مطالب

Mindfulness-based training (MBT) and clinical supervision (CS) are two somewhat alternative approaches in education, the promising results of which have been reported in the English as a foreign language (EFL) literature. Accordingly, the current study sought to explore the differential impacts of MBT and CS for EFL teachers on the overall achievement of the learners they taught. The teacher and learner participants, selected non-randomly through convenience sampling, comprised 64 teachers and 663 of their learners teaching and learning English at one private language school in Tehran. The teachers were randomly divided into two equal groups each consisting of 32 participants. There were 327 learners in the CS group of teachers and 336 learners in the MBT group of teachers. Prior to the treatment, the two learner groups took a sample Preliminary English Test (PET) as the pretest. Next, one of the teacher groups underwent CS while the second group was exposed to MBT. After the treatment, both learner groups who had been taught by the two groups of teachers took another sample PET as the posttest. The statistical analysis revealed that the learners taught by the MBT group outperformed those taught by the CS group significantly. Based on the results, teacher educators and supervisors are encouraged to raise teachers’ awareness concerning the benefits of MBT in their working environments.

Shurṭat al-Khamīs was a military unit composed of elite soldiers loyal to Imam Ali (AS). This force was active at the beginning of his caliphate, before Kūfa became the administrative capital, between 35 and 40 AH. Although several studies have examined Shurṭat al-Khamīs , further research into its concept, instances, and functions is necessary to provide a clearer, more precise understanding of the institution. The present study aims to elucidate the nature and rationale of this term's naming, aiming to offer a more accurate understanding of this institution through process tracing. Among those identified as members of Shurṭat al-Khamīs are Aṣbagh ibn Nubāta, Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh , and Mālik al-Ashtar . The most significant functions of this institution include: "Protecting the Imam’s life, monitoring and supervising the marketplace, supporting military operations, pursuing criminals, enforcing legal punishments, boosting morale and assisting other military units, guarding the public treasury, combating internal security threats, and maintaining order in Kūfa." An examination of hadith, exegetical, and historical sources, alongside an analysis of the semantic range of the term, reveals that Shurṭat al-Khamīs does not refer merely to a military unit. Its policing and administrative dimensions are even more prominent, as several members possessed both military and non-military roles. By combining military and administrative duties, this institution often functioned as an executive arm of the government of the Commander of the Faithful (AS), playing a significant role in managing political and social crises.

Although several studies have examined the effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in enhancing L2 speaking , it remains unclear whether learners with low and high levels of anxiety benefit similarly from AI-based instruction. The present study examined the extent to which learners with varying levels of anxiety, specifically high and low, benefit from an AI-based speaking assistant, Character AI. This r esearch involved 30 intermediate EFL learners from a language institute, who were identified and labeled as high -anxiety (HA) and low-anxiety (LA) groups based on their anxiety scores. Following a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the initial phase involved administering the Oxford Placement Test (OPT) to determine participants' language proficiency, followed by a pre-test that served as a benchmark of their speaking proficiency before exposure to the Character AI app. Over the course of the study, participants engaged with Character AI for speaking practice and feedback. The results showed that Character AI-based support was beneficial for promoting FL speaking by fostering enhanced interaction and oral communication. It was also observed that learners with lower initial anxiety levels demonstrated greater improvements in speaking, implying that anxiety may moderate the benefits of AI-driven educational technologies. The qualitative findings underscore the potential of AI technologies as robust tools in L2 speaking, facilitating personalized, interactive, and learner-centric learning experiences. The present outcomes provide substantial insights into the interactions between psychological factors, technological integration, and language acquisition within the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) framework.

This study aims to examine the philosophical foundations of governance paradigms reflected in the election discourses of Iranian presidential candidates between 2005 and 2025, highlighting how these paradigms shape governance styles. The research employed a qualitative document analysis approach, focusing on primary sources such as campaign statements, election manifestos, interviews, and media reports. A comparative method was used to evaluate the ontological, epistemological, and methodological dimensions of each presidential discourse. Theoretical frameworks from the philosophy of science, particularly regarding positivist, interpretivist, and critical paradigms, provided the lens for analysis. The study found that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s discourse embodied an interpretivist paradigm with positivist elements, emphasizing cultural narratives and measurable developmental policies. Hassan Rouhani’s discourse reflected a hybrid of critical and positivist paradigms, balancing structural reforms with evidence-based governance. Ebrahim Raisi’s approach was primarily interpretivist with critical elements, focusing on revolutionary ideals and social justice. Masoud Pezeshkian’s emerging discourse aligned most closely with the critical paradigm while incorporating positivist techniques for policy development. Across the period from 2005 to 2025, a gradual philosophical shift was observed, moving from symbolic mobilization toward structural critique and pragmatic governance strategies. These evolving paradigms significantly influenced policymaking priorities, citizen participation models, and governance structures in Iran. The philosophical roots embedded in election discourses play a decisive role in shaping governance approaches in Iran. Understanding these paradigmatic orientations offers deeper insights into the evolution of political practices and state-citizen relations. Future studies should further explore the relationship between electoral rhetoric, governance implementation, and the broader socio-political transformations within Iran.

Ritual tourism, as a reflection of local identity and culture, plays a significant role in shaping and renewing the tourism experience. This study aims to explain the effect of ritual tourism (with emphasis on the Yom al-Abbas ceremony in Zanjan) on the construction of place attachment among tourists. The research is descriptive-explanatory in nature and applied in terms of purpose. Data were collected through a standard questionnaire based on four indicators of place attachment: emotional attachment, place identity, place dependence, and social bonding, using a sample of 95 tourists selected through convenience sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.1 through descriptive statistics, stepwise regression, path analysis, and Pearson correlation test. The findings indicate that the components of place attachment are interconnected and significantly related. Tourists had relatively homogeneous attitudes toward the ritual event, and the overall effect of the indicators on place attachment construction was strong (R=0.99). Furthermore, emotional attachment had the greatest impact on place identity, and social bonding showed the highest influence on place dependence. In conclusion, ritual tourism can effectively contribute to strengthening individuals' sense of belonging to a place and provide favorable conditions for the construction of place identity and social cohesion.

The relationship between the text and the reader has been greatly influenced by the emergence of new forms of narration. These new forms are created by adding interaction to the text. By adding interaction to a narrative, these new forms create more opportunities for readers to control and shape the narration, resulting in a heightened level of immersion. Moreover, this type of narration opens up new possibilities for developing narratives that can serve various purposes beyond entertainment. This study aims to compare interactive forms of narration, such as FMV (Full Motion Video), ARG (Alternate Reality Games), escape rooms, interactive books, and plays, while examining the relationship between immersion and interactivity in these formats. While the reader will be a crucial point of focus, we will employ a qualitative method alongside quantitative measures to illustrate how variations in interactivity within a narrative can alter the readers’ immersive experiences across different modes of interactive narration.