XML
-
-
List of Articles
-
Open Access Article
1 - In Memory of Professor Farzad Sharifian (1964-2020): A Selected Bibliography
Hossein Heidari Tabrizi Azizeh ChalakIn the early hours of 12 May 2020, Professor Farzad Sharifian unexpectedly passed away after a short illness. We in RELP have absolutely missed Farzad Sharifian (RIP) as one of our vibrant and valued Editorial Board members and a wholly decent, wonderful gentleman. High MoreIn the early hours of 12 May 2020, Professor Farzad Sharifian unexpectedly passed away after a short illness. We in RELP have absolutely missed Farzad Sharifian (RIP) as one of our vibrant and valued Editorial Board members and a wholly decent, wonderful gentleman. Highly awarded as a competent researcher, Farzad was a leading, prolific scholar and an outstanding, inspirational figure in Cultural Linguistics, an internationally recognized, flourishing field of inquiry that he successfully developed on the foundation laid by Palmer (1996). Farzad will undoubtedly live on not only in his numerous presentations and publications but also in the hearts and minds of all those who, like us, respected Farzad personally or professionally (across his discipline) nationally and internationally, including his family, friends, academic fellows, and former students. To celebrate his incredible, life-long contributions to the field, RELP decided to publish a selected bibliography of his seminal, influential works, the majority of which were devoted to Cultural Linguistics, disseminated in the form of books, book chapters, and journal articles. The list is by no means claimed to be comprehensive; his conference presentations and interviews are not included here either. Our meticulous colleagues are invited to help us add to and update it by contacting RELP via the official email of the journal: relp@khuisf.ac.ir or our personal emails. May God bless his soul! Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
2 - Factors Contributing to Student Attrition at English Language Institutes in Iran
Shabnam Ettehad Masoud Zoghi Hanieh Davatgari-aslThe study intended to fill the research gap related to academic attrition by identifying factors contributing to learners' attrition at English language institutes (ELIs). Given the classification of voluntary and compulsory attrition factors, attempts were made to dete MoreThe study intended to fill the research gap related to academic attrition by identifying factors contributing to learners' attrition at English language institutes (ELIs). Given the classification of voluntary and compulsory attrition factors, attempts were made to determine which of these two sets of pressures could predict the attrition decision of EFL learners at ELIs. To this end, 148 enrolled students (81 males and 67 females) from seven ELIs participated in this research. Based on their self-reported proficiency accounts, the participants were considered beginner, pre-intermediate, and intermediate-level students. They completed the survey response online via Google forms, a computer-generated web-based program. Results based on hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the voluntary variables could contribute more to the predictive model for student attrition at ELIs than the compulsory factors. More specifically, the attrition decisions were more conscious and firmer for ELI students with a lower level of motivation for academic success, satisfaction with the quality of education, and satisfaction with instructors. However, the analysis did not find satisfaction with the institute environment and social integration in the institute as predictors of attrition decisions. This study concludes that voluntary pressures among ELI students are the most important predictors of attrition decisions. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
3 - Rhetorical Moves Used in MA Students’ Theses in TEFL and Nursery
Maryam Jamalzade Jahromi Ehsan Hadipourfard Leila AkbarpourAbstracts in research papers are one of the focal parts of academic research, and they are one of the first things that a reader reads to determine the value of the research. Furthermore, acknowledgments appreciate those who have helped in writing a thesis. The present MoreAbstracts in research papers are one of the focal parts of academic research, and they are one of the first things that a reader reads to determine the value of the research. Furthermore, acknowledgments appreciate those who have helped in writing a thesis. The present study investigated rhetorical moves in the acknowledgment and abstract sections of Iranian English language teaching and nursery students' M.A. theses. In addition, it investigated if there were any significant differences between rhetorical moves observed in the acknowledgment and abstract sections of Iranian TEFL and nursery students' M.A. theses in these two fields. Some of the 80 theses from the two disciplines, 40 each, were investigated. Hyland's (2000) models of the abstract rhetoric structure and acknowledgment structure were adopted to investigate the corpora under study. The results revealed that different steps and moves were used in theses from both disciplines. However, the results of Chi-square tests revealed that the differences between different moves and steps of these acknowledgments and abstracts from the two disciplines were insignificant. The findings have some implications for post-graduate students to be more aware of their addressees and language teachers to teach students about genre-based writing. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
