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Task-based instruction has gained significant attention in second language research, particularly in how task conditions impact learner performance. This study examined the differential effects of repetition and rehearsal, two distinct task-readiness conditions, on the immediate and delayed L2 performance of EFL learners with low Working Memory Capacity (WMC). A quasi-experimental design was employed to address the research questions. Four instruments were utilized: the Oxford Placement Test (OPT), a WMC test, a practice task, and a main task. Thirty-eight EFL learners were randomly allocated to two groups, each exposed to a distinct readiness condition—rehearsal or repetition. Participants were selected from an intermediate-level English course at a private language institute using convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to the two conditions. Both groups accomplished an oral task twice, with the rehearsal group being aware of the second performance in advance, while the repetition group had no such awareness. Task performances were evaluated based on Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF). The results indicated that although both conditions positively influenced task outcomes, only the rehearsal group showed statistically significant improvements across all CAF dimensions in both immediate and delayed performances. These results contribute to the growing body of research on individual differences in task-based learning by demonstrating that rehearsal is a more effective readiness strategy than repetition for EFL learners with low WMC. This finding can inform instructional design and classroom practice in contexts where cognitive load is a concern.

This study investigates the effects of task complexity and task repetition on the reading comprehension of Iranian EFL learners. The primary aim was to determine whether varying levels of task complexity and the repetition of these tasks could lead to significant enhancements in learners' reading comprehension abilities. A pretest-posttest design was utilized to assess the participants' performance before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses, including the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test and paired samples t-tests, were conducted to assess data normality and evaluate the significance of observed differences. The findings indicated that both task complexity and task repetition had a substantial positive impact on the reading comprehension scores of Iranian EFL learners. Task complexity promoted deeper cognitive engagement, while task repetition facilitated retention and mastery of reading skills. These results suggest that incorporating strategically designed complex tasks and repeating them can enhance reading comprehension in EFL contexts. The study concludes that task complexity and repetition are effective strategies for improving reading comprehension among Iranian EFL learners. The enhancement in comprehension can be attributed to the cognitive challenges posed by complex tasks and the reinforcement provided through task repetition. Educators are encouraged to integrate tasks with varying levels of complexity and to implement repetitive practice within their instructional strategies. This approach not only aids in comprehension but also fosters a more engaging learning environment. Future research should explore the optimal levels of task complexity and repetition to maximize learning outcomes and examine their applicability in diverse educational contexts.

Cette étude s’intéresse à la façon dont l’univers des œuvres de Mauriac dévoile la complexité des luttes intérieures de ses personnages, illustrant ainsi les dilemmes universels de la condition humaine. En explorant ces drames psychologiques, il apparaît que les tensions entre aspirations profondes et attentes sociales s’articulent comme une réflexion intemporelle sur l’identité, le désir et la culpabilité. Ces thèmes, riches de sens, résonnent avec le contexte contemporain, révélant leur pertinence toujours vivante. Il s’agit d’analyser comment la méthode psychocritique de Charles Mauron — en dévoilant la dualité des personnages — permet d’éclairer ces enjeux profonds. L’étude propose que les combats intérieurs dépeints dans l’univers mauriacien transcendent leur époque, ouvrant une voie pour une identification moderne. En adoptant une approche analytique mêlant psycho-analytique et exploration littéraire, la recherche vise à déchiffrer les profondeurs de l’âme humaine, révélant ainsi la richesse et la modernité des réflexions de Mauriac. De plus, cette étude met en lumière la mythologie personnelle de Mauriac, un processus créatif qui a façonné ses œuvres et leur donne une portée universelle. Nous avons ainsi identifié comment son univers symbolique, façonné par ses expériences et son rapport à la foi, constitue une véritable clé pour interpréter ses personnages et leur quête d’intégrité. En définitive, cette réflexion met en lumière la permanence de l’œuvre mauriacienne comme miroir de nos propres psychés, invitant le lecteur à une introspection sincère.

