This study aimed at validating the already-proposed pluralistic curriculum model for ESP in Iran. In line with the objectives of the present study, a correlational-survey design was used by utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) (i.e., exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis). The participants recruited for this study were in the two groups. The first group consisted of 120 male and female ESP students studying at different fields at the B.A. level in different universities of Iran. The second group consisted of 100 Iranian male and female ESP teachers teaching ESP courses at the B.A. level in different universities of Iran. The two groups were selected through purposeful sampling. The present study used a researcher-made questionnaire for the purpose of data collection, that was developed based on the already-proposed model. Data analysis was conducted through SEM (i.e., exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) and Cronbach’s Alpha test. According to the results, the already-proposed model pluralistic curriculum model for ESP in Iran consists of three main components including pluralistic ESP teaching, pluralistic ESP content and materials, and pluralistic ESP assessments. Moreover, the results of SEM and Cronbach’s Alpha test confirmed the validity and reliability of the already-proposed pluralistic curriculum model for ESP in Iran. The results have some implications for ESP curriculum developers, teachers, and students. تفاصيل المقالة

No pluralistic curricula have ever been developed for ESP education in the context of Iran. Therefore, the present study was conducted to design a pluralistic curriculum (PC) model for ESP in the Iranian setting. In so doing, the study benefited from presenting an analysis scheme in a qualitative method. The participants of the study consisted of 20 Iranian male and female ELT experts who were chosen through purposive sampling from various universities of Iran, including Tehran University, Isfahan University, University of Shahid Chamran, University of Shiraz, Shahid Rajaei University, University of Allameh Tabatabaei, and the University of Tarbiat Modares, from among the teachers whose educational and research interests were curriculum planning and teaching materials, who had a history of teaching and research in TEFL for over 10 years. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather the needed data. The results showed that the PC components for ESP include three main components: pluralistic ESP teaching, pluralistic ESP materials, and pluralistic ESP content. Each of these components included several subcomponents. The findings indicated that if educational systems become pluralistic, students can achieve academic success with full potential in ESP courses by joining different groups such as racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. تفاصيل المقالة

The studies on L2 argumentative writing have surveyed different dimensions of learners’ argumentative behavior and performance. However, less attention has been given to the strategies and techniques enhancing students’ argumentative repertoire. As such, the current study, taking a pedagogy-based perspective, examined the argumentative writing behavior of 30 Iranian IELTS candidates before and after the instruction in both English and Persian languages. The sample questions were of the previous IELTS Writing part 2 essays from a real test by Cambridge University Press, chosen by 3 IELTS instructors in the Institute to meet the research objectives. To this end, 180 IELTS Task 2 argumentative essays were analyzed by 30 volunteers, each having 6 essays, at least 250 words, (Persian and English). As for the students’ English and Persian argumentative writing performance, the results indicated that there were significant differences between the EFL learners’ overall means on English argumentative tests. Furthermore, the candidates chiefly applied ‘data’ and ‘claim’ most frequently in both languages with secondary elements of argument (i.e., counterargument claim, counterargument data, rebuttal claim, and rebuttal data) as the least produced elements detected in the essays. The results demonstrate that a sound pedagogy in argumentation can both influence the use of argumentation elements in both English and Persian written texts. The pedagogical implications for writing instruction and argumentative writing are discussed. تفاصيل المقالة