درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

The primary aim of this quasi-experimental study was to delve into the contrasting effects of In-text Feedback and Rubric-based Feedback on the writing performance and self-efficacy of Iranian Intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. To do so, 120 intermediate female English language learners between the ages of 12 and 16 were recruited based on non-random convenience sampling method from an English language institute to take Oxford Placement Test (OPT) to ensure a homogenized group of participants. Then, 60 participants whose scores fell within one standard deviation below and above the mean OPT score were recruited. The selected participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the in-text group, the rubric-based group, and the control group, with each group consisting of 20 students. Each group also took writing pre-test and completed self-efficacy questionnaire before the treatment. Next, the participants engaged in the assigned writing activities which were similar and received relevant feedback types for ten sessions. After the treatment, all groups took writing post-test and completed the self-efficacy questionnaire again. The results revealed that both in-text feedback and rubric-based feedback had a statistically significant effect on the writing performance of the learners. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the effect of in-text feedback versus rubric-based feedback on writing performance. In terms of self-efficacy, both types of feedback showed a statistically significant effect. However, there was no significant difference between the effects of in-text feedback and rubric-based feedback on self-efficacy. The findings of the study carry important implications for various stakeholders involved in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning, including learners, teachers, language centers, and teacher trainers.

Grammatical accuracy has been controversial in L2 writing, and the utility of different types of corrective feedback has been enigmatic. Therefore, the present study attempted to explicate the impact of intensive versus extensive recasts through grammar-focused tasks on Iranian EFL learners’ grammatical accuracy in writing. To do so, 60 Iranian male and female EFL learners were assigned into two experimental groups (i.e., intensive and extensive groups) and one control group. After taking the Oxford Placement Test (OPT), the experimental groups received intended corrective feedback, while the control group did not receive any feedback. Then, the data was analyzed deploying both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed the outperformance of experimental groups compared to the control group in the writing post-test. Also, it was concluded that extensive recast can improve EFL learners’ writing performance much better than intensive recast. The findings have some fruitful pedagogical implications for both teachers and materials developers.

This research tried to probe the effects of incorporating learners’ preferred learning styles in instructions on their narrative writing development and their mental patterns and imagination. 74 homogeneous secondary EFL learners were divided into three groups based on their sensory styles of visual, auditory and tactile. The learners in the three groups were provided with instructions anchored to their learning styles. In the meantime, they were required to produce narrative writings on a number of topics in accordance with their course book. Prior to narrating, they had to think loudly and record their voices to reveal the approach and pattern they utilize for performing the required activities. Their voices were transcribed and later analyzed by the researchers for further investigations. The obtained results displayed a significant improvement in their writings as well as an ongoing progress of their thinking patterns. Furthermore, the data revealed the dominant mental approaches of top-down, considering the whole plot of the topic in advance, and bottom-up, considering the details prior to the entire story, used by the students. The study also displayed the positive impact of instruction on the improvement of learners’ narrative writing revealing their self-imaging of the plot with which they could narrate the given topics in accordance with their own life experiences and understanding.

With the increasing popularity of virtual education following the COVID-19 pandemic and the advancement of technology in education, new opportunities and challenges have entered the realm of education. So it is necessary to pay attention to the preparation of schools for this type of learning as well as the self-efficacy of teachers in using information and Communication technology (ICT) skills and the stress they experience in using technology in their jobs. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of Computer Self-Efficacy and E-Learning Readiness Mediated with Technostress in Teacher Professional Competence. This study was applied in terms of goal and fell under descriptive-correlational research in terms of data collection. The statistical population consisted of all teachers of Tehran’s District 15 working at high school levels from 2021 to 2022 (675 people), as 194 people were selected through convenience sampling. In order to collect data from Technostress and Computer Self-Efficacy questionnaire (Dong et al., 2020); E-learning Readiness questionnaire (Keramati et al., 2011); and Teacher Professional Competence questionnaire (Motahhari-Nezhad & Jahangard, 2016) were used. After calculating the scales’ reliability, data were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL Software. The results showed that: computer self-efficacy and e-learning readiness had a direct, positive and significant effect on teacher professional competence. computer self-efficacy and e-learning readiness had  a positive and significant indirect effect on teacher professional competence through technostress. Also technostress had a direct, negative and significant effect on teacher professional competence.

The present research was conducted with the aim of designing and developing Job Fatigue Scale for Elementary school Teachers in 2024 employing both qualitative-quantitative data. In the qualitative phase, official documents and opinions from experts in this field were used to obtain the basic structure of the tool, and in the quantitative section, the basic structure of the tool was given to samples of three target communities in three stages to check the validity and reliability of the tool. The findings of the qualitative section showed 51 effective components in reducing job fatigue, based on which the initial pool was prepared with 81 items. The Holsti's coefficient of reliability was 0.864 and the results of the content validity investigation led to the removal of 29 items. Therefore, a 52-item questionnaire was formed based on the qualitative and quantitative data. Consequently, using factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient led to the removal of 7 items from the final form. Finally the structure of 45 items with 4 educational-psychological, psychological, behavioral-organizational and managerial-organizational factors was confirmed. Among the 4 factors affecting job fatigue, the educational-psychological factor took the first rank and then the psychological, behavioral-organizational and management-organizational factors took the second to fourth ranks respectively. In general, considering the validity and reliability of the developed model, it can be used to evaluate the level of job fatigue of primary school teachers.

The present study focused on the effect of an in-service meta-pragmatics training course on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ pragmatic awareness and classroom pragmatic practices. A mixed methods design was used to achieve the objectives of the study. In the quantitative phase of the study, 300 EFL teachers were selected through convenience sampling and filled out the Pragmatic Awareness Questionnaire. In the qualitative phase, 60 of those teachers participated in a pragmatic training course. They were divided into experimental and control groups and underwent the processes of pretesting, intervention, and post-testing. Furthermore, 30 of these teachers were observed in terms of their teaching inter-language pragmatics both before and after the training course of meta-pragmatics. The results of the multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA) revealed that EFL teacher’s pragmatic awareness was relatively low. In addition, the findings unveiled a statistically significant difference between the EFL teachers’ meta-pragmatic awareness and their practices in terms of the 'language teacher' component. Moreover, the findings showed a statistically significant improvement in the EFL teachers’ pragmatic practices regarding teaching pragmatic features after receiving the instructions. The results of this study have some implications for stakeholders, namely EFL teacher trainers, EFL teachers, and EFL students.

This study investigates the ideological dimensions of media representation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis by comparing British and Arab online newspapers. Grounded in Fairclough's framework of Critical Discourse Analysis, this paper investigates the narrative structure of The Guardian, The Sun, Arab News, and Gulf News in representing the conflict and how sociocultural and political contexts influence language use and framing strategies underpinning the ideologies. The study shows that British media, most especially The Guardian and The Sun, claim to mainly reinforce Western geopolitical narratives by framing Russia as an aggressor and Ukraine as a victim of war, emphasizing themes of democracy, aggression, and victimization. However, the media in the Arab world, such as Arab News and Gulf News, afford a more balanced approach that focuses on regional concerns like economic stability, humanitarian issues, and neutrality; on the other hand, it also covers a broad spectrum of views. Using such a comparison, this study exemplifies and contrasts the different ideological roots of media discourse within diverse cultural and political contexts. By pointing out how sociopolitical priorities and cultural values shape media framing, this study contributes to an understanding of the role that media plays in building global public opinion about international conflicts, more precisely in how media from different regions may frame the same event quite differently. This thus underlines the importance of cross-cultural media literacy and gives insight into the power of media in the perception-shaping process of a conflict.