درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Recent years have witnessed extensive research on motivation in second/foreign language (L2) contexts. Attempts have been made to develop motivation-based techniques and methods to boost learners’ learning outcomes in L2 programs. Yet, studies that have targeted L2 learners’ perceptions about the effectiveness of such programs in online classes remain scarce. This study addressed this gap and delved into L2 learners’ perceptions of two motivation-oriented instructions, namely the ARCS-based (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction) and L2MSS vision-inspired (Second Language Motivational Self System) instructions, in an online English course. To this end, 41 learners of English were assigned to two groups. One group was instructed based on the ARCS motivation framework, and the other was instructed based on the L2MSS framework. Then, 10 volunteer participants from each group participated in focus group interviews. Thematic analysis of the data revealed 19 subthemes and 7 main themes, including 4 themes of attention-related pedagogy, relevance-oriented content, confidence-building elements, and sense of contentment/discontentment regarding the ARCS group, and 3 themes of ideal self-orientations, ought-to self-orientations, and situated learning/teaching experiences regarding the L2MSS group. The engaging content and appealing learning environment in the ARCS group and the future perspective enhancement and goal setting in the L2MSS group were motivating factors, creating positive perceptions of the two programs. The findings suggest utilizing attention-catching and vision-building strategies to motivate learners and enhance their L2 learning outcomes in online classes.

Compared to non-academic contexts, the use of address forms in academic settings is insufficiently researched. To fill this gap, the present study investigated the address forms commonly used by students and lecturers in Iranian universities in their oral and written communication. The analytical framework of this study is semio-cultural conceptualization. A qualitative descriptive research design was adopted, which included six open-ended questions. Thirty Iranian EFL lecturers participated in this study, 20 males and 10 females, representing 14 different universities. The average age of the participants was 50. The thematic analysis of the data revealed that in addition to the conventional polite forms, some innovations have emerged in the academic address practice in Iran. While students always addressed their lecturers using respectful forms and honorifics, the lecturers’ address choices varied according to sociolinguistic factors such as the students’ age, gender, degree of intimacy and distance, and educational status. In the majority of cases, the lecturers employed title plus last name; nevertheless, some of them opted for more intimate forms. However, such forms were never reciprocated by students owing to the perceived power dynamics and elevated respect for teachers, which is deeply entrenched in the culturally-constructed conceptualization of the unique teacher-student relationship in Iran. The findings also suggest that the scope of address studies can be expanded to include semio-cultural conceptualizations, such as emotion schema, and symbolism.   

Smart packaging plays a pivotal role in food distribution by integrating innovative technologies to enhance product safety, quality, and efficiency throughout the supply chain. Leveraging smart packaging minimizes waste, reduces spoilage, and enables real-time monitoring. However, producers face a few challenges with smart packaging, including high initial investment costs, compatibility issues with existing infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles concerning data privacy and safety standards. Additionally, ensuring widespread adoption and addressing consumer acceptance pose significant challenges and the need for continuous innovation to keep pace with evolving market demands and technological advancements. Therefore, this study aims to identify the current landscape of smart packaging within food distribution, outline the main themes within this field, highlight potential areas for further study, and provide a roadmap for future research endeavors. To fulfill this aim, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis was undertaken, utilizing data extracted from the Scopus database. A total of 1,094 documents relevant to the chosen keywords were successfully gathered for analysis. Frequency analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel, while citation metrics and further analysis were performed utilizing R package software. The outcomes of this investigation are presented using standard bibliometric metrics, encompassing publication year, authorship, subject area, document type, source title, citation analysis, keyword analysis, active institutional participation, geographic distribution, and language. The analysis revealed a significant increase in publications concerning smart packaging within food distribution since 1990. This upward trend underlines the crucial role of technology in the food industry, potentially impacting the environment, economy, and societal dynamics.

The present paper analyzes Jorie Graham’s “Sea Change”, the eponymous poem of her 2008 poetry collection, through Julia Kristeva’s theories on semiotic and the abject. By tracing the historical attitudes towards embodiment, this research attempts to examine Graham’s outlook towards the mind/body and by extension nature/culture dichotomies in her poetry. The previous studies on the Sea Change collection have mostly focused on Graham’s formal structures and ecological concerns; no other research has used Kristeva’s theories to examine the importance of one’s embodied experience of the world in her poetry to reveal how negative attitudes towards the body lead to a fractured existence for the human subject. Graham’s poetic language addresses the neglect to which the semiotic has been subjected, redefines the body in terms that are not abject and opens up a safe cultural space for it. Her poetry illuminates how mystification and degradation of the body have a positive correlation with oppression of the nature, as concepts belonging to similar dichotomous lines of thought, and highlights the call for a re-evaluation of the attitudes towards the human subject’s existence in the world.