Foreign Language Teaching and Research

While there are varying perspectives on the bases of reflective practice within the teaching context, there is a broad consensus that reflection is fundamental to building a teacher's professional identity and improving their development. This study sought to investigate the perceptions of EFL teachers of reflective skills of Iranian effective teachers. To this end, a grounded theory design was used. Participants consisted of 30 conveniently selected female intermediate EFL learners from a language institute in Mashhad. For data collection, semi-structured interview and written reflective journal were used. Data analysis was done through manual thematic analysis via open, axial and selective coding. The results showed the following perceptions of EFL teachers of reflective skills of Iranian EFL effective teachers: 1. Behaving in a socially acceptable manner; 2. Being able to motivate students; 3. Managing classroom; 4. Attending to students' diversity of needs; 5. Planning appropriate teaching and evaluation methods and strategies; etc. Moreover, according to the results, the least important reflective skills of Iranian EFL effective teachers were attending to students' diversity of needs, and being able to motivate students. In addition, the most important reflective skills of Iranian EFL effective teachers were evaluating one's own teaching, making appropriate modifications in one's own teaching, thinking skillfully, planning appropriate teaching and evaluation methods and strategies, and managing classroom. The results have some implications for policymakers, teacher educators, authorities in charge of recruiting teachers.

In recent decades, language educators have taken advantage of technological advancements in the language classroom, and L2 learners have voiced their interests, concerns, and preferences about those technological advancements. The current investigation was designed to find out the attitudes of Iranian intermediate IELTS candidates towards using digital multimodal composing (DMC) and massive online open courses (MOOC) in their speaking classes. To achieve this aim, a sample of 60 male and female EFL learners at the intermediate level were selected based on volunteer sampling procedures. Subsequently, the participants were assigned to the two conditions of DMC and MOOC. The two groups were exposed to the same instructional materials, with the difference being that in DMC, the learners had to produce videos during the course and post them on the Flip platform for their peers and teacher to review and comment. They then could use the feedback to make corrections/revisions; in the MOOC condition, the learners signed up for an IELTS course on futurelearn.com and received video presentations, pdf articles, and quizzes, and they were asked to leave comments or react to each other's' comments during the course. Each group received a researcher-made attitude questionnaire at the end of the course and expressed their opinions about the treatment they were exposed to. Not surprisingly, both groups welcomed the use of DMC and MOOC and had positive attitudes towards incorporating such techniques into speaking courses. Based on these findings, this study presents a discussion of certain pedagogical implications.

This study compared the impact of interactive meta-linguistic feedback on the learning and retention of grammatical structures among Iraqi EFL learners. The study used a quasi-experimental design with 62 intermediate-level male students separated into three groups: one receiving interactive meta-linguistic feedback, another receiving traditional meta-linguistic feedback, and a control group that received no feedback. Pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and delayed post-tests were used to assess participants' knowledge of the following grammatical structures: present perfect, present perfect continuous, future, and future perfect. The results showed that interactive meta-linguistic feedback greatly improved both grammatical structure learning and retention when compared to other types of input. This study emphasizes the significance of feedback in language acquisition and proposes that interactive approaches may be more effective in promoting grammatical accuracy among EFL learners. This study compared the impact of interactive meta-linguistic feedback on the learning and retention of grammatical structures among Iraqi EFL learners. The study used a quasi-experimental design with 62 intermediate-level male students separated into three groups: one receiving interactive meta-linguistic feedback, another receiving traditional meta-linguistic feedback, and a control group that received no feedback. Pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and delayed post-tests were used to assess participants' knowledge of the following grammatical structures: present perfect, present perfect continuous, future, and future perfect.

Abstract Since student L2 achievement is the primary objective of all language education contexts, a huge number of inquiries have explored the role of various elements including teachers’ qualities in promoting their L2 achievement. Teachers’ qualities, such as professional commitment, have been shown to affect students’ achievements; however, some factors such as academic burnout seems to play a role in disturbing teachers’ commitment, even though the association between two concepts is not crystal clear. Due to the importance of commitment and burnout, this qualitative research intends to systematically uncover Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions towards the dynamic interaction between academic commitment and burnout. To this end, a sample of 50 EFL teachers from high schools and language institutes of Urmia, Iran was selected based on the convenience sampling and they were interviewed to express their perceptions towards different types of commitment (to school organization, to the teaching profession, and to students) they experienced, the role of burnout and its relationship between professional commitment and burnout level. Based on the thematic analysis, the results indicated that teachers in both high schools and private institutes were aware of three types of commitment and they believed in the negative interplay between the two concepts. The majority of the participants indicated that they feel stressed and anxious due to the heavy workload and low salary that resulted in limited opportunities for professional development.

