Dariush Aliakbari; Mortaza Aslrasouli; Davud Kuhi
Abstract
Considerable research has been conducted on the advancement of types of tests to facilitate a second language vocabulary improvement. However, whether types of tests (receptive vs. productive) lead to a comprehensive mastery of L2 active vocabulary knowledge has seldom been addressed in previous literature. ...
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Considerable research has been conducted on the advancement of types of tests to facilitate a second language vocabulary improvement. However, whether types of tests (receptive vs. productive) lead to a comprehensive mastery of L2 active vocabulary knowledge has seldom been addressed in previous literature. This study investigated the effects of receptive (multiple-choice tests) and productive (C-tests) vocabulary instruction on L2 active English vocabulary learning in an EFL context like Iran. To this end, a sample of 60 English learners from one of the private language institutes in Maragheh, Iran, were divided into experimental and control groups. The data gathering tools were the Oxford placement test, a pretest in vocabulary in the form of the Test of Academic Lexicon (Scarcella & Zimmerman, 1998), a posttest in vocabulary, and a semi-structured interview. The learners in the first treatment group took a series of multiple-choice tests, whereas the second group used C-tests during the treatment. The results of ANOVA and post hoc showed that while both C-tests and multiple-choice tests were effective in enhancing L2 active vocabulary knowledge, C-tests were more effective than the multiple-choice test. The results of the interview with the learners in the productive vocabulary instruction approved the results of data analysis, as the students expressed positive attitudes toward the use of C-tests as effective means for improving their active vocabulary recall. The findings of this study provide new insights for language teachers and curriculum designers to apply C-tests in EFL courses.
Zari saeedi; Hossein Jajarmi
Abstract
Even though interactional competence (IC) has been in the center of attention recently, its constructs/sub-components and influencing factors still require a profound scrutiny. The features associated with IC have indeed been probed in various realms of language learning and teaching. However, the effect ...
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Even though interactional competence (IC) has been in the center of attention recently, its constructs/sub-components and influencing factors still require a profound scrutiny. The features associated with IC have indeed been probed in various realms of language learning and teaching. However, the effect of language learners’ gender on their perception of IC remains to be addressed. To bridge this gap, the present research, as one of the stages of development and verification of the Learners’ Interactional Competence Questionnaire (LICQ) investigated how gender may affect IC and its sub-constructs as perceived by males and females. A total number of 407 male and female intermediate-level Iranian EFL learners, selected through convenience sampling from several language institutes, participated in the study and responded to LICQ. Subsequently, a two-group Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to measure the potential effects of students’ gender on perceived interactional competence, including conversational management, speech acts, register, nonverbal semiotics, and requests and complaints. The results showed that gender did have a small significant effect on learners’ perceived interactional competence as a whole; while scrutinizing sub-components, it was also revealed that this effect is not visible in conversational management. The study findings provide learners with a self-assessment scale to identify their present state of IC perception. Besides, language teachers could consider the different perceptions of male and female learners of IC as an influential aspect of IC realization and development in the language classroom setting.
Nouroddin Yousofi; Saba Bashiri
Abstract
This study gives an account of a mixed-methods exploration of the impacts of a mobile-based flipped classroom on Iranian EFL learners’ writing proficiency. The participants were selected in a non-random convenient sampling procedure. Two intact classes (N=30) of upper-intermediate EFL learners ...
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This study gives an account of a mixed-methods exploration of the impacts of a mobile-based flipped classroom on Iranian EFL learners’ writing proficiency. The participants were selected in a non-random convenient sampling procedure. Two intact classes (N=30) of upper-intermediate EFL learners were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The quantitative and qualitative data were gathered via pre-and post-test scores and individual semi-structured interviews on WhatsApp. To measure groups’ differences in their writing proficiency, independent and paired samples t-tests statistical techniques were used, along with open thematic coding to analyze the interview data regarding the experimental group’s perceptions on the mobile-flipped writing course. Quantitative results showed that the post-test mean score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group at p=0.05. Furthermore, the mobile-based flipped learning provided the experimental group with some features that contributed to the course effectiveness, including fostering self-confidence, preparation, and pre-class practice, as well as autonomous and independent learning. It should be mentioned that some factors related to the pre-class sessions made some obstacles for the experimental group, including being cost- and time-consuming. This study can have valuable implications for the stakeholders in the field of language education in general and those who intend to conduct effective flipped EFL courses in particular.
