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This study examined Iranian EFL learners’ perceptions of L1 (Persian) pre-task planning on speaking performance—specifically accuracy, fluency, and complexity—within a Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) framework. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted, collecting quantitative and qualitative data concurrently to provide a holistic view. Quantitative data were gathered via a 15-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 100 intermediate learners, selected through convenience sampling from three Hormozgan language institutes, following two counterbalanced oral-opinion tasks in a 60-minute session. Qualitative data were collected simultaneously through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, purposively chosen from the questionnaire respondents based on diverse perception scores to enrich insights, conducted within 1–2 days. Quantitative analysis, employing descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, showed a strong L1 planning preference, boosting accuracy and fluency, while thematic analysis of interviews highlighted enhanced confidence with L1 and L2 transition difficulties, with complexity perceptions mixed. Integrating these findings, L1 planning supports immediate oral proficiency and reduces anxiety in Iran’s low-exposure EFL context, though L2 proficiency limits complexity. These findings align with Cognitive Load Theory and Sociocultural Theory, offering context-specific pedagogical insights for incorporating L1 planning in TBLT practices while underscoring the need for strategies to bolster L2 complexity.

Vladimir Propp en tant que structuraliste et folkloriste russe, a bien essayé de formuler un système unique qui fonctionne dans tous les contes sans tenir compte de la divergence entre la langue, la littérature et la culture. Le Livre du Roi ou Shâhnâmeh de Ferdowsî est l’un des chefs-d’œuvre de la littérature persane qui est considéré comme l’héritage et l’identité culturels de notre passé historique. Cette étude a pour but de déterminer si toutes ces structures constantes et les fonctions permanentes proposées par Propp sont applicables à travers une partie de Shâhnâmeh intitulée Zahhak. Propp a développé sa théorie en étudiant les contes populaires, qui ont une structure narrative relativement simple. Shâhnâmeh, étant une œuvre épique, est beaucoup plus complexe. Il serait important d’examiner dans quelle mesure les fonctions de Propp se rapportent à cette narration épique et si certaines d’entre elles sont plus pertinentes que d’autres. En plus, étant donné l’aspect indissociable de la forme et du fond, nous allons mentionner l’impact de l’épopée sur la société iranienne. Cela nous amène à bien analyser aussi les caractéristiques du conte et les notions atemporelles au confluent de la forme et du contenu qui caractérisent l’œuvre de Ferdowsî. Il serait intéressant d’examiner comment une représentation allégorique de la société ainsi que l’imperfection humaine se manifestent à travers le conte de Zahhak.

This study examines the accessibility of translated navigational signs in Tehran Metro as a key site of public translation. Using field observations supported by the User-Centered Translation (UCT) framework, it assesses the clarity, consistency, and usability of bilingual signage and other multimedia  features across multiple metro stations and lines. The analysis identifies recurring inconsistencies in transliteration, translation choices, and the alignment between station names at stations and on the official metro map. These variations demonstrate the lack of a standardized approach to multilingual communication within the network and highlight the impact of such discrepancies on user navigation. The study contributes empirical data to ongoing discussions of translation in public spaces by showing how multilingual signage practices can either facilitate or hinder effective wayfinding in transit environments.

Translation plays a vital role in the global spread of academic knowledge. In non-English disciplines, university professors are increasingly asked to translate English texts for teaching, research, and administrative tasks. Recognizing the potential challenges faced by academic members in non-English fields is crucial. Therefore, this qualitative study, with an exploratory approach, aimed to identify the challenges faced by faculty members at Farhangian University in non-English disciplines in translating English texts. Participants included faculty members in non-English disciplines at Farhangian University in the provinces of Hamedan, Ilam, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and Lorestan (located in the West of Iran), with 21 selected through a purposive criterion-based sampling method. Data were collected via semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis, resulting in one main theme, five organizing themes, and 26 basic themes. The findings identified eight major challenges facing faculty members during translation, including differences in sentence structure between source and target languages, issues with equivalence and transfer of concepts, semantic diversity of words, maintaining faithfulness to the original text, challenges with colloquial and non-specialized texts, lack of English proficiency, the transfer of cultural and indigenous concepts, and the time-consuming nature of translation. These results will benefit stakeholders of English language teaching in higher education as well as translation educators and workshop instructors.