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.

Given the increasing prevalence of online learning and the absence of a validated instrument for assessing the critical writing skills of Iranian EFL learners in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) contexts, this study aimed to develop and validate an analytic rubric to enhance critical writing in CMC environments. The participants were 236 EFL students and 10 EFL/ESL teachers, representing a diverse range of demographics, experiences, and qualifications. The rubric development process was guided by a comprehensive literature review, the administration of a critical thinking questionnaire, expert feedback, thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, integration of Paul and Elder’s (2019) Intellectual Standards, and the development and application of a Likert-scale critical writing questionnaire. Subsequent pilot testing facilitated refinements based on feedback. Accordingly, the finalized analytic rubric featured four principal components: (1) Clarity, Accuracy, and Precision (CAP); (2) Relevance and Logic (RL); (3) Depth and Significance (DS); and (4) Breadth and Fairness (BF). A rigorous validation process, including expert evaluation, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmed the rubric's reliability and validity. The findings demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, as well as convergent and discriminant validity. This study offers valuable pedagogical implications for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers, learners, researchers, and curriculum developers.

Exploring the disciplinary interface between English for specific purposes (ESP) and World Englishes (WEs), regarding the potential contributions of both disciplines to research on areas of shared interest, including TEFL and ESP Teachers’ attitudes are the center of current study. This investigation examines Iranian EFL and ESP teachers’ views on integrating WEs into ESP classes and assesses the English-speaking needs of ESP students. The study comprised 32 TEFL, 17 EFL, and 15 ESP teachers (16 male and 16 female, aged 30–67), using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach with quantitative questionnaires. Analysis of the data showed that subjects in both groups largely held remarkably positive views on WEs and felt ESP teaching should align with student objectives. More than two-thirds of participants disliked the current ESP syllabuses; however, only ESP teachers were unhappy with the teaching methods, cultural content, and textbook. The participants also showed complete dissatisfaction with their ESP students’ speaking abilities. It can be inferred that ESP course does not fully prepare the students to embark on their studies because it does not sufficiently consider learners’ speaking needs

This study examines the employment of self-praise in online celebrity culture, particularly the self-presentation strategies adopted by male and female English and Iraqi celebrities on social media. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of self-presentation, politeness theory, and self-praise, the study examines how male and female celebrities employ self-praise to negotiate their public images, engage with audiences, and enhance their market value. By examining posts on Instagram, Twitter, and Weibo, this study identifies prevalent self-praise strategies, such as explicit self-praise, adapted self-praise, and implicit self-praise, and draws attention to the affordances of platforms like hashtags, character limits, and multimodal content that influence these strategies. Further, this study investigates the degree to which cultural norms, primarily of individualism and collectivism, inform male and female celebrities' practice and perception of self-praise in different cultural settings. The findings suggest that as a global platform for celebrity branding and social validation, self-praise is grounded in the cultural expectations and affordances of given platforms. This study adds to the knowledge of self-presentation in the digital era and offers insights into the intersection of self-praise, gender, celebrity culture, and social media.

This study investigates the negotiation strategies used by Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2024 U.S. presidential debates, focusing on how language functions as a tool to navigate ideological divides in an increasingly polarized political climate. By applying a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative discourse analysis and survey data, the research examines debate transcripts alongside citizen feedback to assess the effectiveness of candidates’ rhetorical strategies. Drawing on Politeness Theory, Speech Act Theory, and Pragma-Crafting Theory, the study reveals distinct linguistic patterns: Democratic candidates employ inclusive, cooperative language to foster unity, while Republican candidates use direct, assertive language to project confidence and decisiveness. The findings highlight the role of language in shaping voter perceptions of leadership and ideological alignment, offering insights into how candidates' rhetoric resonates with their respective bases and impacts broader electoral dynamics. This research contributes to the fields of political communication and negotiation theory by offering a comparative analysis of debate strategies and providing practical implications for political strategists and campaign teams navigating the complexities of modern electoral discourse. This research contributes to the fields of political communication and negotiation theory by offering a comparative analysis of debate strategies and providing practical implications for political strategists and campaign teams navigating the complexities of modern electoral discourse.