4 - The Role of Extensive Listening Tasks in the Use of Discourse Markers by Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners in their Oral Production of Stories
Mahboobeh Abedi Abbas Bayat Hossein AhmadiSpeaking is challenging for EFL learners as it calls for grammatical competence and discourse knowledge, including Discourse Markers (DM), which help them speak naturally. This study sought to investigate the effect of extensive listening tasks on the use of DMs in spea MoreSpeaking is challenging for EFL learners as it calls for grammatical competence and discourse knowledge, including Discourse Markers (DM), which help them speak naturally. This study sought to investigate the effect of extensive listening tasks on the use of DMs in speaking by Iranian intermediate EFL learners. Sixty intermediate EFL learners were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. The participants' oral production was checked in the two groups before the treatment, and the frequency and types of DMs were detected. For the treatment, the participants in the experimental group were required to listen to different short stories as part of out-of-class activities for three months. However, the control group did not receive extensive listening tasks. A posttest was administered only one day after the last treatment session to realize the impact of the treatment on the participants' use of DMs. After four weeks, a delayed posttest was administered to examine the participants' long-term DM use. The data collected from the posttest and delayed posttest were then analyzed using independent paired samples t-tests. The findings indicated that extensive listening tasks did not impact the use of DMs in speaking by Iranian EFL learners at the intermediate level. The results of the delayed posttest did not yield any significant difference either. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
5 - Self-Reflection vs. Group-Reflection Training: The Investigation of Iranian In-Service EFL Teachers’ Performance Development
Sajjad Fathi Ahmad Mohseni Hossein RahmanpanahThe current study investigates the effect of self- and group-reflection training on Iranian in-service EFL teachers’ performance development. From all available participants teaching at the International College of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 40 in-serv MoreThe current study investigates the effect of self- and group-reflection training on Iranian in-service EFL teachers’ performance development. From all available participants teaching at the International College of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 40 in-service EFL teachers were selected. An observation checklist, a semi-structured interview, and the Skype app were employed. There were two groups, i.e., a self-reflection group (N=20) and a group-reflection group (N=20; five subgroups with four members). A mixed-methods design was used in this study. Before the training phase, the pre-test (observation checklist) was administered. During the training phase, the self-reflection group members were exposed to self-reflection practice. In addition, the group-reflection participants were exposed to the group-reflection practice. The instruction was presented in 16 sessions twice a week for two months. After the training phase, the post-test (observation checklist) was administered. Moreover, participants were given a semi-structured interview on their reactions to their teaching efficacy. The obtained data were analyzed through SPSS software version 23. The analysis of data revealed that implementing the principles of self-reflective and group-reflective instructions had statistically significant effects on Iranian in-service EFL teachers’ teaching performance. Also, participants believed that reflective practice in both forms had constructive effects on their teaching performance. This study has pedagogical implications for English language teachers, EFL learners, and teacher educators who seek to find more effective teaching methodologies and help them to construct their own meaning of teaching. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
6 - Reflection of Pragmatic Knowledge in Iranian High School English Textbooks (Vision Series)