the current study explored the effect of raising EFL teachers’ awareness of learner autonomy on students’ L2 motivation. Initially, a questionnaire adapted from Borg and Al-Busaidi (2012) assessed teachers’ beliefs about learner autonomy. Twenty EFL teachers unaware of the concept of autonomy in EFL learning were selected based on their responses and were divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. To evaluate students’ L2 motivation, Taguchi (2010) L2 motivation questionnaire was used. Based on the respondents’ answers 100 students initially lacking motivation in L2 learning were selected. Afterwards, these students were divided evenly between the two teacher groups. The experimental group teachers attended a ten-hour workshop on autonomy. The treatment involved a comprehensive workshop focusing on enhancing the participants’ awareness and understanding of learner autonomy. The workshop covered topics such as the principles of learner autonomy, practical strategies to promote autonomous learning, and the benefits of fostering an autonomous learning environment. Teachers engaged in interactive sessions, group discussions, and practical activities to translate theoretical concepts into classroom practices. After instructional phase, the same questionnaires were administered to assess students’ motivation fluctuation. Independent sample t-test analysis showed a significant difference in posttest scores between students’ scores in both groups. Data analysis showed a significant improvement in motivation among students taught by teachers who had attended the workshop. The study concludes that teacher training focused on learner autonomy significantly enhances students’ motivation, with important implications for curriculum design and educational policy in the Iranian EFL

The present study attempted to comparatively investigate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers’ beliefs about language learning and teaching and their distinctive characteristics. To this end, 150 EFL and ESP teachers, selected randomly from various universities in Iran, were asked to fill out two pilot-tested validated five-point Likert-scale questionnaires, one on beliefs (including 45 items) and the other on characteristics (comprising 16 items). To do multiple-level analysis and triangulate the data for validation purposes, 25 teachers, selected randomly from among the study participants, were also interviewed. The results of (Quantitative data analysis such as Independent Samples t-tests, Chi-Square and Pearson product-moment correlation analyses, as well as qualitative content analysis of interviews) found no significant mismatch between ESP teachers and EFL teachers’ beliefs overall; however, significant differences were found between characteristics of ESP teachers and EFL teachers overall as well as between the specific beliefs and also between specific characteristics of the two groups of the teachers. The results are discussed in detail in the paper, and the implications, which are significant for the field of language education and ESP, and the pertinent implications are presented.

Motivational goal orientations play a critical role in shaping learners’ engagement in the classroom. This study was to investigate how performance-avoid, performance-approach, mastery-avoid, and mastery-approach goals determine agentic and social engagement of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. For this purpose, 200 Iranian intermediate EFL learners of language institutes in Isfahan and Gachsaran, Iran, were selected by convenience sampling. The OQPT was administered to ensure the homogeneity of the participants. The data were collected by Goal Orientation Survey and Student Engagement Questionnaire, which were distributed online and analyzed using standard multiple regression. The findings demonstrated that the mastery approach and performance approach significantly determined agentic engagement, and the performance approach significantly determined social engagement. These findings provide valuable insights into the motivational dynamics within Iranian intermediate EFL classrooms. Educators can enhance student engagement by focusing on fostering mastery and performance goal orientations and creating a supportive learning environment, ultimately improving the language learning outcomes of Iranian intermediate EFL learners.

This study investigated the effects of gamified language teaching on motivation and writing proficiency of Iranian pre-intermediate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. Adopting a mixed-methods design, the study involved 60 learners aged 12–16, registered in four language classes of a private institute. Two classes were randomly selected as experimental groups receiving gamified language instruction, and two classes were chosen as control groups receiving traditional instruction. The quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-writing tasks scored using Jacobs et al.’s (1981) analytic rubric and a validated Persian version of Dörnyei and Taguchi’s (2009) motivation questionnaire. The results of mixed-design Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that learners exposed to digital gamification demonstrated significantly greater gains in motivation and writing performance than those in the control group. The qualitative data from semi-structured interviews further supported these findings, revealing themes of increased motivation, enhanced engagement, perceived improvement in writing skills, user-friendly technology, and a strong preference for gamified learning. The findings suggest that well-designed digital gamification can effectively enhance both affective and linguistic outcomes in EFL writing instruction. Pedagogical implications highlight the importance of aligning game elements with instructional goals while balancing extrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation.