Zahra Ghorbani Shemshadsara; Touran Ahour; Nasrin Hadidi Tamjid
Abstract
Effective teaching of reading comprehension has been a great concern for language teachers, leading to the emergence of strategies in developing students’ reading skill. This study examined the effects of raising text structure awareness (TSA) through face-to-face and computer-based reading instruction ...
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Effective teaching of reading comprehension has been a great concern for language teachers, leading to the emergence of strategies in developing students’ reading skill. This study examined the effects of raising text structure awareness (TSA) through face-to-face and computer-based reading instruction (CBI) on students’ reading comprehension. The participants included 87 undergraduate students of Humanities from Guilan, Iran who were at the upper-intermediate level concerning their foreign language proficiency and took part in the pretest and the posttest of reading comprehension that were taken from sample IELTS. They were randomly assigned into one control and two experimental groups. The first experimental group received instruction on text structure within face-to-face classes (TSA) and the second experimental group worked through computer-based instruction (TSA+CBI) while the control group benefited from their routine conventional reading activities. The results of the one-way ANCOVA indicated that the second experimental group that received instruction on text structure awareness through CBI outperformed the first experimental group that simply practiced text structure awareness in face-to-face classes and the control group. In addition, the difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant. The results verified the effectiveness of text structure awareness in improving the students’ reading comprehension in TSA+CBI groups. Language teachers can benefit from providing students with text structure awareness and facilitating their reading comprehension through applying technology.
Lida Habibpour; Leila Dobakhti
Abstract
Research on cognitive styles in the area of listening comprehension is very important and needs to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Iranian EFL learners’ cognitive styles and their listening comprehension. This study sought to explore the extent to which ...
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Research on cognitive styles in the area of listening comprehension is very important and needs to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Iranian EFL learners’ cognitive styles and their listening comprehension. This study sought to explore the extent to which these styles can predict the L2 learners’ performances on tests concerning listening comprehension. To this end, a mixed methods design was utilized to investigate the possible relationship between the aforementioned factors. Some seventy upper-intermediate EFL learners from three language institutes in Iran were asked to complete a questionnaire and then take part in a listening comprehension test in IELTS format after a two-week interval. The questionnaire was drawn from Learning Styles Survey designed by Cohen, Oxford, and Chi (2002). It included ten sections which were used to determine learners’ cognitive styles and their demographic information. The obtained data were analyzed using Spearman Rho’s correlation. The findings indicated that there was a statistically significant correlation between Analytic cognitive style and listening comprehension performance of the participants. It was also found that there was a statistically negative correlation between Global cognitive style of the learners and their listening comprehension. Other cognitive styles including Particular, Synthesizer, Field Dependent, Deductive, Inductive, Impulsive, Field Independent, and Reflective had no statistically significant relationship with listening comprehension. Finally, pedagogical implications for EFL teachers and learners, limitations and suggestions for further study are presented.
Mohammad Hadi Mahmoodi; Fateme Karampour
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between foreign language causal attributions, metacognitive self-regulation and speaking performance of Iranian EFL learners. To this end, 202 intermediate EFL students, studying English at private language teaching institutes in three provinces of Hamedan, ...