Since comics comprise images and texts, the relations between them should be a major concern of comics studies. However, few studies have focused on the intersemiotic interaction between images and texts in the meaning construction of Chinese classic comics. This study applies Martinec and Salway’s system to Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version of The Analects of Confucius (The Analects), attempting to explore the image-text relations in Chinese classic comics. It is found that the image-text relations in Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version of The Analects can be summarized as unequal-status and logico-semantics combined. Quantitative analysis shows that the images are always subordinate to the texts, and in terms of logico-semantic relations, all of subsystems but “image more general” are included. Besides, the distribution of the logico-semantic relations of image and text indicates that two different subsystems, namely expansion and projection, integrate and work together to create meanings in this version. Qualitative analysis shows that the tactful deployment of the combinations of image-text relation in The Analects makes it visually-verbally coherent. The intersemiotic interaction between images and texts also contributes a lot to the discourse meaning construction of Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version. However, in The Analects, the image-text relation relies too much on the extension of the image by the text as well as the projection of locution. This study provides a case reference for the analysis of Chinese classic comic as multimodal discourse, and also contributes to promoting the overseas dissemination of traditional Chinese culture.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming the landscape of education, particularly within the domain of language learning, as evidenced by a growing body of research published in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) journals. These studies have examined the application of various AI technologies, including natural language processing (NLP), AI-driven educational platforms, automatic speech recognition, and chatbots, in facilitating language acquisition. The present study investigated the perceptions of 386 Iranian high school EFL students, utilizing the Students’ Perceived EFL Teacher Support Scale to evaluate the impact of AI-powered speaking assistance technologies, educational level, and learning setting on perceived teacher support. The findings revealed a tri-factorial structure underlying EFL teacher support, highlighting the compatibility of AI technologies with traditional pedagogical methods. This suggests that the integration of AI-powered tools into classroom instruction can enhance the overall effectiveness of language teaching and learning. To ensure optimal outcomes, educators are encouraged to strategically incorporate AI within pedagogically sound frameworks that maintain human-centered support. The study offers important implications for sustaining and enhancing teacher support in technology-enriched learning environments and underscores the need for further empirical research in this evolving area of applied linguistics and educational technology.

The present study aims to explore Vietnamese English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers’ assessment strategies to support students’ preparation for industry demands in the hospitality sector. Using a qualitative design, it employed a two-staged data collection process comprising a narrative frame and semi-structured interviews with five experienced ESP teachers from a university in Vietnam. The data were analyzed drawing on an inductive approach to content analysis. The findings showed the teachers’ support for devising authentic assessment strategies based on available teaching materials and ESP resources to respond to industry requirements. They emphasized the need for more stringent collaboration between educational institutions and industry stakeholders to develop more relevant assessment strategies, and investment in dedicated learning resources to better prepare students for workplace communication. Additionally, the teachers advocated for specialized assessments that addressed the limitations of traditional language proficiency tests and aligned more closely with the linguistic and communicative demands of the hospitality industry. This study provides actionable recommendations for ESP teachers, program developers and course coordinators to design and deploy authentic assessment strategies that simulate real-life professional scenarios, consequently enhancing students’ employability.

This study investigates the effects of summative, formative, and combined assessments on the development of listening and reading comprehension skills on advanced Iranian EFL learners. Data were collected from 40 advanced EFL learners, aged 19 to 35, from intact classes at a higher education institute, divided into three experimental groups, each receiving one of the assessment types (summative, formative, or a combination of both), along with a control group. Learners’ progress in listening and reading comprehension was measured over a four-month period using pre- and post-tests administered at the end of the term. Data analysis involved ANOVA, ANCOVA, and post hoc LSD tests. The findings of this longitudinal study revealed that while the combined application of formative and summative assessments had a significant positive impact on listening comprehension, neither assessment type alone contributed to improvement in this area. In contrast, the results showed that all forms of assessment—whether summative, formative, or combined—led to notable improvements in reading comprehension. These results highlight the differential effects of assessment types on listening and reading skills, suggesting implications for assessment practices in EFL contexts.

This study delved into the interplay between Iranian EFL teachers' emotional intelligence and their classroom management styles. The study employed the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and the Competency and Behavior Management Survey (CBMS) to assess emotional intelligence and management styles of 110 EFL instructors from The Iran Language Institute. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive association between teachers' emotional intelligence and their preference for proactive classroom management strategies. Conversely, a significant negative correlation emerged between teachers' emotional intelligence and their inclination towards reactive management styles. Furthermore, the study identified a positive association between teachers' experience and both their emotional intelligence and their preference for proactive management. Additionally, teachers with master's degrees exhibited higher emotional intelligence levels, a stronger affinity for proactive strategies, and a weaker tendency for reactive approaches. These results hold significant implications for educators and teacher training programs. The study suggests a link between teachers' emotional intelligence and their successful implementation of classroom management strategies. This underscores the potential value of incorporating emotional intelligence development into teacher training programs, potentially enhancing future educators' ability to effectively manage their classrooms.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of massed, clumped, and spaced distribution of an Augmented Reality-Assisted Language (ARAL) application on young English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' vocabulary learning. Forty-eight native Persian speakers, ages 5 to 10, who attended a private international school in Istanbul, Turkey, participated in the research. To teach vocabulary items, the researchers used a researchers-made augmented reality smartphone application based on a phonics book. Using the ARAL application, three groups of primary school students were assigned to receive instruction: massed learning (one lesson per day for four days in a row), clumped learning (two lessons twice a week with a brief break), and spaced learning (one lesson per day for four days in a row). The impact of the ARAL application was assessed using a pre-test–post-test approach. The ANCOVA results demonstrated that the learning environment had an impact on the students' vocabulary development. The greatest post-test scores were obtained in the massed condition. Therefore, the results demonstrate the value of incorporating massed learning methodologies into EFL teaching practices and validate the efficacy of massed learning using ARAL for Persian-speaking EFL learners. The results have consequences for curriculum writers, administrators, and EFL teachers who want to use the massed dissemination method of ARAL application.