Fateme Jamshidian Omid Tabatabaei Hadi Salehi Hossein Vahid DastjerdiPragmatic competence is an essential language pedagogy component represented in English textbooks. The paper attempts to examine the extent to which pragmatic knowledge was reflected in Iranian high school English textbooks (Vision series). Hence, Halliday’s (1973 MorePragmatic competence is an essential language pedagogy component represented in English textbooks. The paper attempts to examine the extent to which pragmatic knowledge was reflected in Iranian high school English textbooks (Vision series). Hence, Halliday’s (1973) model and Halliday, et al.’s (1964) model were used to investigate subcategories of functional knowledge and sociolinguistic knowledge. The data was described by descriptive statistics. The findings revealed the Iranian culture-deprived representation (e.g., traditional customs, and ceremonies such as Nowruz, Chaharshanbesori, and Yalda). Moreover, the results highlighted only a limited number of pragmatic components implicitly introduced in the Vision series, and attention was given to their representation and problematic distribution. Furthermore, the English sociocultural patterns were limited and attempts were made to reflect the Iranian culture and convection of daily communication. Thus, some pedagogical implications were offered to improve the Vision series, using authentic pragmatic content instead of proclaiming the fictitious prescription of its authors. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
7 - Estimating Pragmatic Competence of EFL Learners' Listening Comprehension via Gricean Cooperative Principles
Mohammad Reza Afshar Bahman Gorjian Elkhas Veysi Sasan Sharafi Mansoureh ShekaramizUnderstanding the pragmatic meanings of the utterances in exchanges is a serious challenge among English language learners. This study aimed to estimate the pragmatic competence of EFL learners’ listening comprehension concerned with cooperative principles (CPs) o MoreUnderstanding the pragmatic meanings of the utterances in exchanges is a serious challenge among English language learners. This study aimed to estimate the pragmatic competence of EFL learners’ listening comprehension concerned with cooperative principles (CPs) of TOEFL candidates taking the listening modules. The maxims of quantity, quality, relation, and manner helped test takers uncover the indirect or figurative meanings of the speakers' intended meaning of utterances. The design of the study was exploratory-quantitative and interpretative. The participants were 150 high and low achievers of MA students majoring in TEFL. The research instrument was a 50-item listening test that was randomly selected from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The participants took the listening test in the fall semester of 2022. Data from the listening test were collected and analyzed via t-test and ANOVA. Findings showed understanding CPs was effective in the learners’ listening performance. Furthermore, results indicated high and low achievers' recognition of quantity and manner principles was significantly different. However, there was no such difference in learners’ comprehension regarding the maxims of quality and relevance. Implications of the study suggest that EFL learners must focus more on the pragmatic meanings of quantity and manner rather than quality and relevance maxims. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
8 - Shedding Light on Ecological Critical Language Awareness Construct: A Questionnaire Development and Validation Study in the Iranian EFL Context
Ghazaleh Cheraghpour Samvati Parviz Maftoon Mojgan RashtchiThe study of ecolinguistics to date has been reserved for the field of discourse analysis. However, applying ecolinguistics in pedagogical contexts is a promising way to increase learners’ critical language awareness. To realize this potential, one needs validated MoreThe study of ecolinguistics to date has been reserved for the field of discourse analysis. However, applying ecolinguistics in pedagogical contexts is a promising way to increase learners’ critical language awareness. To realize this potential, one needs validated measures to quantify learners’ critical language awareness in ecological contexts to conduct research in this field. In the absence of any instrument to measure language learners’ ecological critical language awareness, the researchers of this study developed and validated a questionnaire. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design with two phases was employed. In the exploratory and qualitative phases, the researchers defined the construct and developed a questionnaire based on the underlying factors of the construct. After taking several steps to ensure its content validity, the questionnaire was administered to 200 intermediate-level EFL learners who were selected through convenience sampling. In the quantitative phase, the participants were exposed to ecolinguiscally-informed teaching materials in an English pedagogical context. The collected data were analyzed, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Cronbach alpha coefficient for reliability indices, and model evaluation estimates were run to ensure the measure’s reliability and validity. EFA substantiated the initial components of the six-factor tentative construct. CFA gave statistical support to the six components as well. All components enjoyed high-reliability estimates. The calculated model-fit estimates verified the CFA model as a valid measure of ecological critical language awareness. The developed measure paves the way for further empirical investigation of ways to raise learners’ ecological critical language awareness in EFL contexts. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
