Research Paper
Discourse Analysis
Ali Akbar Farahani; Ali Geravand
Abstract
Having active participation in today’s more universally-networked research community through publishing in valid English journals has become delicate for the most populated contemporary users of English as a foreign language known as ‘ESP writers. This challenge is typically experienced in ...
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Having active participation in today’s more universally-networked research community through publishing in valid English journals has become delicate for the most populated contemporary users of English as a foreign language known as ‘ESP writers. This challenge is typically experienced in ESP authors’ variation in employing the generic move patterns in the overall structure of the academic research articles (RAs) ‘Conclusions’ sections, probably caused by heterogeneity in ‘English’ across the authors’ discipline-specific fields of expertise. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to analyze the organizational moves/steps of the RAs ‘conclusions’ to examine any significant difference/s in the discipline-specific authors’ writing styles in terms of the ‘type’ and ‘frequency’ of the moves/steps under study. To this end, 160 randomly selected RAs conclusions (RACs) from eight academic disciplines equally representing the hard sciences and soft sciences, were comparatively analyzed based on a conflated ESP move analysis model of Yang and Allison (2003), and Moritz, Meurer and Dellagnelo (2008). The results of the study obtained from the Frequency counts, Chi-square tests and the Effect Size measure revealed statistically significant differences between the frequency of moves/steps of the RACs in both discipline-specific groups of sciences; in addition, it was found that generic move patterns of the RACs did not strictly follow the proposed model. However, Pedagogical and practical implications along with suggestions for further studies are presented.
Research Paper
Teacher Education
Kiyana Zhaleh; Hamed Zandi
Abstract
Classroom justice, an under-investigated topic in language education, has been brought under focus in this study. Employing a qualitative research design, we took conceptual metaphor as both the theoretical framework and data analysis tool. Accordingly, 51 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) ...
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Classroom justice, an under-investigated topic in language education, has been brought under focus in this study. Employing a qualitative research design, we took conceptual metaphor as both the theoretical framework and data analysis tool. Accordingly, 51 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers were selected via snowball sampling to express their beliefs about (in)justice by creating a metaphor/simile. The aim was to discover EFL teachers’ conceptualization of metaphors of classroom (in)justice. The participants took a metaphor completion task (e.g., classroom justice is like …… because ……). Data analysis involved gathering, inductively coding, and classifying linguistic metaphors. Three elements were identified for each response, namely, the topic, vehicle, and ground. Then, conceptual categories were formed based on thematically grouping vehicles. Findings indicated reflection of the multidimensional conceptualization of classroom justice based on the organizational justice theory in many created metaphors; reference to emotional, psychological, and learning consequences of (in)justice in many other metaphors; and many pairs of opposite metaphors. These findings have implications for teacher education programs to employ metaphor as a useful tool to promote teachers’ reflection about classroom (in)justice; raise awareness of second/foreign language (L2) teachers about both issues of justice and injustice and their potential consequences for students’ wellbeing and educational outcomes; and train teachers for practical strategies of implementing justice principles in the instructional context as a way to address their professional development needs for becoming a quality L2 teacher and acting fairly in classroom.
Research Paper
Materials Development & Textbook Analysis
Hossein Ali Manzouri; Zia Tajeddin; Gholam Reza Kiany
Abstract
Scholarship on English as an International Language (EIL) has called for more research on the beliefs of nonnative teachers and learners of English about the inclusion of linguistic and cultural norms of EIL in ELT textbooks. To address this call, the present study examined the beliefs of 251 teachers ...
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Scholarship on English as an International Language (EIL) has called for more research on the beliefs of nonnative teachers and learners of English about the inclusion of linguistic and cultural norms of EIL in ELT textbooks. To address this call, the present study examined the beliefs of 251 teachers and 254 learners of English in Iranian private language institutes. Data for the study were collected through an adapted questionnaire and follow-up interviews. The results of the study unraveled the teachers' advocacy of the inclusion of cultural and language norms of nonnative English varieties into the textbooks. Regarding learners’ beliefs, the results of the study showed that they disagreed with the inclusion of nonnative varieties in language teaching materials, and agreed only with the representation of native cultures in the textbooks. Contrary to these findings, it was found that both teachers and learners disapproved of teaching EIL in ELT classrooms, signifying their preference for the prioritization of Anglo-American norms. The findings have implications for ELT materials development and the need to raise teachers' and learners' awareness of EIL.
Research Paper
ESP & EAP
Mohammadreza Afshari; Seyed Reza Beh-Afarin; Jahanbkhsh Nikoopour
Abstract
Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) is a widely adopted pedagogical approach that emphasizes real-world tasks to enhance second language acquisition. In a bid to empirically assess TBLT effectiveness, this study focused on the extent to which TBLT functions in the development of EAP students' pragmatic ...
