As conceptualized in Vygotsky’s (1978) theory of mediation, the present quantitative study scrutinized the impact of explicit and implicit mediators on high school students’ L2 listening anxiety and listening comprehension. Over six months, two groups of 34 Iranian high school students were exposed to pronunciation instruction (explicit mediator-using phonetic rules- and implicit mediator-without phonetic rules), and a control group of 17 students received no pronunciation instruction. Pretests and posttests were used to measure learners’ improvements in listening anxiety and comprehension. Small changes were observed in both variables for the control group, whereas significant progress was found for both experimental groups, especially the explicit group. The results revealed that pronunciation instruction is a meaningful mediator in developing listening comprehension and decreasing listening anxiety among high school students, even when instructional time is restricted. This study has some practical implications suggesting that Iranian school teachers and book designers should consider pronunciation instruction effects when teaching listening to school students. پرونده مقاله

The present mixed-methods study investigated the relationship between learners’ achievement goals and academic performance. It also explored the goal motives of English language learners. The research, a cross-sectional survey, studied 372 BA University English language learners majoring in English language teaching, translation studies, and English literature at Islamic Azad University, Kerman and Zahedan branches. To collect the data, the learners’ Achievement Goal Questionnaire (Elliot et al., 2011) was submitted to English language learners either in person or via email. Their academic achievement was calculated based on the university report including both theoretical and practical courses. In addition, a semi-structured interview was used to explore the learners’ reflections concerning the orientations of their achievement goals. Correlations showed that achievement goals correlated positively with academic performance among English language learners. And among learners’ achievement goals, task-avoidance goals, other-approach goals, and other-avoidance goals could predict learners’ academic performance meaningfully. Besides, the qualitative findings revealed that English language learners’ goals are motivated by prior experience, personality, academic achievements, and interests. In brief, the study of the academic goals of students can facilitate the identification of their goal orientations and therefore can become a support tool for teachers when selecting materials and adapting the contents of the curricular program accordingly. پرونده مقاله

Afrofuturism is described as a new genre of speculative fiction which converges speculative and realist modes in order to explore amalgamation between African Diasporas, African American writing, and the modern technologies. Contemporary Black female novelists have utilized Afrofuturism as an umbrella under which Womanism and Black Feminism fall to address topics such as voice, identity, and race to show the quandary of the African woman and how she has tried to overcome her plights and regain her selfhood. The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the works of contemporary and pioneering African female authors Octavia Butler and Nnedi Okorafor who have portrayed ground-breaking strategies in their protagonists’ attainment of power, voice, survival and embracement of alternative identities through Afrofuturism and ultimately reclaimed the identity and voice of the Black womanhood. This descriptive-review study was designed with a library approach, and the theoretical approach utilized was the Feminist and anti-racist theories of Ytasha L. Womack’s Afrofuturism. Based on the review of the two texts, the results indicated that Afrofuturism as a womanist movement in the African-American contemporary literary scene has been more successful in empowering and giving the African women’s identity than the western-based feminism. پرونده مقاله

پرونده مقاله

مسئولان آموزشی بر این باورند که تجربه و فناوری می تواند پیشرفت تحصیلی کودکان خردسال را افزایش دهد و سطح پنهان تفکر انتقادی آنها را فعال کند. بنابراین، هدف از این مطالعه مقایسه تأثیر میانجی ‌گرهای انسانی و فناوری بر تفکرانتقادی ، درک مطلب، و توسعه واژگان زبان‌ آموزان کودک با استفاده از تئوری یادگیری تجربی بود. به همین منظور، دو گروه 60 نفری فراگیر (30 دانش آموز در هر گروه) در طی 4 ماه در معرض دو نوع میانجی گر قرار گرفتند: معلم و تکنولوژی. از پیش آزمون و پس آزمون برای سنجش میزان پیشرفت زبان آموزان در تفکر انتقادی، درک مطلب و تسلط بر واژگان استفاده شد. نتایج نشان داد که فراگیران در گروه آزمایش با واسطه فناوری نسبت به گروه با واسطه معلم در سطح تفکر انتقادی، توسعه واژگان و درک مطلب برتری داشتند. این نشان می دهد که فراگیرانی که به واسطه کامپیوترو فناوری در تعامل هستند، از کسانی که با یک واسطه انسان یعنی معلم تعامل دارند، پیشی می گیرند. یافته‌های ما پیشنهاد می‌کند که واسطه‌های غیرانسانی (فناوری) از انسان‌ها قانع‌کننده‌تر هستند، احتمالاً به دلیل ویژگی‌های فریبنده‌شان که انگیزه و الهام یادگیرندگان را افزایش می‌دهد. پرونده مقاله

