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.

This study aims to identify the cognitive and emotional components of self-advocacy in exceptional learners and examine the external factors that influence their ability to advocate for themselves in educational settings. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 29 exceptional learners recruited through online platforms. Theoretical saturation was reached, ensuring comprehensive data collection. NVivo software was used to conduct thematic analysis, identifying key cognitive and emotional factors related to self-advocacy. Participants shared their experiences regarding metacognitive awareness, decision-making, emotional regulation, and external support systems, providing rich qualitative data for analysis. The results indicated that self-advocacy among exceptional learners is shaped by cognitive competencies, including metacognition, decision-making, and information-seeking behaviors, as well as emotional factors such as self-efficacy, resilience, and emotional regulation. Participants who demonstrated strong metacognitive strategies and confidence were more effective self-advocates, whereas those facing anxiety or low self-efficacy struggled to assert their needs. External factors, such as educator support, family involvement, and institutional policies, played a critical role in shaping advocacy experiences. Online networks and digital advocacy resources were identified as valuable tools for enhancing self-advocacy skills. However, institutional barriers, including bureaucratic challenges and lack of awareness among educators, posed significant obstacles for learners. The study highlights the complexity of self-advocacy in exceptional learners, emphasizing the interplay between cognitive awareness, emotional resilience, and external support structures. Enhancing self-advocacy skills requires targeted interventions, including advocacy training, institutional support, and digital resource accessibility.

The present study examined the relationship between student-teacher relationships and students’ academic engagement, with a particular focus on the mediating role of psychological well-being. A total of 380 high school students in Ahvaz, Iran, participated in the study. Data were collected using the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale – Short Form (STRS-SF), the Academic Engagement Scale, and Ryff’s 18-item Psychological Well-Being Scale. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data and test the hypothesized model. The results indicated that student-teacher relationships positively predicted both academic engagement and psychological well-being. Moreover, psychological well-being was found to mediate the relationship between student-teacher relationships and academic engagement. The model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.053). These findings underscore the critical role of emotional and psychological support in academic contexts and highlight the importance of fostering strong interpersonal connections between teachers and students. Enhancing student-teacher relationships and promoting psychological well-being may serve as effective strategies to increase students’ academic engagement

Although a wealth of research has been conducted in the field of English language teaching, the studies related to the effects of digital story telling (DST) instruction as an innovative technique for language learning have been fairly insufficient. The present research made an effort to examine the effect of using DST on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension and their motivation. To address the study objectives, 40 female learners from Marefat Language Institute were recruited based on the results of an OPT as a standard test to homogenize. The participants (20 in each group) were randomly assigned into an experimental group and a control one. To measure learners’ motivation, the Motivation Questionnaire by Dörnyei and Németh (2006) and Taguchi et al. (2009) was applied. The experimental group received DST instruction based on Robin’s model (2008) and the control group received the conventional method designed by the institute. The analysis of the groups’ performance in the pre-test and post-test through an independent samples t-tests revealed that the DST group significantly outperformed the control group in both reading comprehension and motivation. This study has several implications for language teachers and syllabus designers in the classroom context.