Speaking proficiency is a crucial skill for Iranian EFL learners, yet it remains one of the most challenging aspects of language acquisition due to traditional, teacher-centered instruction and a lack of communicative practice. This study examines the effects of Differentiated Instruction (DI) and Gamification (G) on the Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF) of Iranian EFL learners’ speaking skills. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 108 B2-level learners from Safir Language Institute, Iran. Participants were divided into three groups: one receiving DI-based instruction, another engaging in Gamification-based tasks, and a control group following conventional teaching methods. The study utilized pre- and post-tests of speaking performance, evaluated through CAF metrics, alongside qualitative interviews to explore learners’ perceptions. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in all three dimensions of speaking in the experimental groups, with DI showing greater gains in accuracy and complexity, while G was more effective in enhancing fluency. Qualitative findings indicated that both approaches increased learner engagement, motivation, and confidence. These results suggest that DI and Gamification are effective pedagogical strategies for improving speaking proficiency and should be integrated into EFL curricula to optimize learning outcomes.

This study explored the rhetorical strategies employed by Republican and Democratic nominees during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaigns, focusing on the discursive techniques used to appeal to partisan bases and shape voter perceptions. Grounded in Van Dijk’s Ideological Square—a theoretical framework for analyzing how language constructs ideological divides—the research investigated the role of positive self-presentation, negative other-presentation, and the strategic framing of political ideologies in the construction of party identity. A mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative analysis of discourse patterns and qualitative examination of rhetorical strategies, uncovered the distinctive ways each party uses language to reinforce ideological commitments and polarize the electorate. The findings reveal significant differences in how Republicans and Democrats position themselves and their opponents, with Republicans often employing fear-based rhetoric, in-group/out-group distinctions, and a focus on "threat" narratives. In contrast, Democrats tend to emphasize unity, inclusivity, and collective responsibility, though occasionally at the risk of alienating moderates or dissenting voices within their own ranks. The study also highlights the growing role of digital media and algorithm-driven communication, demonstrating how technological platforms have amplified the impact of these rhetorical strategies, especially in the form of targeted misinformation and tailored inclusivity messages. The implications of the study extend to the fields of sociolinguistics, political communication, and media studies, emphasizing how language shapes ideological alignment, reinforces social divisions, and influences democratic processes in the digital age.

This study offers a full symbolic interactionist examination of Anne Tyler's novel A Slipping-Down Life, examining how identity is developed, acted out, and challenged by symbolic movements, emotional labor, and social recognition. With a focus on the protagonist Evie Decker, this study takes up seven primary questions of inquiry about the formation of identity in terms of performance, the influence of gender expectations, the utilization of music and silence as communication, and the intersections of trauma, emotion, and resistance in terms of negotiating identity. Basing itself on the classic theoretical models constructed by Mead, Blumer, Goffman, and Cooley—and recent reformulations and explications provided by Charmaz, Burke and Stets, and feminist theorists such as Butler and Gilligan—this article places Evie's transformation within generic sociological and psychological contexts. Through acts of self-scarification, deliberate silence, and remaking maternity roles, Evie operates within a condition of marginality and misrecognition. Her experience demonstrates identity as an active, networked, and emotional process, with a strong impact of gender roles and social norms. The research points out that literature, and especially texts richly textured with sociological context, such as Tyler's, offers a fertile backdrop for comprehending identity formation as an emotional, symbolic, and performative process. By drawing upon knowledge from narrative psychology, feminist theory, and cultural sociology, this study highlights the benefit of applying interdisciplinary approaches to literary analysis and the sociological imagination.

This essay explores the psychological tension between the Symbolic and Imaginary orders in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, examining how these tensions relate to trauma through the theories of Jacques Lacan and Cathy Caruth. By analyzing Holden Caulfield's fantasies, rejection of adult "phoniness," and fragmented identity, the study reveals how trauma disrupts the subject’s relation to the Symbolic and manifests in obsessive retreats into fantasy. Drawing on Lacan’s concepts of the Real, Symbolic, and Imaginary orders and Caruth’s theory of trauma as an unassimilated experience, alongside recent critical studies, this essay offers a psychoanalytic reading of Holden’s alienation, illustrating how his attempts to resist symbolic structures ultimately reinforce his trauma. Through an analysis of Holden’s relationships, internal conflict, and interactions with adults, the essay argues that his rejection of the adult world is driven by a fear of corruption, insincerity, and the inevitability of change. Holden's critique of adult society, exemplified through his cynicism toward institutions and adults around him, is contrasted with his idealization of childhood innocence, represented by his fantasies of being "the catcher in the rye." By examining the symbolic significance of Holden’s red hunting hat and his relationships with characters like Phoebe and Jane, the essay highlights his internal struggle and ultimate inability to reconcile the innocence of youth with the complexities of adulthood. The analysis concludes by addressing Holden's self-destructive path, revealing the broader themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the tension between childhood purity and the pressures of growing up in.