Foreign Language Teaching and Research

In today's society, it is important for teachers, particularly foreign language teachers, to understand that reflectivity is considered as a main factor in growing teaching profession. This study sought to examine the different dimensions of reflective teaching among Iranian EFL teachers considering the variables of gender, academic degree , teaching experience ,and interactional effect between them .In doing so, initially using an explanatory sequential mixed method survey design a five–point Lickert scale ,29-items Reflective Teaching Questionnaire including (practical, meta-cognitive, critical, cognitive and affective ) was distributed to 142 EFL teachers (male and female) with 4 to 30+ years of professional experience with BA, MA, and PhD. academic degrees. Considering teaching experience, the participants were categorized into three groups.MANOVA results indicated the significant effect of teachers’ experience on their reflective teaching with the least effect reported on the affective dimension. Secondly, sixteen EFL teachers were invited to participate in an interview. The results of the present study will be useful for EFL teachers to have effective teaching, and to involve themselves more in exploring their students’ learning styles and critical aspects of the teaching context. Obviously, reflective teaching would help teachers to foster their independence. The analysis revealed that shortage of time, prescribed syllabi, predetermined textbooks, and ineffective teacher training programs were the main obstacles to reflectivity as experienced by the teachers. The outcomes have pedagogical implications for Iranian EFL teachers and theoreticians in the area of language teaching.

This study aimed at investigating the psychometric features of the already-developed Language Teaching Aptitude Scale for Iranian EFL teachers. A correlational survey design was used benefiting from Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The study participants consisted of 300 (126 males and 174 females) Iranian EFL teachers who were conveniently selected from different Azad and State universities and various institutes and high schools of Iran. The instrument used for data collection was the already-developed Language Teaching Aptitude Scale for Iranian EFL teachers. This scale consisted of 90 Likert-type items that measured ten subscales (i.e., Good inter-personal behavior, Making students motivated, Time management ability, Recognition of students’ needs, Positive thinking skills, Critical thinking ability, Verbal intelligence, Mastery over different teaching methods, Evaluation skills, and English language proficiency). SPSS and AMOS 26 were employed to analyze the data, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach’s Alpha test. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, along with alpha coefficients, provided evidence in support of the validity and reliability of the developed scale. Therefore, it can be concluded that the already-developed Language Teaching Aptitude Scale for Iranian EFL teachers can be used in recruiting individuals for the teaching profession so that teachers’ professional development and students’ English achievement are guaranteed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the most significant disruption of education systems in human history worldwide. In the present condition, E-learning platforms have gained more importance and become a permanent part of teachers’ and students’ lives. Consequently, studying E-learning platforms from a systemic approach gained the most prominence. One of the available and most used online platforms in Iran is “Adobe Connect”. Therefore, this study has investigated the challenges and benefits of using “Adobe Connect” in the Iranian E-learning system from the point of view of EFL students and teachers. This is a case study in which an in-depth understanding of language learning through the mentioned online platform was sought. The participants consisted of 10 EFL teachers and 158 students studying English at Islamic Azad University and Ilia Language Institute in Sirjan, who were selected based on purposive sampling. The data were collected using a researcher-made five-Likert scale questionnaire, including 27 items and semi-structured interviews. The results indicated a moderately positive attitude of language learners’ toward “Adobe Connect”. In addition, the EFL teachers presented a series of advantages and disadvantages of this platform. The obtained outcomes could serve the online platform creators and developers, teachers and learners as users of this platform and as a model for countries with similar technology infrastructure and cultural features wishing to improve their e-learning systems.

This study tried to inspect and compare any possible effects of immediate and delayed metalinguistic and indirect feedback on the level of WTC of Iranian EFL learners in task performance. This research was a quasi-experimental work with 120 Participants (63 males and 57 females) who were divided into four groups: 30 students as the direct-immediate feedback group, 30 students as the direct-delayed feedback, 30 students as the indirect-immediate feedback, and 30 students as the indirect-delayed feedback. Different instruments were utilized to collect the required data, including the Oxford Placement Test (OPT), the WTC scale (McCroskey, 1992), and a set of two-way exchange tasks. After homogenizing the participants, based on the OPT test, the participants took the WTC scale as a pretest. As the treatment, the indirect immediate feedback group participants reformulated the errors into the correct form as soon as they committed errors. In the indirect delayed feedback group, the teacher noted the errors and the student’s name to provide feedback for that specific student. In the direct metalinguistic immediate feedback group, the participants were provided with both explanations and examples of the correct form of errors they committed. In the metalinguistic delayed group, the teacher wrote notes on the error types and the students’ names to provide explanations andcorrect examples for specific students. The WTC scale was readministered in the post-test and the scores were recorded. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the pre-and post-test data. The result of the data analysis showed there was an interaction between the timing and the type of feedback regarding their effect on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ WTC.