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This study aimed to investigate the relationship between foreign language causal attributions, metacognitive self-regulation and speaking performance of Iranian EFL learners. To this end, 202 intermediate EFL students, studying English at private language teaching institutes in three provinces of Hamedan, Golestan, and Khuzestan were selected based on the convenience sampling procedure. To collect data, Causal Dimension Scale II (CDS II) (McAuley, Duncan, & Russell, 1992) and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) (Pintrich, Smith, Garcia & McKeachie, 1991) were employed. Moreover, the interview section of IELTS Exam was also used to measure speaking ability of the learners. The results of the study showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the participants’ L2 speaking ability and the locus of causality and the internal control dimensions of attribution theory. But, there was significant negative correlation between L2 speaking ability and the external control and the stability dimensions. There was also positive significant correlation between L2 speaking ability and metacognitive self-regulation. Moreover, it was found out that successful and unsuccessful EFL learners attributed their success and failure in L2 speaking performance mainly to internal factors. It was also found that among the independent variables of the study, meta-cognitive self-regulation was the stronger predictor of the participants' L2 speaking performance. The findings of this study are hoped to suggest a number of implications for EFL teachers, learners, syllabus designers, and parents.
Rasoul Mohammad Hosseinpur; Maryam Sarbandi Farahani
Abstract
Human beings are defined as an embodiment of social and cultural understanding which can develop by engaging in various social contexts. Cultural intelligence and cultural identity are thus accounted noteworthy in learning particular aspects of language which are culture-specific. The present study intended ...
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Human beings are defined as an embodiment of social and cultural understanding which can develop by engaging in various social contexts. Cultural intelligence and cultural identity are thus accounted noteworthy in learning particular aspects of language which are culture-specific. The present study intended to investigate the interaction effect of cultural intelligence and cultural identity on Iranian EFL learners’ use of politeness strategies. To this end, the participants were divided into two groups of high and low cultural intelligence and cultural identity. Moreover, regardless of their membership in the two groups, the participants were included in the assessment of the relationship between cultural intelligence and politeness strategies. Fifty two intermediate language learners whose proficiency level was determined through Oxford Quick Proficiency Test were required to fill out the questionnaires of Cultural Intelligence, L1 Cultural identity and Discourse Completion Tasks. Two-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the research questions. The results of the two-way ANOVA proved no interaction effect of cultural intelligence and cultural identity levels on the use of politeness strategies. Moreover, the analysis of the relationship between the four factors of cultural intelligence and the use of politeness strategies yielded no significant relationship. The findings can inform of imminent obliterating L1 cultural identity among EFL learners. Broaching the subjects such as globalization, cultural homogeneity and English linguicism, the study calls for the need for further inquiries to revise already established findings such as the role of home culture, L1 and attitudes towards target culture in EFL domain.
Ali Roohani; Raheleh Sabzeali,; Azizullah Mirzaei
Abstract
Research has showed a positive relationship between metacognitive knowledge and success in reading comprehension. Thus, it is important to be aware of metacognitive strategy use in reading comprehension. This study was intended to explore metacognitive strategies in reading academic texts among more ...
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Research has showed a positive relationship between metacognitive knowledge and success in reading comprehension. Thus, it is important to be aware of metacognitive strategy use in reading comprehension. This study was intended to explore metacognitive strategies in reading academic texts among more and less proficient English university student readers. To this end, 75 English as a foreign language (EFL) students (including 45 more proficient and 30 less proficient students), who were selected nonrandomly from two universities, participated in this mixed-methods study. To collect data, the Survey of Reading Strategies and the Test of English as Foreign Language were administered to them. Also, to elicit how they utilize the metacognitive strategies, five more proficient and five less proficient EFL readers were asked to undertake think-aloud tasks. Results of quantitative (t-tests) and qualitative data analysis showed that there were significant differences between the metacognitive strategies used by more and less proficient readers. More proficient readers reported using the strategies at a high frequency level overall, but less proficient readers reported using them at a moderate frequency level. More proficient readers preferred to use problem-solving strategies followed by global strategies, whereas less proficient ones preferred to use problem solving strategies followed by support strategies. In addition, the results of think-aloud indicated that the more and less proficient readers’ methods of employing metacognitive strategies differed, to some extent, from each other in quality of use. The findings provide implications for low proficiency EFL readers who intend to improve their reading comprehension and learning autonomy.
shabnam kurosh khanshan; davud kuhi
Volume 4, Issue 3 , August 2017, , Pages 33-47
Abstract
Teachers wish their learners not to take all provided information for granted; rather, they expect to enable their learners to develop higher order thinking skills and to be reflective. When applied to academic contexts, critical discourse analysis seems to play an undeniable role in the development ...
