درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

The present study aimed to examine the effects of an educational technology called smart learning pen (i.e., iPen) as an ICT tool on young Iranian male and female EFL learners' speaking accuracy and fluency. A group of 180 young (6-9 years old) male and female learners with no previous formal education in English were randomly assigned into three different conditions: those who used the iPen in class and at home (IPC), at home only (IPH), and those who did not use the iPen at all (NIP). As gender was an independent variable, each condition had male and female groups. To address the research questions, the participants' performance on the oral sub-test of the posttest was put into analysis. The two-way ANOVA run on the effect of the independent variables (iPen and gender) and their interaction on the participants' speaking accuracy, and fluency revealed that using iPen helped the IPC and IPH participants significantly outperform the NIP group in terms of both accuracy and fluency. However, such an analysis did not show any significant effect for gender, nor did it show any significant effect when the interaction of gender and other variables was taken into account. The study has practical implications for policymakers, language teachers as well as software, hardware, and mobile phone application developers.

Discourse Markers (DMs) are pragmatic ties representing the relationship between different concepts in a discourse. As Fraser (2009) puts it, these lexical expressions are free morphemes that signal a special message about or in addition to the basic message. Given the importance of DMs in the written discourse of English as foreign language (EFL) learners, this study investigated the effectiveness of two methods of interaction in improving Iranian EFL learners’ use of discourse markers (DMs) in writing compositions. The data were drawn from comparing the compositions of two virtual groups of EFL learners who were exposed to two types of online interactions within which different flipped instructional activities were assigned. The data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results showed that the learners who engaged in online discussions used higher numbers of DM in terms of both type and token. The results also showed an increase in the length of compositions in the case of those groups who embarked on online interactions and discussions of flipped content. The findings suggest that once supported by the provision of flipped content, online interactions help create authentic opportunities for learner-centered discussions, which lead to an increased authenticity level of the EFL learners’ language production. The findings might also underscore the significance of flipped content and online interactions in developing other aspects of EFL learners’ pragmatic competence.

Reading education and reading affective factors significantly affect school-age students’ academic achievement. Nevertheless, most teachers disregard scientific strategy-based reading instructions and scholars have recently regarded L2 reading affective factors, namely reading motivation and anxiety. Moreover, technology-aided EFL reading courses for primary schoolers have been neglected. Accordingly, the current study aimed to implement seven L2 reading strategies suggested by Yapp et al. (2021a), and evaluate the effect of these strategies on English reading comprehension, motivation, and anxiety at virtual environment by using online team-teaching. The EFL fifth graders and pre-service teachers of the study were selected via volunteer sampling. The students (n = 28) were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 14 for each group) and the teachers (n = 4) were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 2 for each group) as well. One group was given Traditional Instruction (TI) and taught by two instructors whereas the other group received Strategy-Based Instruction (SBI) and was taught by the other two instructors. To assess L2 reading motivation and anxiety, the questionnaires by Dhanapala (2008) and Saito et al. (1999) were administered. The within- and between-group analyses using paired-sample t-tests and ANCOVAs indicated that although both groups’ reading comprehension, motivation, and anxiety were enhanced, the SBI participants outperformed the TI participants. Moreover, the interview with the SBI group demonstrated their positive attitudes toward the SBI course. The current study would encourage EFL teachers to base reading instruction upon reading strategies when teaching young EFL learners.

Despite widespread coverage of language policy in the literature, there has been scant research probing into English language education policy at tertiary levels in general and the higher education context of Iraqi Kurdistan in particular. The present qualitative study investigated EFL students' perceptions of English language education policy, current educational policies, and the purposes for learning in Kurdish contexts across genders and study fields. To this end, a version of Yang's (2012) questionnaire was adapted and administered to university EFL students majoring in soft and hard sciences (N=300, male 34%, female 67%) at two private and state universities in Iraqi Kurdistan. The statistical analysis of the obtained data revealed students' positive attitudes toward learning English as an international language in both soft and hard sciences. Notably, students stressed that all Iraqi Kurdish students should learn the English language in English- and Kurdish-medium classes. They also considered English competence as a significant academic accomplishment. However, some of them felt dissatisfied with the status quo of English education in their institutions. The findings of this study offer insights and recommendations for English education policymakers, administrators, and instructors at tertiary levels.        

