According to Montano and Kasprzyk (2008), attitude is determined by the individual's beliefs about outcomes or attributes of performing the behavior (behavioral beliefs), weighted by evaluations of those outcomes or attributes. This study examined Iranian EFL learners’ attitudes toward the Task-Based Language Assessment (TBLA) and the traditional assessment concerning their General English achievement. One hundred EFL students from Islamic Azad University of Zarghan, Fars Province with the age range of 20-35, participated in this study. The data were gathered using an attitude questionnaire. Frequency Analysis and chi-square were used to show the learners' attitudes towards the task-based assessment in General English ability. Regarding the attitude questionnaire, EFL learners had positive attitudes towards the TBLA utilization in improving their General English achievement and most of the students were satisfied with learning English through the TBLA. پرونده مقاله

The quantitative-qualitative content analysis study reported in this paper investigated if there was any significant difference between the listening and reading sections of IELTS tests with regard to the representation of learning objectives of Revised Bloom’s taxonomy. For this purpose, 16 Academic IELTS listening and reading tests from Cambridge IELTS Academic: Authentic Practice Tests (IELTS 12, 13, 14, and 15) were selected as the material of the study. The content of the tests was codified based on a coding scheme developed by the researchers. The reliability of the coding was evaluated through the inter-coder and intra-coder reliability analyses. The frequency, Chi-square and Cramer's V tests were employed to analyze the data.The results indicated that IELTS listening and reading tests mostly included Understanding Factual and Conceptual Knowledge, respectively. Furthermore, the results showed that there was a substantial difference between IELTS listening and reading tests with regard to the inclusion of learning objectives. It was concluded that the listening and reading tests of IELTS assessed different learning objectives. The implications of the study suggest that IELTS candidates, teachers, and researchers should take the different learning objectives represented in IELTS listening and reading tests into consideration. پرونده مقاله

This study examined the effect of mobile-mediated dynamic assessment (DA) to enhance English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ vocabulary learning. To this end, 78 pre-intermediate level EFL learners learning English at a language institute were selected based on their availability to the researcher. The participants were randomly assigned to three equal groups (one control and two experimental). Next, the vocabulary pre-test was conducted for all participants to observe their development throughout the instruction. WhatsApp was used in one of the experimental groups (mobile-mediated DA), and 26 students entered a talk group where DA was applied. The second experimental group received DA in class (in-class DA). The control group assessed the participants’ zone of actual development (ZAD) at various points in the course. Concerning the experimental groups, a scale of prompts was used to mediate the learning process when students made an error, and the researcher acted as a mediator. The results showed that mobile-mediated DA was successful in enhancing EFL students’ vocabulary learning. Moreover, a reduction in the prompt's mean score at the end of the course suggested that fewer prompts were required to divert the participants’ attention to the error. The findings of this study can lead to a better understanding of the pedagogical importance of mobile-mediated DA. پرونده مقاله

Teachers are generally believed to be one of the most important elements in the success of any educational scheme. Therefore, it is vitally important that teachers be well-prepared when they begin teaching and continue to improve their knowledge and skills throughout their careers. Despite the plethora of studies in teachers’ professional development, there is uncertainty about the relationships between teachers' professional development and their capacity for creative and reflective thinking. Additionally, how these elements might fit into the larger context of teachers' professional lives is under question. The present study was designed to explore the Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions towards professional development, creativity and reflectivity. To do so, 10 EFL teachers were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. The results indicated that teachers’ professional development, creative and reflective thinking contribute to developing language learners’ language proficiency and motivation. The findings of this study assist teacher educators when these factors are included in language teacher education programs, it helps second/foreign language learners promote their proficiency in different areas of language learning. پرونده مقاله

The present study aimed to investigate professional success among Iranian EFL teachers in two different teaching contexts namely high schools and language institutes concerning their years of teaching experience, gender, level of education and socioeconomic status. Data were gathered from among 61 teachers and 600 students chosen from various private English language institutes and high schools in Shiraz, Iran. The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire developed by Moafian and Pishghadam (2009). Results indicated that professional success of male teachers is higher than that of female teachers. Findings further illustrated that there is a significant positive relationship between English teachers’ professional success and their education level and socioeconomic status. Finally, it was found that English teachers’ professional success is higher among institute teachers compared with their counterparts. پرونده مقاله