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Teachers wish their learners not to take all provided information for granted; rather, they expect to enable their learners to develop higher order thinking skills and to be reflective. When applied to academic contexts, critical discourse analysis seems to play an undeniable role in the development of reflective thoughts by students. The current study investigated the effect of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learner’s critical thinking (CT) ability in economic translation texts classes. To this end, 60 undergraduate English translation students at the intermediate level of proficiency were selected and assigned into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental group received instruction in order to make critical analysis both on articles handed out by teacher as well as follow-up CDA based presentations. The control group learners, on the other hand, received neither instruction nor any practice with respect to critical discourse analysis of texts. The data obtained from the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal were subject to independent samples t-test. The findings revealed that CDA had a positive and significant impact on EFL learners’ critical thinking ability with the ‘Interpretation’ and ‘Recognizing Unstated Assumption’ sub-tests of critical thinking being most influenced. The significance of this finding in light of critical discourse analysis and implications for educationalists are discussed in detail.
Mir Habib Aboulalaei; Jafar Poursalehi; Yase Hadidi
Volume 3, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 103-83
Abstract
One important light in which to perceive the pendulum swings of the world of language teaching is the waning of the concept of method and its replacement by Kumaravadivelu’s post-method pedagogy, which is free from the constraints of methods. For several years, researchers working on the familiarity ...
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One important light in which to perceive the pendulum swings of the world of language teaching is the waning of the concept of method and its replacement by Kumaravadivelu’s post-method pedagogy, which is free from the constraints of methods. For several years, researchers working on the familiarity of EFL teachers with Post-method and its role in second and foreign language learners’ productions have pointed out that the opportunity to plan for a task generally contributes to language learners’ development. Such a post-method thinking has yet to find some prominent place with language teaching practitioners. This study principally sets out to explore any correlation between the field of study taught and the teachers’ attitudes towards the post-method strategies at hand today. One hundred and thirt one teachers from an English language institute located in Tabriz, Iran (i.e. Faseleh) were selected as participants. The attitudes of language teachers towards the Post-Method condition were assessed via a questionnaire that consisted of two main parts: the first part tapped into the participants’ personal information, and the second part included some questions on a 5- point Likert scale about the role of Post Method, their familiarity with it, and how it impacted their teaching and learning. The findings support the hypothesis that language teachers’ knowledge and awareness of post-method seems to play out as an important factor in their teaching, while they also carry certain pedagogical and theoretical implications in second language teaching as well as relevance to second language learning assessment.
Mir Habib Aboulalaei; Jafar Poursalehi; Yaser Hadidi
Volume 3, Issue 1 , February 2016, , Pages 109-89
Abstract
One important light in which to perceive the pendulum swings of the world of language teaching is the waning of the concept of method and its replacement by Kumaravadivelu’s post-method pedagogy, which is free from the constraints of methods. For several years, researchers working on the familiarity ...
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One important light in which to perceive the pendulum swings of the world of language teaching is the waning of the concept of method and its replacement by Kumaravadivelu’s post-method pedagogy, which is free from the constraints of methods. For several years, researchers working on the familiarity of EFL teachers with Post-method and its role in second and foreign language learners’ productions have pointed out that the opportunity to plan for a task generally contributes to language learners’ development. Such a post-method thinking has yet to find some prominent place with language teaching practitioners. This study principally sets out to explore any correlation between the field of study taught and the teachers’ attitudes towards the post-method strategies at hand today. 131 teachers from an English language institute located in Tabriz, Iran (i.e. Faseleh) were selected as participants. The attitudes of language teachers towards the Post-Method condition were assessed via a questionnaire which consisted of two main parts: the first part tapped into the participants’ personal information, and the second part included some questions on a 5- point Likert scale about the role of Post Method, their familiarity with it, and how it impacted their teaching and learning. The findings support the hypothesis that language teachers’ knowledge and awareness of post-method seems to play out as an important factor in their teaching, while they also carry certain pedagogical and theoretical implications in second language teaching as well as relevance to second language learning assessment.
