درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This study scrutinized the relationship between utilizing language learning strategies, academic fields, and reading ability in reading comprehension test performance of Iranian postgraduate EAP students. The participants were 947 students, who answered a reading comprehension test and a learning strategy questionnaire successively in one session. The gathered data were subjected to a set of parametric statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey HSD and Duncan tests. The findings manifested significant differences among the participants in different fields in employing overall, direct, and indirect strategies. A statistically positive relationship was found between the participants’ reading ability and use of overall, cognitive, compensation, metacognitive, and affective strategies. The findings reflected that the actual ability of language learners was significantly influenced by some nonlinguistic factors, and the observed scores did not represent their true ability. The findings can provide an empirical evidence for Bachman’s (1990) as well as Bachman and Palmer's (1996, 2010) conceptual frameworks of language use due to the impact of nonlinguistic factors on language ability of L2 learners in test-taking process. The findings can help language teachers improve instructional reading programs, decrease error of measurement, and narrow the gap between more successful and less successful learners in different fields of study.

In spite of the significant role of teachers in the efficacy of classroom management particularly in teaching English as a Foreign Language, the issue has not been addressed sufficiently especially in relation with other individual variables. Hence, this study made an attempt to investigate the association between Iranian EFL teachers’ classroom management, reflective thinking and transformational leadership style. 247 English Foreign Language teachers took part in the study. To measure the variables of the study, Teachers Sense of Efficacy Scale (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001), Reflective Thinking Scale (Choy & Oo, 2012) and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire(Avolio, Bass & Jung, 1995) were used. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to test the hypothesized model of associations. After confirming the hypothesized model (= 1.275; RMSEA=.02; RMR =.03; GFI =.97; AGFI =.93; NFI =.97; CFI =.99; IFI =.99), the results revealed significant internal correlations among the main as well as the sub-scales of the study. Multiple regression analysis further confirmed the direction of the path model proposed for the study. Generally, it was concluded that reflective thinking and transformational leadership improve teachers' efficacy of classroom management which, in turn, facilitates teaching processes. Implications are discussed.

The role of teachers in the educational context could go beyond simply teaching the subject matter. It is not uncommon for some students to be greatly influenced by certain teachers and even consider them as their role models. An interesting and novel way of inferring the impact a teacher has on the students is through revealing the status of the teacher as perceived by the students. The present study pursued two goals: first, to construct and validate a teacher status scale (TSS); and second, to reveal the relative status of English language teachers as compared to other school teachers in students’ perceptions. Regarding the first goal, an 18-item teacher status scale was designed and, using the data collected from 200 students, its construct validity was substantiated through Rasch model. As for the second goal, 650 junior high school students rated their 300 teachers. The data was then analyzed using Chi-square test. In addition, 135 students participated in short interviews and a total of 530 minutes of recorded interviews constituted the qualitative data. Based on the results, English teachers were found to have the highest status of all school teachers as perceived by the students. Finally, statistical results were discussed, and implications were provided for English language teaching in the formal context of education.

To direct m-game to be a possible didactic option for Iranian TVT (Technical Vocational Training) trainees, in this study m-game-mediated (Mobile Game-Mediated) materials delivery was incorporated into the conventional teaching method in the blended ESP reading skill platform. So, 52 male trainees fromTechnical and Vocational College of Isfahan were selected by convenience sampling. Afterwards, 48 trainees were defined as homogeneous using Englishtag Test to learn ESP in 16 triads under two different blended learning scenarios in 18 sessions in the academic year 2014-2015. While the first group of the trainees practiced in the blended learning situation with ready-made displaying device and materials, the second-group trainees practiced the same content through the medium of their own self-made PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and materials; in this way, their learning performance assessed continuously in and outside the classroom. To employ tree-prong approach, interest survey and focus-group interview were embraced, as well. Overall, descriptive and inferential analyses of the collected data disclosed that trainees who were involved in the process of materials development were more excited and learned more than their counterparts who practiced via prefabricated devices and materials. Consequently, self-made (vs. prefabricated) m-game-mediated blended platform was found to be more liable to teaching and learning ESP reading skill.

استقلال فراگیر همواره یک مسئله بحث برانگیز میان زبان شناسان کاربردی بوده است. مطالعات متعددی به منظور بررسی برداشت معلمان و یادگیرندگان از استقلال فراگیر و همچنین امکان استقلال فراگیر انجام شده است. با وجود اهمیت استقلال فراگیر و وجود چندین مطالعه مرتبط، چالش در ترویج استقلال فراگیر در موسسات ایرانی به زعم محقق انجام نشده است. هدف اصلی این مطالعه بررسی چالش ها در ترویج استقلال یادگیرنده از دیدگاه معلمان زبان انگلیسی ایران بود. برای این کار، یک طرح تحقیق کیفی استفاده شده است. برای انجام این تحقیق ، 23 معلم زبان انگلیسی ایرانی در دانشگاه های مختلف در تهران به صورت هدفمند انتخاب شدند. داده ها از طریق مصاحبه عمیق جمع آوری شده و از طریق تحلیل محتوا بر اساس مدل رندر تحلیل شده است. بر اساس تحلیل محتوای مصاحبه ها، سه موضوع مختلف استخراج شد. اولین موضوع مشاهده شده، چالش های مربوط به موسسه، شامل اهداف تجویزشده ، مواد و روش های ارزیابی می باشد. دومین موضوع، چالش های مربوط به فراگیر می باشد که از هفت زیرمجموعه تشکیل شده است. سومین موضوع به دست آمده، چالش های مربوط به معلم می باشد که از چهار زیرمجموعه تشکیل شده است. این یافته ها می تواند توسط معلمان، تربیت کنندگان معلمان و همچنین زبان آموزان استفاده شود. می توان نتیجه گرفت که معلمان زبان انگلیسی باید آموزش لازم دراستقلال یادگیرنده را از طریق دوره های آموزشی قبل از خدمت و ضمن خدمت ببینند.