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Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) is a widely adopted pedagogical approach that emphasizes real-world tasks to enhance second language acquisition. In a bid to empirically assess TBLT effectiveness, this study focused on the extent to which TBLT functions in the development of EAP students' pragmatic competence. To this end, 150 adult undergraduate Iranian students from various majors participated in this study. Also, three authentic role play tasks were designed based on a needs analysis, focusing on scenarios relevant to an EAP setting. Given the data nature, parametric statistical approach in the form of MANOVA of both pre-and post-test data was run to measure the students’ pragmatic competence prior to the intervention and following it. The pretest data-based MANOVA revealed no significant differences among the four groups not only in their overall pragmatic competence but also in the target sub-competences of it including instrumental, regulatory, interactional, personal, explanation, share knowledge, and imagination competences; thereby indicating groups homogeneity prior to the treatments. However, the post-test data analysis in the light of MANOVA resulted in an exactly opposite direction in that significant differences were reported in all six sub-competences, underscoring the effectiveness of task-based assessment methods in enhancing pragmatic competence in general. Post hoc analysis also confirmed the post-test data-based MANOVA. So, the findings underscore that authentic task-based assessment effectively enhances students' pragmatic competence, fostering their ability to use the language appropriately and confidently in real-life communication situations. This study underscores the significance of methodological rigor in evaluating pragmatic competence in educational contexts.
Research Paper
Applied Linguistics
Goodarz Shakibaei; Seyyed Mohammad Ali Soozandehfar; Fatemeh Owliaei; Arash Hashemifardnia
Abstract
The goal of this inquiry was to scrutinize how Iranian university students’ motivation, creativity, emotional intelligence (EI), and intellectual awareness (IA) were affected by artificial intelligence (AI). Sixty Iranian university students in Ahvaz, Iran, were chosen based on a convenience sampling ...
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The goal of this inquiry was to scrutinize how Iranian university students’ motivation, creativity, emotional intelligence (EI), and intellectual awareness (IA) were affected by artificial intelligence (AI). Sixty Iranian university students in Ahvaz, Iran, were chosen based on a convenience sampling method to reach this objective, and they were separated into two groups: the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). Both groups were administered four relevant questionnaires to gauge their proficiency in each dependent variable. Next, utilizing AI-ChatGPT, some modified materials (ten reading texts) were trained to the EG. The CG received traditional instruction using the same materials. Four questionnaires were given to each group as research posttests following the ten-week course of treatment. The results of ANCOVA and independent samples t-tests revealed meaningful differences; the EG did better than the CG on all dependent variables. Based on the gained results, the EG outperformed the CG on the posttests of motivation, creativity, EI, and IA. The research’s implications can encourage EFL teachers and learners to acquaint themselves with different AI applications and apply them in their teaching and learning.
Research Paper
Applied Linguistics
Leyli Nouraei Yeganeh; Majid Nemati
Abstract
This quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of integrating flipped learning (FL) with self-regulated learning strategies (SRL) to enhance medical students' argumentative writing (AW) skills. Participants included 240 senior medical students with intermediate English proficiency from ...
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This quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of integrating flipped learning (FL) with self-regulated learning strategies (SRL) to enhance medical students' argumentative writing (AW) skills. Participants included 240 senior medical students with intermediate English proficiency from an Iranian university, divided into an experimental group (FL with SRL, n = 120) and a control group (FL without SRL, n = 120). Over one semester, using Zimmerman's SRL model, the intervention aimed to develop students' AW skills through a structured FL approach. Results showed significant improvements in AW skills for both groups (p < 0.001), but the experimental group exhibited greater gains (t = 6.22, p < 0.001). The study also examined the impacts on the claim and qualifier elements, as per the Toulmin model, revealing differential improvements, with qualifiers showing larger gains (p < 0.001). The SRL intervention significantly enhanced students' self-reported SRL skills, particularly in motivation, planning, learning assessment, and self-directedness (p < 0.001). Overall, the findings offer insights into optimizing FL with SRL for AW development in medical education.
Research Paper
Applied Linguistics
Parviz Ahmadi; Nouroddin Yousofi
Abstract
Teachers’ emotions lie at the heart of their professional identity, yet how these emotions evolve during the practicum remains underexplored, especially among EFL pre-service teachers who are preparing for a tenure-track teaching career. This qualitative case study followed four Iranian undergraduate ...