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. پرونده مقاله

The relationship between identity and language learning has attracted the scholars` attention in the fields of second language acquisition (SLA) with considerable focus on social and cultural dimensions of language learning. However, relatively little research has been devoted to examining the identity construction of language learners in virtual communities of practice despite the global trend of foreign language instruction. Consequently, the current mixed methods classroom-based study investigated whether the implementation of intercultural movie clips in virtual communities of practice could contribute to social and cultural identity improvement of participants in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context. To achieve this goal, two intact classes in an institute were assigned to experimental and control group, each containing thirty EFL learners. This study was implemented on the pre-test post-test equivalent-group design. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative analysis, using two questionnaires, and a semi-structured interview, the results indicated that positive changes took place in social and cultural identity of the participants. Moreover, by getting access to new social, cultural and linguistic resources and as a result the adoption of new identities, some special features such as fewer psychological barriers to understanding others, increasing courage to accept new norms, and feelings of unity and equity were obtained by the learners. پرونده مقاله

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate the impact of technology-integrated multiple intelligences instruction on vocabulary learning and burnout of English language learners at a private primary school in Kerman. Over 6 months, two groups of 30 learners (15 students in two intact classrooms) were exposed to two forms of multiple intelligences instruction: the traditional and technology-integrated ones. The instruction was based on designing tasks to activate all intelligences in both groups. In the control group, participants received MI instruction from the teacher using classroom facilities with no use of technology. In the experimental group, participants received MI instruction through computer tools. Both groups received 24-week vocabulary training at a 30-minute interval at the beginning of each conversation class. Pre-tests and post-tests were used to measure learners’ improvements in vocabulary development and burnout (Khani et al., 2017). To analyze the data, One-Way ANCOVA was used to answer the research questions. The results revealed that the learners involved in the technology-integrated classroom proved superior compared to the traditional group in their English vocabulary and burnout. The findings suggest that nonhuman mediators (technology) are more effective than humans, possibly due to their enticing features that enhance learners' motivation and interest. پرونده مقاله

The present study investigated the relationship between teachers’ emotional regulation and psychological well-being. It also explored the emotion-regulation strategies used by349English language teachers.The research, a cross-sectional mixed-method survey, studied Iranian high school teachers from Kerman Province and four of its. Tocollect the data, teachers’ emotion regulation strategies questionnaire and psychological well-being questionnaire were submitted to English language teachers either in person or via email. In addition, a semi-structured interview was used to explore the teachers’ reflections concerning the strategies that they use in regulating their emotions. Correlations showed that emotion regulation and its sub-scale (cognitive reappraisal) correlated positively with teachers’ psychological well-being among English language teachers.The preferred strategy of emotion regulation was cognitive reappraisal. Moreover, the findings showed a medium level of emotion regulation and psychological well-being among English language teachers.Besides, the qualitative findings revealed that teachers used situation selection, situation modification, attention deployment, and cognitive change to regulate their emotions. In brief, curriculum and educational planners should take steps to support teachers in regulating their emotions, which contributes to their psychological well-being. پرونده مقاله