9 - Enhancing ELT Instructors’ Effectiveness Through Reflection :A Structural Equation Modelling Approach
Sharareh Sadat SarsarabiIn the last few years, the idea of reflection has been extensively employed in different teacher education programs to assist teachers in the process of explaining their ideas about their teaching activities and improving their teaching practices. The present study aime MoreIn the last few years, the idea of reflection has been extensively employed in different teacher education programs to assist teachers in the process of explaining their ideas about their teaching activities and improving their teaching practices. The present study aimed at examining the relationship between EFL instructors’ reflective teaching and effective teaching. To this end, 120 ELT instructors from different colleges and universities in Khorasan Razavi province were asked to participate in the study. The participants were asked to fill in two reliable questionnaires to measure their reflective and effective teaching. The results of the data analysis exhibited a positive correlation between reflective teaching and effective teaching and the results of the Pearson correlation also demonstrated that there are positive meaningful relationships between instructors’ reflective teaching and all four subscales of effective teaching. Specifically, the highest correlation is observed between instructors' reflective teaching and their self-awareness. A meaningful correlation was also demonstrated between effective teaching and teaching experience. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
10 - Lived Experiences of Iranian Archivists in a Phenomenological Study of a Multimedia-assisted Task-based ESP Course
Zahra Zarghami Roya KhoiiThis study investigated the effects of implementing multimedia on the lived experiences of Iranian archivists in an ESP course for Archival Science in Iran. The participants consisted of 23 archivists working in the National Library and Archives of Iran. Multimedia-assi MoreThis study investigated the effects of implementing multimedia on the lived experiences of Iranian archivists in an ESP course for Archival Science in Iran. The participants consisted of 23 archivists working in the National Library and Archives of Iran. Multimedia-assisted task-based instruction was employed during a 10-session ESP course. Due to the nature of phenomenological studies, at the end of the semester, the researchers conducted semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with all the participants to learn about their attitude toward implementing multimedia in ESP learning and to gain useful insights about their experiences during the learning process. The researchers followed the data analysis technique of familiarization, horizontalization, highlighting, and clustering as well as descriptive and Vivo coding. The process of data analysis revealed seven main themes of skill development, practical, challenging, personal, work-related, platform-related, and course-related experiences. Thus, it was concluded that the use of technology-based instruction in ESP courses could positively affect ESP learners' experiences of professional language learning, which could persuade ESP stakeholders to meticulously examine the expectations and perceptions of learners in order to hold successful ESP courses. Manuscript profile -
Open Access Article
11 - Developing and Validating a Scale for Assessing Iranian EFL Teacher Educators’ Perspectives towards Twenty-first Century Skills
Mahboobeh Khosrojerdi Khalil Motallebzadeh Hamid Ashraf Gholam Reza ZareianTeacher education had been addressed in various studies. Although many studies attempted to measure teachers' twenty-first century skills, there is still a gap that prompted us to investigate the area from the teacher-educators' perspectives. To accomplish the purpose, MoreTeacher education had been addressed in various studies. Although many studies attempted to measure teachers' twenty-first century skills, there is still a gap that prompted us to investigate the area from the teacher-educators' perspectives. To accomplish the purpose, this mixed-method study aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess Iranian EFL teacher-educators’ perceptions of twenty-first century skills. To this end, the developed scale was answered by 15 teacher educators through a semi structured interview. After transcribing and analyzing the interview responses, the researcher developed a tentative version of a twenty-first century skills scale which included 26 items. Finally, the researcher distributed the scale among 351 EFL teacher educators. The results of the Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated that the scale enjoyed high validity and reliability. The extracted factors making up three components included agreement, challenges, and implementation. Based on the rotated component matrix, some changes in the organization of the items were made. This study has implications for language teachers, and teacher trainers to design teacher training courses as well as professional development programs. Manuscript profile
-
The rights to this website are owned by the Raimag Press Management System.
Copyright © 2021-2024