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Teachers’ emotions lie at the heart of their professional identity, yet how these emotions evolve during the practicum remains underexplored, especially among EFL pre-service teachers who are preparing for a tenure-track teaching career. This qualitative case study followed four Iranian undergraduate EFL pre-service teachers over two semesters of their practicum to explore the features, sources, and trajectories of their emotional experiences. Drawing on focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and field observations, the study identified several emerging themes: (1) positive emotions such as excitement, joy, and fulfilment when applying pedagogical knowledge and building rapport with students; (2) negative emotions including anxiety, frustration, and insecurity arising from students’ misbehavior, lack of support from mentors, and perceived low social value of teaching; and (3) ambivalent emotions reflecting the tension between idealism and the realities of the classroom. Over time, participants’ optimism gradually gave way to feelings of uncertainty, disappointment, and weakened vocational resilience. The findings highlight that while pre-service teachers with a strong teaching vocation initially display emotional commitment, their resilience can erode without sufficient mentorship and emotional scaffolding. The study underscores the need to foster socio-emotional competence, integrate positive psychology practices, and recalibrate pre-service teachers’ idealism to help them sustain motivation and professional well-being throughout their practicum and future careers.
Research Paper
Psycholinguistics
Seyed Mohsen Hosseini; Azizullah Mirzaei; Mahmood Hashemian
Abstract
According to Skill Acquisition Theory (SAT), for declarative knowledge to become automatized, it needs to be clearly understood and practiced. Vygotsky (1978) viewed this process as fundamentally collaborative and mediational. Recent L2 research has employed Schemas for Complete Orienting Basis of an ...
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According to Skill Acquisition Theory (SAT), for declarative knowledge to become automatized, it needs to be clearly understood and practiced. Vygotsky (1978) viewed this process as fundamentally collaborative and mediational. Recent L2 research has employed Schemas for Complete Orienting Basis of an Action (SCOBA) as mediational tools to mediate underlying cognitive processes leading to use of targeted lexico-grammatical features. The present study explored EFL learners’ development of automatized grammatical knowledge of English tense-aspect concepts through SCOBA-based mediation. The adopted SCOBAs were essentially informed by Cognitive Grammar (CG) to mediate L2 learners’ conceptual understanding of the intended English features. The study used convenience sampling to recruit and randomly assign a cohort of 63 pre-intermediate EFL learners to an experimental (online/synchronous) and a comparison (offline/asynchronous) group. The experimental group received real-time intervention via Skype, while the comparison group had offline treatment through WhatsApp. The study employed a mixed-methods approach comprising Elicited Imitation Tests (EIT) and semi-structured interviews for data collection. Results of pretest-posttest comparisons indicated that both groups improved significantly after the instruction; however, subsequent ANCOVA results showed that the online group outperformed the offline group in their attainments of automatized grammatical knowledge regarding English tense-aspect application Finally, participants’ retrospective perceptions in the online setting attributed their better performance to real-time characteristics of online learning environments such as timely feedback and enhanced collaborative learning engagement. In conclusion, a synthesis of SCOBAs and online affordances was demonstrated to be useful tools for mediating L2 grammatical automaticity.
Research Paper
Discourse Analysis
Salah Ahmadi; Davud Kuhi; Sorayya Behroozizad
Abstract
The increasing availability of scientific knowledge through digital platforms has transformed how scientific discourse reaches the general public. This study examined the use of interactional metadiscourse markers across four leading popular science subgenres: books, TV documentaries, magazine articles, ...
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The increasing availability of scientific knowledge through digital platforms has transformed how scientific discourse reaches the general public. This study examined the use of interactional metadiscourse markers across four leading popular science subgenres: books, TV documentaries, magazine articles, and newspaper articles. The aim was to investigate the language features of these markers, focusing on how they engage readers and highlight writer presence in different subgenres. A corpus of 987,625 words was analyzed using AntConc software (Anthony, 2019) and 80,260 instances of interactional markers were identified according to Hyland’s (2019) Interpersonal Model of Metadiscourse. The study revealed how hedges, boosters, attitude markers, self-mentions, and engagement markers function to create persuasive and accessible content. Interestingly, interactional markers appeared most frequently in TV documentaries, suggesting a heightened effort to engage audiences through this medium. Chi-square tests revealed significant differences in marker usage across subgenres; however, the small effect sizes (Cramér’s V) indicated that these differences are of only modest practical significance. These results provided insight into how popular science writers adapt their rhetorical strategies to suit different communicative contexts and audience expectations. The findings also have pedagogical implications. Incorporating features of popular science into ESP/EAP materials, such as authentic texts and structured practice with interactional metadiscourse markers, can make scientific content more engaging and accessible for learners. Raising learners’ awareness of interactional metadiscourse markers can improve writing skills, especially for novice writers in non-English academic settings, helping them better engage readers and communicate more effectively.