Appropriate language learning strategies result in improved proficiency among EFL learners. This paper aimed at investigating the relationship between vocabulary learning strategy use and the breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge of the EFL learners using structural equation modeling. To fulfill this goal, 200 EFL learners, mainly intermediate level, both genders using cluster sampling procedure, established the participate of the study. Three instruments were used to collect the data: the vocabulary learning strategies survey, the depth and breadth of vocabulary test and vocabulary levels test. Friedman’s test results showed that the proportion of using word learning strategies was not the same among the respondents (p-value <0.05). Comparison of the frequency of using strategies indicates that the MEMORY strategy with (69%) was used more than others and the DETERMINATION strategy with (2.5%) was the least used by the respondents. Also, none of the respondents used SOCIAL vocabulary learning strategy and METACOGNITIVE strategy. Finally, the relationship between DETERMINATION strategy and Breadth of vocabulary knowledge, SOCIAL vocabulary learning strategy and Breadth of vocabulary knowledge, MEMORY learning strategy and Breadth of knowledge, COGNITIVE learning strategy and Breadth of knowledge, METACOGNITIVE learning strategy and Breadth of knowledge, SOCIAL learning strategy and Depth of knowledge, COGNITIVE learning strategy and Depth of knowledge and METACOGNITIVE learning strategy and Depth of vocabulary knowledge is not significant (p-value>0.05). These findings have implication for teachers, students and English language teaching policy makers. پرونده مقاله

Appropriate language learning strategies result in improved proficiency among EFL learners. This paper aimed to investigate the relationship between vocabulary learning strategy use and the breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge of EFL learners using structural equation modeling. To fulfill this goal, 200 EFL learners, mainly intermediate level, both genders using cluster sampling procedure, established the participated of the study. Three instruments were used to collect the data: the vocabulary learning strategies survey, the depth and breadth of vocabulary test, and the vocabulary levels test. Friedman’s test results showed that the proportion of using word learning strategies was not the same among the respondents (p-value <0.05). A comparison of the frequency of using strategies indicates that the MEMORY strategy with (69%) was used more than others and the DETERMINATION strategy with (2.5%) was the least used by the respondents. Also, none of the respondents used the SOCIAL vocabulary learning strategy and METACOGNITIVE strategy. Finally, the relationship between DETERMINATION strategy and Breadth of vocabulary knowledge, SOCIAL vocabulary learning strategy and Breadth of vocabulary knowledge, MEMORY learning strategy and Breadth of knowledge, COGNITIVE learning strategy and Breadth of knowledge, METACOGNITIVE learning strategy and Breadth of knowledge, SOCIAL learning strategy and Depth of knowledge, COGNITIVE learning strategy and Depth of knowledge and METACOGNITIVE learning strategy and Depth of vocabulary knowledge is not significant (p-value>0.05). These findings have implications for teachers, students and English language teaching policymakers. پرونده مقاله

مسئولان آموزشی بر این باورند که تجربه و فناوری می‌تواند پیشرفت تحصیلی کودکان خردسال را افزایش دهد و سطح پنهان تفکر انتقادی آنها را فعال کند. بنابراین، هدف از این مطالعه مقایسه تأثیر میانجی‌‌گرهای انسانی و فناوری بر تفکرانتقادی ، درک مطلب، و توسعه واژگان زبان‌ آموزان کودک با استفاده از تئوری یادگیری تجربی بود. به همین منظور، دو گروه شصت نفری فراگیر (سی دانش‌آموز در هر گروه) در طی چهار ماه در معرض دو نوع میانجی‌گر قرار گرفتند: معلم و تکنولوژی. از پیش آزمون و پس آزمون برای سنجش میزان پیشرفت زبان آموزان در تفکر انتقادی، درک مطلب و تسلط بر واژگان استفاده شد. نتایج نشان داد که فراگیران در گروه آزمایش با واسطۀ فناوری نسبت به گروه با واسطۀ معلم در سطح تفکر انتقادی، توسعه واژگان و درک مطلب برتری داشتند. این نشان می‌دهد که فراگیرانی که به واسطۀ کامپیوترو فناوری در تعامل هستند، از کسانی که با یک واسطۀ انسان، یعنی معلم تعامل دارند، پیشی می‌گیرند. یافته‌های ما پیشنهاد می‌کند که واسطه‌های غیرانسانی (فناوری) از انسان‌ها قانع‌کننده‌تر هستند، احتمالاً به دلیل ویژگی‌های فریبنده‌شان که انگیزه و الهام یادگیرندگان را افزایش می‌دهد. پرونده مقاله