The design, implementation and outcomes of curriculums must be ongoingly evaluated. Using quantitative gap analysis, this study evaluated Iranian EFL teachers’ satisfaction with their pre-service education in developing their assessment literacy in reference to the perceived importance of knowledge and skills areas of classroom language assessment.  To this end, the study included 100 EFL teachers who graduated from state universities in Iran with at least a Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of teaching experience at public schools. Data were collected using a 44-item researcher-made semantic differential Likert scale. It involved two parts tapping into their perceptions of importance and the level of their pre-service preparation. Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics revealed that the teachers rated all the areas almost highly (M ≥ 4.67 out of 6). The participants attached the highest importance to the areas of "assessing different language skills and sub-skills". In contrast, the areas relating to "interpreting students’ test performance” and “making the appropriate decision about the students’ test results and test washback" were perceived to be the least significant in classroom assessment. The gap analysis also indicated that there was a significant difference between the teachers’ perception of the importance of assessment knowledge and skills areas and their level of pre-service education, construed as their under-preparedness for classroom assessment. Further, the gaps were perceived to be sharper in assessment skills areas.  The study discusses the implications of the findings in the context of teacher education and classroom assessment in Iran.

Online discussion forums (ODFs) offer students and teachers the opportunity to harness the endless power of the internet for educational purposes. This study investigates the impact of Edmodo as an asynchronous ODF on six of the most recurring reading comprehension skills in the TOEFL iBT test among Iranian learners. Online and offline treatments were given to 26 students in the experimental group and only offline treatments to 33 students in the control group. The statistical analysis of the data represents a large effect size (Partial η2=.234; r=.826; Partial η2=.397; r=.661) for identifying factual information, making inferences, guessing vocabulary from context, and inserting texts in the passage skills respectively, a moderate effect size (r=.363) for the understanding the rhetorical purpose of the passage, and a weak effect size (r=.156) for the identifying referential relationships between the words in the passage skills. The results tell us that Edmodo is effective in teaching reading comprehension skills by overcoming the usual time constraints and offering students autonomy in going online at the most convenient time and place. Finally, the findings are valuable for educational policymakers, curriculum designers, materials developers, language instructors, and language learners.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of task-based instruction (TBI) and project-based instruction (PBI) on the improvement of EFL learners' referential and expressive writing performance. To accomplish this objective, 60 students majoring in English translation participated in Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT), but out of them 50 students were selected as the members of a homogeneous sample. Then, they were assigned into two experimental groups. They were exposed to IELTS module task-based writing pre-test, treatment, and post-test, to assess the participants' writing performance. The participants in first experimental group received TBI to practice the referential and expressive types of writing, while those in the second group received PBI. The results showed that TBI and PBI affected the development of both referential and expressive writing among EFL learners. In addition, the results revealed that there was not any statistically significant difference between the effect of PBI and TBI on developing expressive and referential writings among EFL learners. The pedagogical implications of the study are discussed at the end of the paper.  

De toutes les fonctions assumées par les enseignants, celle qui suscite le plus de souci est probablement l’évaluation des apprentissages dans le cadre d’une perspective actionnelle, surtout l’approche par compétence. L’évaluation est une phase essentielle du processus d’apprentissage et contribue à la fois à l’approfondissement de l’apprentissage et à la satisfaction des apprenants. Dans cette visée, l’évaluation est liée au processus d’apprentissage, est intégrée à la progression et se situe à l’intérieur du processus et dans son déroulement. Mais, cette partie très importante de l’apprentissage reste parfois cachée aux yeux des enseignants et sa qualité n’est pas tenue en considération de la part des enseignants et des institutions. De ce fait, afin de soutenir l’apprentissage et de reconnaître l'état de développement des compétences lors du bilan des apprentissages de fin d’un cursus d’apprentissage, le processus d’enseignement du FLE suppose un ajustement des pratiques évaluatives qui favorise la progression des apprentissages. Dans ce but, connaître les pratiques d’évaluation des enseignants du FLE semble indispensable. Dans cette étude, nous aborderons l’agir évaluatif des enseignants lors de prendre des décisions sommatives. Cette étude a été menée auprès de soixante-dix enseignants de différents instituts des langues en Iran.Les résultats de cette recherche démontrent que les pratiques d’évaluation des enseignants ne sont pas bien adaptées aux perspectives nouvelles d’évaluation. Les résultats permettent donc de concevoir des programmes de formation de professionnalisation de l’évaluation des enseignants du FLE.

