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    • List of Articles Seyyed Ayatollah Razmjoo

      • Open Access Article

        1 - The Most Common Challenges Facing Iranian English Majors in the Translation Process from English into Persian
        Narcisse Memarzia Rahman Sahragard Seyyed Ayatollah Razmjoo Shahram Afraz
        The main priority for university translation educators is to improve the quality and outcomes of translation courses. To achieve such a goal, the instructors are required to integrate learners' needs, identified with the help of a needs survey, into syllabus content. Ac More
        The main priority for university translation educators is to improve the quality and outcomes of translation courses. To achieve such a goal, the instructors are required to integrate learners' needs, identified with the help of a needs survey, into syllabus content. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to identify the Iranian English majors' difficulties in translating English texts since once a problem is identified, exploring the best pedagogical solutions would follow. The aim was accomplished through qualitative descriptive research conducted at Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch tracing the errors committed by the English majors in their exam papers in academic years 2016-2019. Following the model proposed by Miremadi (2008), the syntactic and lexical problems were identified in the exam papers collected during six semesters. Moreover, three more categories were added to the list as the data analysis moved forward: culture problems, stylistic problems, and miscellaneous errors with detailed subdivisions. What appeared to be worthy of attention in the results was the students' weakness in text and sentence segmentation to find the function of the components to approach textual meaning, resulting from the students' poor English language proficiency. The results also revealed the students' poor topical knowledge as well as the lack of knowledge of translation techniques and strategies. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        2 - Language Proficiency and Identity: Developing a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) of Identity for Iranian EFL Learners
        Amir Mirahmadi Kia Seyyed Ayatollah Razmjoo Shahram Afraz
        This study was an endeavor to develop a model of identity among Iranian EFL learners. To achieve this end, a multiphase design was implemented. Initially, it attempted to investigate different factors of identity to propose and validate a model. Thus, 120 EFL learners s More
        This study was an endeavor to develop a model of identity among Iranian EFL learners. To achieve this end, a multiphase design was implemented. Initially, it attempted to investigate different factors of identity to propose and validate a model. Thus, 120 EFL learners studying in different English language institutes in Iran were randomly selected, and 36 learners were interviewed about their views of their identity in the qualitative phase. After extracting six factors of identity, including: second language acquisition and social status, cultural attachment, Persian language adhesion, pronunciation posture, technology involvement, and language identity, and second language knowledge, a questionnaire was constructed which reflected these factors. Then, in the quantitative phase, the questionnaire went through an exploratory factor analysis for the sake of validity. After its validity and reliability were corroborated through a pilot study with 20 learners, it was distributed among 120 EFL learners. Besides, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was run to confirm that the final proposed model enjoyed validity for future research. To do so, the confirmatory factor analysis was run, and the model of identity was developed. Eventually, the possible relationship between 120 EFL learners’ identity and their English language achievement scores were examined, and the results of this phase indicated that there was a significant and positive relationship between learners’ identity and their English language achievement scores. The findings of this study can enhance awareness among English teachers, materials developers, and syllabus designers to equip themselves with the updated techniques to handle the possible challenges that may occur in EFL learning contexts. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        3 - On the Development of a Model of Discipline-specific Reading Strategies in the Context of Iranian EFL Learners
        Fazlolah Samimi Rahman Sahragard Seyyed Ayatollah Razmjoo
        Abstract Reading strategies are seen as supportive means to help learners process and comprehend English texts effectively. The present research probed to posit a discipline-specific model of reading strategies for Iranian TEFL postgraduate students. The motive behind d More
        Abstract Reading strategies are seen as supportive means to help learners process and comprehend English texts effectively. The present research probed to posit a discipline-specific model of reading strategies for Iranian TEFL postgraduate students. The motive behind developing a local model of reading strategy is twofold: first, a variety of postgraduate students admitted for M.A and Ph.D. programs, either may not have received their first degrees in TEFL or they are TEFL graduates who lag behind disciplinary-knowledge in terms of reading. Consequently, Twenty- eight postgraduate students majoring in English Language Teaching from Shiraz University, Isfahan University, Yazd University and Islamic Azad university of Bandar-Abbas wherein M.A and Ph.D. programs in TEFL are offered were asked to brainstorm their ideas as to how they approach technical materials in English. Conducting a 3-session semi-structured interview with 22 participants and focus-group interviews with six participants, the researchers then transcribed and codified the data according to Corbin and Strauss (2014) systematic steps of open, axial and selective coding for grounded theory. The findings revealed a six factor model encompassing 32 categories. The factors include: a) previewing the content, b) recognition of the salient and pronounced features, C) emphasis and clarification upon the significant features, d) consulting auxiliary sources, e) ruminating and reflecting upon the text, and f) reviewing the gist of materials. As a matter of fact, the proposed model can help postgraduate students move away from teacher authority and develop reading autonomy. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        4 - Social, Cultural and Linguistic Factors Affecting EFL Learners’ Language Proficiency: A Quantitative Analysis
        Somaye Amirabadi Seyyed Ayatollah Razmjoo
        Many factors may be involved in determining why some students are more and some are less proficient in language. This study tried to explore the factors affecting Iranian EFL learners’ proficiency. 221 students at second, third and fourth year of university, inclu More
        Many factors may be involved in determining why some students are more and some are less proficient in language. This study tried to explore the factors affecting Iranian EFL learners’ proficiency. 221 students at second, third and fourth year of university, including 50 male and 171 female were selected randomly to participate in the study. A researcher-made questionnaire and a proficiency test comprised the data collection instruments. The researchers were able to identify three factors affecting language proficiency. They were classified as social factors, cultural factors and linguistic factors, Then a model was developed to represent the relationship among these factors and language proficiency. In line with Bourdieu’s (1986), the results of data analysis indicated that social factors are among the most dominant factors affecting the learners’ language proficincy. Manuscript profile