverse contexts.