درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Listening effectively in a foreign language presents many challenges for students. The aims of this convergent mixed methods study were two-fold. First, to determine whether teaching listening strategies through materials tailored to apply principles related to decreasing Cognitive Load (CL) could help learners improve their L2 listening comprehension. Second, whether using such materials could reduce learners' cognitive load. In doing so, two modes of material presentation (computer-based and text-based) were selected. Eighty-eight TEFL bachelor students in three intact classes were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: Strategy-Based Cognitive-Load-Decreasing Computer-Based Material (SB-CLD-CBM), Strategy-Based Cognitive-Load-Decreasing Text-Based Material (SB-CLD-TBM), and Strategy-Based Non-Cognitive-Load Decreasing Conventional Learning Material (SB-NCLD-CLM), and received relevant instructions. A general proficiency test was used to examine participants' language proficiency. A listening pretest and posttest, a listening achievement test, and a cognitive load questionnaire were used to collect data in the quantitative phase. A reflection paper, including two questions about students' perceptions administered during the treatment, was used to gather qualitative data. The One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) showed that CLD-CBM and CLD-TBM outperformed the NCLD-CLM in listening comprehension and experienced lower cognitive load. However, no significant difference was found between the experimental groups. The findings are valuable for teachers and materials developers, suggesting they should include Cognitive Load Theory principles and strategy instruction when designing learning materials and instructional approaches.

The uncontrolled growth of tall buildings in contemporary cities has caused numerous visual and psychological issues for urban citizens. This study's framework examined the combined effect of architectural and vegetation variations on the scape of tall buildings and the oppression imposed on citizens. The architectural changes of the tall building included form (rectangular, stepped and pyramidal), gap (in single building (without gap, small and large gap) and between buildings (middle, sides and middle and sides)), console (1, 2, 2,5, 3, 3.5 and 4 m), and setback (1, 2 and 3 m) of the building from the base. Vegetation changes also included the distribution of different tree species on the façade and the positioning of the trees within each species. To assess the impact of architectural and vegetation changes on oppression, the method was based on the framework for assessing the oppressiveness of tall buildings and people's opinions. In conclusion, vegetation demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in perceived oppression compared to architectural modifications. The results of examining the architectural scenarios showed that as the pyramidal form of the building increased and the gap between the single tall building (or between tall buildings) widened, citizen-imposed oppression decreased. Also, as the console of a tall building decreased to less than 2.5 m and the setback increased to more than 2 m, the oppression decreased significantly. Also, the results showed that using concentrated and horizontal vegetation at the base and shaft of tall buildings has effectively reduced oppression (Compared to other vegetation change scenarios).

Intrastate wars involving non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are becoming an increasingly common form of violent conflict. How water is used conflict is therefore an important area of research. While previous research has traditionally viewed the use of water by NSAGs as a military tool, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) instrumentalised water for a range of reasons which has not been examined in previous research. This paper addresses this gap by analysing the range of violent and non-violent means ISIS used to instrumentalise water for both state-building and military ends, linking this to the rebel governance cycle. Secondary literature analysis and thematic analysis are used to identify patterns in ISIS’ instrumentalisation of water within pre-existing literature. This is conducted in conjunction with two case studies: water governance and control of dams between 2014 and 2018. This paper finds that ISIS primarily instrumentalised water in three ways. Firstly, ISIS monopolised and institutionalised control over water services to build legitimacy as a state-like actor, symbolised by their control over dams. Secondly, ISIS used water to demarcate the territorial and demographic boundaries of their ‘alternative’ state, managing water supply to specific groups and controlling dams to flood or redirect water. Thirdly, as their territorial control became increasingly under threat, ISIS instrumentalised water through ‘scorched earth’ tactics, abandoning their governance of water entirely from 2016. These findings suggest that a new hybrid understanding of how NSAG’s interact with water (and other resources and built infrastructure) is needed to better analyse their dynamic and varying behaviour and priorities.

This article looks at Ralph Waldo Emerson’s translation of a poem by Shah Nimatullah Wali, “Song of Seid Nimetollah of Kuhistan,” and through a genetic reading of its avant-texts demonstrates, firstly, how despite its pretense to faithfulness, the translation is affected by Emerson’s prior knowledge of the original culture. It will also demonstrate how the translation provides Emerson with a space to express his concerns in disguise of a translator. That is to say, through conscious and unconscious manipulation of the original text and introduction of the translation as an emblem of the foreign culture, Emerson affirms and naturalizes his own ideological position. This article also attempts to demonstrate how through the translation Emerson is identifying with the speaker, “leaving” his identity, and temporarily experiencing the moment of trance a dervish describes. In order to achieve these, this article benefits from Lawrence Venuti’s “hermeneutic model of translation” and Branka Arsic’s idea of “leaving.”