Despite the fact that there exists a considerable amount of literature on pedagogically-oriented stylistics, a significant number of the often-cited articles turns out to be based on trust and intuition. This is what has been accentuated by prominent figures as Hall (2007), Carter (2007, 2010), Zyngier and Fialho (2010), among others, while calling for more robust empirically-based studies. The present study is undertaken to review 13 studies published from 2015 to 2022. In doing so, an adaptation of a coding framework was employed to serve as guideline for this review study. In this vein, three overarching themes were detected: 1) stylistics as accessible toolkit for teacher training, 2) stylistics' significance in curriculum and syllabus development and 3) stylistics as an opportunity for cooperation between higher education and language teachers. By detecting these emergent themes some uncharted areas of stylistics-inspired pedagogies as well as some rectified issues were revealed. Despite this, there still remains the issue of underreporting which is indeed undermining to the credibility of pedagogical stylistics. Thus, a set of recommendations were accordingly provided for further advancement in studies concerning pedagogical stylistics.

This paper reports the study undertaken on types of defense mechanisms used by Iranian EFL teachers. Furthermore, the significant differences between male and female EFL teachers at different age groups in the use of defense mechanisms are also considered. In the first phase of the study, the focus was on identification of defense mechanisms teachers generally adopt in their daily activities, while the second phase was exclusive to the deployment of defense mechanisms inside EFL classes. Accordingly, Defense Style Questionnaire was distributed among 100 EFL teachers. Next, to capture in-class atmosphere, the researchers carried out 30 semi-structured interviews with Iranian EFL teachers. All the participants (15 males and 15 females) were teaching in public schools as well as private institutes at the time of the interview. The results of the questionnaire indicated that teachers used two mature defense mechanisms, namely, anticipation (M=13.8) and rationalization (M=13), in their daily lives more than the others. Nonetheless, the results of the interview denoted the dominance of pseudo- altruistic behaviors (N=30), as a neurotic mechanism, in EFL classes. Sublimation and humor (N=29), as two mature defense mechanisms, were also frequently used. On the other hand, splitting (N=2), passive aggression (N=2), and projection (N=3), all of which are considered to be immature mechanisms, were the least-frequently used mechanisms. Moreover, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests signified no significant differences in terms of gender and age in the use of defense mechanisms among Iranian EFL teachers.

“Flipped” or inverted classrooms are designed to utilize class time for application and knowledge building, while course content is delivered through the use of online lectures and watched at home on the students’ time. It is believed that flipped classrooms promote student engagement and a deeper understanding of the class material. The implementation of flipped classroom has been conducted in China’s higher education for more than a decade. However, its implementation in Hotel English courses has not received any attention. By doing a needs analysis, it was proved that the implication of flipped classroom model would be promising in Hotel English courses. Hence, the author redesigned the Hotel English course based on the results of the needs analysis. This course is expected to improve the cultural awareness of the students and offer them with more opportunities to practice speaking English, especially in an authentic situation. Meanwhile, their problem-solving ability and critical thinking ability can be upgraded. As a result, the students can be well prepared to enter their future career not only in hotel industry but other areas.

This research intended to study the Potential relationship between Iranian EFL teachers’ job satisfaction, job burnout, and reflective thinking. One-hundred and eighty-two teachers from different universities, and schools were requested to answer the the Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and reflective thinking scale as the main data collection instruments. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypothesized model of relations. The results represented, there were significant internal correlations between all the latent variables and their sub-scales. Multiple regression analysis showed that job satisfaction positively predicted reflective thinking, with job satisfaction exerting more predictive power in comparison with job burnout. Furthermore, job burnout weakly predicted reflective thinking, with job burnout exerting less predictive power in comparison with job satisfaction. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between job satisfaction and job burnout in which not only these two latent variables but also all their sub-scales were negatively related to each other. Pedagogical implications of the results have been discussed.