This study aimed at exploring a host of objectives: it examined whether self-efficacy, learner autonomy, and critical thinking play a significant part in predicting EFL learners'' language mindset. Moreover, it inspected the direct and indirect relationships among all the above-mentioned variables. To achieve these purposes, a correlational survey design was used; survey questionnaires (Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), Learner Autonomy Questionnaire, California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST), and Language Mindsets Inventory (LMI) were administered to more than 700 male and female intermediate EFL learners selected through convenient sampling from several language institutes in Isfahan, Iran, and the required data were collected and statistically analyzed by path analysis in the SmartPLS environment. The obtained results showed that all the variables are partially related to language mindset. However, the significant relationship with mindset was that of self-efficacy. This finding has useful implications for language teachers. Growth mindsets must be captured and modeled by them for the proper implementation of mindset interventions so that learners can understand their flexible capacities as a reflection of their efforts. They can also develop attitudes and behaviors in the learner that will help them succeed in life. Learners who undergo a growth mindset intervention to increase self-efficacy will benefit from greater academic success and commitment to learning.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of self-regulation training and instruction on EFL learners’ short-term andlong-term retention of English vocabulary in online classes. The design of the present study was a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design. The participants of this study included 60 Iranian maleintermediate EFL learners chosen from among 68 learners studying English at a private language institute inKerman, Iran based on their PET scores. The original sample was selected through convenience sampling. Theparticipants’ ages ranged from 17 to 30. The following instruments were used in this study: a Preliminary EnglishTest (PET) and two researcher-made vocabulary tests. To analyze the data, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test,Descriptive statistics and Repeated Measures ANOVA were used and according to the results of data analysis, self-regulation training and instruction had a significant effect on EFL learners’ short-term and long-term retention ofEnglish vocabularies in online classes. The findings have some implications for EFL teachers, EFL learners, andcurriculum planners.

Genre-based pedagogy has gained a lot of attention since the mid-1980s. Genre is defined in relation to the use of language in conventionalized communicative situations. In this research, there was an attempt to scrutinize the effects of genre-based pedagogy on Iranian medical researchers’ discussion writing ability. To examine the formulated hypotheses, A group of 35 subjects were randomly selected from medical researchers in Zanjan and Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences. Both male and female researchers were invited to this study. A within-group pre-test and post-test design was implemented. The instructional procedures went on for four sessions before the posttest was administered. The results of the paired t-test revealed that genre-based pedagogy had a significant effect on the discussion writing ability of Iranian researchers of medical sciences. Ultimately, in a Focus-group interview, the participants contended their expertise in writing significantly increased due to the treatment sessions. Implications of this study may include genre-based pedagogy in the Iranian ESP curriculum.

The present study aimed to develop and validate a model of Iranian EFL teacher classroom fairness using a sequential exploratory mixed methods design (QUAL + quan). The participants consisted of two groups. The first group consisted of 250 Iranian EFL teachers who were selected through available sampling through virtual groups in social networks. The second group of participants included 150 Iranian EFL learners at the intermediate level from different private language institutes in Iran were selected through available sampling from different virtual groups in WhatsApp or Telegram. The following instruments used for data collection in the present study: A Demographic information scale and a closed-ended questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted through thematic analysis by MAXQDA software and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis through SPSS and AMOS 24 software. Finally, the reliability of the developed model of Iranian EFL teacher classroom fairness was estimated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. According to the results, a model of Iranian EFL teacher classroom fairness developed in four main components, including teaching fairness, evaluation fairness, classroom management fairness, and classroom communication fairness. Finally, the proposed model of Iranian EFL teacher classroom fairness found to be valid and reliable. The findings have some implications for policymakers, teacher educators, teacher education administrators, and curriculum developers

This study investigated the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence of Iranian undergraduate students in the English language and its relationship with their grammar knowledge. For this purpose, 139 male (N=46) and female (N=93) English language students aged 22 -32 years old were randomly selected as the participants. Multiple Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) and a grammar TOEFL test were used to evaluate the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence of the students and measure their grammar knowledge. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence of students and its relationship with grammar knowledge was gauged using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The means of males and females in grammar knowledge and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence were assessed through a one-way sample t-test. The findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence of the participants and their grammar knowledge. The findings also showed no remarkable differences between males and females regarding bodily-kinesthetic intelligence and grammar knowledge. The implication of the findings is that English language teachers should utilize the same effective grammar textbooks and tasks for both male and female students.