Though research into the dynamic nature of motivation has gained momentum, there are still some aspects of the issue which are in need of further scrutiny. One such under-researched area is the effect of different learning modules on the direction and pattern of motivational changes, particularly in virtual learning environments. Informed by this gap, the current study explored how EFL learners’ motivation fluctuates based on different learning modules. In so doing, the participants were selected from institute, high school and university contexts. Thus, a major objective of the study was probing the differences among the three contexts as regards motivational fluctuations caused by involvement with different lesson modules. Motometer was utilized as the main means of data collection. Also, in an attempt to triangulate the data collection procedure, retrospective thinking was employed following the collection of Motometer data. Based on the findings, for institute learners, the mid-time of their performance process was the peak motivation time. Furthermore, it was found that the learners experienced more motivation on the activities included in the oral module as opposed to reading activities. Conversely, high school students reached higher levels of motivation on the reading module as opposed to speaking and listening sections. Finally, although significant differences were identified between the institute and school settings concerning mean motivational values for oral modules, no significant difference was observed among the patterns of motivational fluctuations occurring for institute, high school and university students on reading module. The implications of the findings are discussed throughout the paper.

Although generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping language education globally, its integration into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction in Iran has remained limited by rigid curricula, restricted autonomy, and lack of authentic, discipline-specific resources. This study sought to address this gap by developing a contextualized co-design framework to align AI affordances with local pedagogical realities. Guided by theoretical triangulation, a hybrid methodology was employed that combined design-based research, co-design, and participatory qualitative approaches. The needs analysis phase involved twenty-six ESP stakeholders, including eight instructors and eighteen learners. In-depth interviews were then conducted with a subset of nineteen participants—eight instructors and eleven learners. Three instructors and three learners, chosen purposively among those involved in both prior phases, along with three policymakers and three AI experts, participated in the last co-design phase to ensure multiple perspectives in model development. As revealed by the findings, the learners prioritized personalization, writing support, and disciplinary adaptability, whereas the instructors emphasized controlled prompting, ethical literacy, and assessment redesign. Concerns shared between the two groups included overreliance, epistemic authority, and unequal digital access. The co-design process generated a cyclical instructional model incorporating dual human-check mechanisms, ethical self-reporting, bias-awareness checkpoints, multimodal feedback loops, and institutionalized teacher training. Offering a theoretically grounded and adaptable reference for discipline-specific AI use in ESP programs, this study’s framework can guide educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers in ESP contexts analogous to those investigated in this research.

Foreign language test anxiety (FLTA) affects learners' cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to language assessments. Despite extensive research on its causes and effects, a comprehensive understanding from the learners' perspective remains underexplored. This study aims to synthesize qualitative and mixed-methods research on the antecedents and consequences of FLTA, with a focus on learners’ experiences and perceptions. A systematic search was conducted across primary education and psychology databases for studies published from 1990 to 2025. The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. Studies were appraised for methodological quality using the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting (ETR) checklist of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Thematic synthesis and meta-ethnographic translation were used to integrate findings from the selected studies. The review identified key antecedents of FLTA, including learner-level factors (e.g., low self-efficacy, perfectionism, prior academic failure, and inadequate self-regulatory skills), test-design features (e.g., time pressure, difficulty, unfamiliar formats, and unclear criteria), and broader assessment cultures marked by high stakes, exam-driven teaching, and social pressures. The consequences of FLTA were multifaceted, ranging from cognitive interference and reduced performance to avoidance behaviors, reliance on short-term strategies, and negative impacts on long-term engagement with language learning. Positive changes were associated with alternative assessment practices, such as portfolios and formative assessment. The findings suggest practical recommendations for language teachers, curriculum designers, and policymakers to create assessment environments that reduce FLTA and support learner well-being.