This paper attempts to demonstrate the prospective contributions that Cultural Linguistics (CL) can offer to the field of Translation Studies (TS). The main objective is to show the common grounds between the two disciplines and the potential capacity CL approach and methodology, in theory, has in enriching TS. First, it sets the stage by introducing the status quo of CL’s relatively novel interdisciplinary burgeoning field and establishing its significance and its current trends, broad applications, and wide-ranging implications in language-oriented studies. It is followed by a concise overview of the principles and practices of the theoretical and analytical frameworks of the CL approach. Next, a critical state-of-the-art account of translation and its expanded definition in the (post)digital revolution era is provided. Bridging the relevant concepts and contexts, we then explore the possible applications of CL’s theoretical and analytical frameworks to TS, identifying the areas where the interplay between the two disciplines is most likely fruitful for TS. These domains encompass –but certainly are not limited to— the following areas: Translation Pedagogy, Postcolonial Translation, Corpus-based TS, Media/News Translation, Multimodal Translation, and Sociological-oriented TS. As for future directions in such an interdisciplinary venture, key trends that may arise in the dynamic interplay between TS and CL include Gender-oriented TS and Translational Activism, AI-informed TS, Cognitive and Ethnographic Approaches to TS, translating tourism, and Translation and Ideology.

This study employs a descriptive framework to explore the evolution of several suffixes in contemporary Persian. The primary focus is to determine whether these suffixes were recognized as such in ancient Iranian languages or if they functioned as independent morphemes that gradually evolved into grammatical elements. Grammaticalization is examined as the process through which lexical components acquire grammatical roles, or how elements with existing grammatical features become increasingly grammaticalized. A critical question arises regarding independent morphemes that have transitioned into suffixes: Have they entirely lost their original meanings and become purely grammatical tools for word formation, or do they retain independent functions in certain contexts? An analysis of the suffixes -(e)stān , -bār , -bān , -dān , -pād , -zār , -gār/-ger , -kade , and -gāh , along with their meanings and usages in contemporary Persian, indicates that these suffixes were once free morphemes in the ancient Iranian period. Over time, due to linguistic changes, they have diminished in lexical independence and are now primarily used as adjectival or locative suffixes in modern Persian. The necessity to generate new vocabulary for various phenomena has significantly influenced the grammaticalization of many independent morphemes.

This study addresses a significant knowledge gap in understanding the effects of task-specific enjoyment and anxiety conditions on the language mindset of Iranian EFL learners in a listening course. Using a quasi-experimental design, 75 male high school students were divided into three groups: a task enjoyment (TE) group, a task anxiety (TA) group, and a control group. The TE group participated in a low-stakes, autonomy-based listening task designed to foster enjoyment, while the TA group completed a high-stakes, evaluative listening task intended to induce anxiety. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Foreign Language Enjoyment Scale (FLES), the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), and the Language Mindset Inventory (LMI). A series of T-tests and ANOVA were conducted to analyze pre- and post-test scores across the three groups. Results showed that the TE group experienced significantly higher levels of task enjoyment and subsequently developed significantly stronger growth-oriented beliefs regarding overall linguistic intelligence and second language learning compared to both the TA and control groups. Conversely, the TA group exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels and a shift toward more fixed language mindsets. No significant differences were found between groups regarding beliefs about age sensitivity in language learning. These findings highlight the importance of considering task-related emotions in language teaching and suggest that fostering enjoyment through autonomy-supportive tasks can promote a growth mindset, while anxiety-inducing tasks may reinforce fixed beliefs about language learning.

Many researchers have explored the speech act of refusals across various genres, languages, and contexts. However, little is known about how refusals are conveyed in academic job applications by Asia-Pacific and European institutions. To address this gap, the current cross-cultural study analyzed a corpus of naturally occurring academic job rejection emails from different universities. Using Beebe et al.’s (1990) taxonomy of refusals, a total of 85 rejection letters was collected and examined. The results revealed that while both Asia-Pacific and European universities employed similar refusal strategies, the frequency differed significantly: European universities used 219 refusal strategies, compared to only 60 by Asia-Pacific institutions. Both regions primarily relied on “indirect” refusal strategies and “adjuncts” to protect the applicant’s face. Interestingly, “direct” refusal strategies, which are more face-threatening, were notably more common in European universities’ responses. The study concludes with insights and recommendations for making the academic job application process more considerate for both applicants and institutions.