This study investigated Iranian English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners’ use of vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) and its interrelationship with breadth of vocabulary knowledge (VK), depth of vocabulary knowledge and learning styles especially in relation to gender and age. There was a significant relationship between determination VLS and depth of VK. Learning styles of theorist, reflector and activist provided the basis for increasing and improving breadth of VK. Also, there was a significant and incremental (direct) relationship between theorist, reflector & activist learning styles with depth of VK. In three groups of theorist, reflector, and activist learning styles, social VLS provided the basis for increasing and improving breadth of VK. Also, in three groups of pragmatist, theorist & reflector learning styles, there is a significant and direct relationship between memory VLS and breadth of VK. In males group, there was a significant and direct effect between determination VLS and breadth of VK. Furthermore, in females group, there was a significant and direct relationship between social VLS and depth of VK. Considering the age of participants, in the age group of 20-24 years, there was a significant and direct relationship between metacognitive VLS and breadth of VK. However, in the age group of 25-30 years, there was a significant and direct relationship between cognitive VLS and breadth of VK. Given the important mediating effects of gender and age, it is proposed that vocabulary learning be strategically and stylistically integrated into the accumulative process of English learning.

Alienation is a significant phenomenon that forms the subject of many psychological, sociological, literary, philosophical, and even physiological studies. Alienation is among the most critical justifications bringing about the internal and external pains and sufferings in life. Emerging as a result of war, persecution, famine, and ruin, alienation terminates unfortunately in suffering, isolation, and sometimes critical disasters. In literature, the alienated protagonist is usually a frequent figure in much of the ancient and contemporary fiction. The main issue of alienation refers to a destructive consequence of getting, or feeling of getting separated from people that one is living with them. It refers to become useless, or to feel becoming useless in the field of social relations and interactions. It is the outcome of becoming alienated, so that one thinks that no longer anyone needs him / her, and / or his / her services. Aiming to review the theme of alienation, and focusing on Melvin Seaman’s concepts of alienation in general, the present paper, in particular, will review the manifestation of the term alienation in “The Child in Time,” and “The Comfort of Strangers,” that are both the well-known novels written by Ian Russell McEwan, one of the greatest British novelists and screenwriters of the twentieth century. By describing the disastrous aftermath of the alienation, this article tries to alarm the man regarding the catastrophic and destructive consequences of the alienation in the life of the existing societies.

This research explored the intricacies of incitement as a speech act in political discourse, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, the study combined qualitative analyses—focusing on rhetorical structures and pragmatic strategies—with quantitative evaluations of speech act frequencies. The corpus included speeches from prominent political figures delivered between February 2022 and March 2024, selected for their relevance to incitement. The analysis revealed that incitement often straddles the boundary between illocutionary and perlocutionary acts, showcasing how politicians use indirect language to maintain plausible deniability while still mobilizing action. This ambiguity complicates traditional classifications within speech act theory. Furthermore, the study highlights various persuasive strategies employed in political rhetoric, such as emotional appeals and historical analogies.The implications of this research are significant for understanding how language functions as a tool of political power, particularly in conflict situations. It provides insights into ethical considerations surrounding incitement in political communication, suggesting that awareness of linguistic strategies can help prevent escalation of tensions and promote more responsible discourse among leaders.

This study investigates the pragmastylistic features employed in English and Arabic religious texts, with a specific focus on the concept of rewarding. Drawing on Narmin Abbas Lutfi Baqqal's PhD dissertation, the research examines the pragmatic and stylistic characteristics of rewarding in Biblical and Prophetic Hadith texts. The study addresses two primary research questions: (1) What are the pragmastylistic features used in English and Arabic religious texts to convey rewarding? (2) Which pragmatic and stylistic features are more prevalent in these texts? By analyzing 20 Biblical verses and 20 Prophetic Hadiths, the paper identifies the linguistic and rhetorical devices used to express rewarding, highlighting both similarities and differences between the two languages. The findings reveal that both texts employ declarative and imperative speech acts, deixis, and figurative language, but with distinct stylistic preferences. This study contributes to the fields of pragmatics, stylistics, and religious discourse analysis, offering insights into how language shapes religious messages across different cultural and linguistic contexts.

This research explored the intricacies of incitement as a speech act in political discourse, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, the study combined qualitative analyses—focusing on rhetorical structures and pragmatic strategies—with quantitative evaluations of speech act frequencies. The corpus included speeches from prominent political figures delivered between February 2022 and March 2024, selected for their relevance to incitement. The analysis revealed that incitement often straddles the boundary between illocutionary and perlocutionary acts, showcasing how politicians use indirect language to maintain plausible deniability while still mobilizing action. This ambiguity complicates traditional classifications within speech act theory. Furthermore, the study highlights various persuasive strategies employed in political rhetoric, such as emotional appeals and historical analogies.The implications of this research are significant for understanding how language functions as a tool of political power, particularly in conflict situations. It provides insights into ethical considerations surrounding incitement in political communication, suggesting that awareness of linguistic strategies can help prevent escalation of tensions and promote more responsible discourse among leaders.