درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This quasi-experimental study investigated the comparative effects of two instructional approaches – cooperative learning and a hybrid model integrating cooperative and competitive elements – on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' writing proficiency. Participants (n = 23) were female EFL learners aged 16 to 45 (Mage = 30.5) selected through convenience sampling and homogenized based on their Preliminary English Test scores. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups. Both groups received pre- and post-tests. The experimental groups received instruction using either a cooperative learning approach or a hybrid approach incorporating both cooperative and competitive elements. Repeated Measures ANOVA was employed to analyze the data. Results indicated that the hybrid approach significantly outperformed the cooperative learning approach in enhancing learners' writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency. These findings suggest that integrating competitive elements within a cooperative framework can significantly improve EFL learners' writing proficiency, offering valuable pedagogical implications for educators and materials developers.

This study explores the detailed experiences and coping mechanisms of Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers about teacher immunity in the Iranian educational setting. A total of thirty experienced instructors of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), with an average age of 32 and an average teaching experience of nine years, were selectively chosen to take part in comprehensive interviews conducted in the Persian language. The study utilized the grounded theory technique, where interviews were transcribed and systematically analyzed using MAXQDA. The results highlight the crucial significance of a conducive work atmosphere, opportunities for professional growth, and efficient communication in enhancing teacher resilience and immunity. Peer support, strong administrative support, and favorable school rules play a vital role in cultivating a culture of mutual assistance that is essential for teacher resilience. Professional development programs improve educators' ability to adapt and increase their job happiness. The autonomy to make decisions also strengthens their resilience. Additionally, it is crucial to prioritize a good equilibrium between work and personal life, even if it might be difficult due to the blurring lines between these two domains. Mindfulness techniques and seeking social support are crucial coping methods that effectively reduce stress and burnout among teachers. This study examines how individual traits, environmental factors, and coping techniques influence teacher immunity in the Iranian EFL teaching context. The acquired insights provide useful assistance for creating interventions that aim to improve the well-being and productivity of teachers and, ultimately, the quality of education.

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the culture of virtual education in Iranian higher education, focusing on the lived experiences of 31 professors and students. Employing structured interviews and thematic analysis, the research identified one overarching theme and six primary subcultures: interaction and communication, scientific and academic processes, emotional dynamics, exclusion, acceptance, and neutrality. The findings revealed that virtual education reshapes traditional academic norms by enabling wider scientific communication, reducing knowledge monopolies, and increasing collaboration across institutions. However, challenges such as diminished emotional connections, weakened academic commitment, increased superficial learning, and reduced in-person engagement also emerge. Students' and professors' attitudes toward virtual education varied, ranging from full acceptance to indifference. These orientations are influenced by personal values, learning styles, technological familiarity, and institutional support. While virtual education fosters academic freedom and access, it simultaneously disrupts emotional and spatial dimensions of learning environments. The study concludes that understanding the cultural dimensions of virtual education is crucial for policymakers and educators to enhance its effectiveness. Tailoring educational planning to account for emotional, structural, and communicative factors will be essential in ensuring the long-term sustainability and equity of virtual education in higher education contexts.

The present study examined the comparability of Paper-Based (PB) and Computer-Delivered (CD) IELTS in the academic module reading section, focusing on Iranian IELTS candidates' cognitive and metacognitive strategies. The study intended to determine if the delivery mode had any impact on the use of these strategies. To this aim, 200 upper-intermediate learners were randomly selected and divided into two groups to participate in the study under the two aforementioned test conditions. They completed a test-taking strategy survey under both test conditions. Moreover, five participants from each test condition group took part in think-aloud protocols. The quantitative data were analyzed by means of Independent-sample t-test and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to test the research hypotheses. Content analysis of the think-aloud protocols was also conducted to identify the strategies employed by the IELTS candidates in both PB and CD formats. The results revealed that the PB group had a significantly higher mean than the CD group on the cognitive and metacognitive processes used in academic IELTS. However, the think-aloud protocols indicated that, in many cases, these differences were minimal, with cognitive and metacognitive processes being similarly employed across both formats. Moreover, significant differences were observed between the PB and CD groups in their reading test-taking strategies. The implications of these findings for test preparation and design are discussed.