Research Paper
Discourse Analysis
Ahmad Khan Sarwari; Fatemeh Mahdavirad
Abstract
Citation practices play a critical role in academic writing, yet non-native writers frequently face challenges in effectively incorporating various citation forms and functions into their texts. Drawing on Thompson and Tribble’s (2001) framework, this study investigated citations in 90 research ...
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Citation practices play a critical role in academic writing, yet non-native writers frequently face challenges in effectively incorporating various citation forms and functions into their texts. Drawing on Thompson and Tribble’s (2001) framework, this study investigated citations in 90 research articles by English, Iranian, and Afghan scholars. The findings indicated that Afghan writers demonstrated a strong preference for integral citations compared to their English and Iranian counterparts. In contrast, English and Iranian authors often favored non-integral citation forms. In addition, it was found that Iranian and Afghan writers showed a notable reliance on verb-controlling citations while English writers used verb controlling and naming citations almost equally. The analysis revealed significant differences in citation practices among the three groups, as confirmed by Chi-Square tests, which indicated significant differences. Regarding non-integral citations, source was the most frequently used citation pattern and reference was the least used citation practice by the three groups. Moreover, the results of Chi-Square tests revealed significant differences in the citation practices of the three groups regarding non-integral citations including source, identification, reference, and origin. The findings highlight the diverse citation strategies employed by writers from different L1 backgrounds and contribute to a deeper understanding of citation practices, underscoring the need for tailored instructional approaches that address these specific patterns to more effectively enhance academic writing skill among non-anglophone writers.
Research Paper
Testing
Kobra Tavassoli; Fateme Hoora; Masoumeh Ghamoushi
Abstract
Dynamic Assessment (DA) has increasingly been recognized as a promising approach for integrating assessment and instruction in second language learning. Despite their growing application, limited research has systematically compared the two major DA paradigms (i.e., interactionist and interventionist), ...
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Dynamic Assessment (DA) has increasingly been recognized as a promising approach for integrating assessment and instruction in second language learning. Despite their growing application, limited research has systematically compared the two major DA paradigms (i.e., interactionist and interventionist), particularly regarding their short- and long-term effects on learners’ speaking performance. The present study aims to address this gap by investigating the immediate and delayed impacts of interactionist and interventionist DA on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ speaking complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF). Eighty-six advanced EFL learners from a language center in Tehran, Iran were assigned to three groups based on the Oxford Placement Test. Following a speaking pretest, learners in the experimental groups received eight sessions of either interactionist or interventionist DA, while the control group underwent regular speaking assessment. An immediate and a delayed speaking post-test were used to evaluate both short-term progress and retention. Two trained raters scored the CAF measures, and the data were analyzed using repeated-measures two-way ANOVA and MANOVA. The findings indicated no significant differences between the two DA approaches; however, both experimental groups significantly outperformed the control group on the immediate and delayed post-tests. These results suggest that regardless of the mediation type, DA effectively enhances learners’ speaking performance and promotes the durability of learning gains. The study highlights the pedagogical value of embedding DA-based mediation into routine speaking assessment, enabling teachers to provide targeted scaffolding that supports both immediate improvement and longer-term development in learners’ oral proficiency.
Research Paper
Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Fatemeh Golshahian; Elahe Sadeghi; Mehdi Vaez Dalili
Abstract
AbstractCreativity, learning style, and metacognition are significant factors in education. Many research studies have been conducted on these three factors, but few studies have been carried out on the correlations among these factors and second/foreign language (L2) writing accuracy and fluency. Therefore, ...
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AbstractCreativity, learning style, and metacognition are significant factors in education. Many research studies have been conducted on these three factors, but few studies have been carried out on the correlations among these factors and second/foreign language (L2) writing accuracy and fluency. Therefore, this mixed-methods study tried to clarify the best predictors of writing accuracy and fluency among these three factors. To achieve this purpose, 120 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners were selected based on the results of the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT). Three types of Questionnaires were used to collect data. In addition, the participants wrote about the intended topics to check their writing accuracy and fluency. Moreover, the accuracy and fluency frameworks were applied to rate writings. Further, a semi-structured interview was utilized. To analyze the data, the multiple regression analysis was run. The findings indicated all these three factors were the best predictors of writing accuracy among intermediate learners, while metacognition was the best predictor of writing accuracy among advanced learners. In addition, learning style and metacognition were the best predictors of writing fluency among advanced learners. This study has some significant implications for learning. The most important implication is that learners can become aware of their creativity levels, learning styles, and metacognitive activities. In addition, the findings can enrich the literature concerning the predictors of writing accuracy and fluency among these three variables.