Language classrooms are occasionally anxiety-breeding situations. Foreign language classroom anxiety which negatively affects foreign language learning is typically associated with productive activities mainly speaking skill. To cope with the issue and overcome language learning difficulties, the present study was conducted to explore the impact of mobile-assisted language learning on enhancing EFL students’ oral proficiency and relieving their speaking anxiety. 60 sophomore female students whose ages ranged from 18 to 24 were selected from Zand University in Shiraz, Iran and randomly divided into two groups. Traditional instruction was adopted to teach both groups for two hours in a week for four months. Out of class, however, they did various speaking activities. The participants in the control group followed their course book speaking activities. But, the experimental group experienced mobile-assisted language learning to do their out-of-class speaking activities via a mobile application (Voice Thread). The Preliminary English Test and the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale questionnaire were used to collect the required data. Paired samples t-test results indicated that Voice Thread experience significantly enhanced the participants’ oral proficiency and lowered their foreign language speaking anxiety.these findings provide experimental evidence that Voice Thread can be used as an educational tool to help EFL students to improve their oral proficiency and create their own individual less-threatening language learning environment. پرونده مقاله

The current study investigated the impact of an interventionist model of dynamic assessment, using a repetitive process of pretest-teach-posttest design, on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension and classroom engagement. To this end, 40 intermediate participants were selected through convenient sampling from among the English majors of a university in Kerman, Iran, and assigned to two control and experimental groups, each including 20 students. Then, during 4-month period, the experimental group was exposed to reading comprehension class, using an interventionist model of DA, while the control group did not receive ant dynamic assessment program. At the end of the treatment, the participants’ scores on the pretest and post-test were statistically compared. The obtained results revealed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group on the scales of reading comprehension skill. A change was also observed in the classroom engagement of the experimental group, but not for the control group. Indeed, the results showed that dynamic assessment can boost participants' performance in a practical and effective way, not only in terms of reading performance but also in terms of motivating more classroom engagement among EFL learners. This finding has implications for teachers to design more efficient courses which are the ultimate goal of education. پرونده مقاله

Recent innovations in formative assessment have turned the spotlight on the implementation of assessment for learning in the classroom. Notwithstanding a considerable wealth of research on assessment for learning in mainstream education, few research studies in the field of language teaching thus far have touched upon assessment for learning. This quantitative study investigated Iranian English language teachers’ perceived monitoring and scaffolding practices in respect of their gender and class size. To achieve this purpose, 384 Iranian EFL teachers who were selected using convenience sampling completed a 28-item Likert scale questionnaire on assessment for learning entailing two main constructs, namely monitoring and scaffolding. Our findings revealed a statistically significant gender difference with regard to perceived scaffolding. Likewise, the results showed that EFL teachers’ perceived monitoring and scaffolding practices did not differ with respect to class size. The key implications of the findings for the application of scaffolding and monitoring practices in the classroom were also addressed. پرونده مقاله

Ubiquitous learning can be described as a daily learning environment supported by mobile, computers, and wireless networks to provide learning anytime and anywhere. As the concept of Ubiquitous learning is little known in Iran, this study considers a sample of Iranian EFL learners to identify the effects of different aspects of Ubiquitous learning including omnipresence, context customization, interactivity, perceived self-efficacy, and m-learning motivation that influence L2 learner’s classroom achievement. The participants included 150 high school students in Shiraz. A questionnaire adapted from Jung (2014) was the main data collection instrument used in the present study. Moreover, classroom achievement scores of the students taken from their final exam results were also analyzed. Structural equation modeling results showed that among aspects of Ubiquitous learning, omnipresence, context customization, perceived self-efficacy, and m-learning motivation affected classroom achievement but interactivity did not influence classroom achievement. The results also revealed the positive effect of integration of technology on student learning. EFL learners with a clear understanding of innovation in education are better positioned to move their efficiency and effectiveness from the traditional English learning environment to one that fully integrates learning into learners’ daily routines. The study concludes that developments in technology need to be transmitted into the pedagogical areas and carefully considered in the forms of curriculum and contents for language teaching. پرونده مقاله

The present study explored the effects of three forms of reading-based L2 vocabulary tasks on learning and retention of 40 target words by Iranian intermediate and advanced male English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. To this end, 176 EFL learners were randomly selected and assigned to three experimental and one control condition across two levels of intermediate and advanced proficiency levels. The participants in the experimental conditions read 8 texts including 40 target words and performed word-focused (WF) tasks, oral reproduction (OR) plus summary writing (SW) tasks, and WF plus OR vocabulary tasks incorporating target words according to their task designation. The results of two-way MANOVA and Scheffe’s post-hoc test demonstrated that while all three experimental conditions significantly outperformed the control group in terms of learning and retention of target words, the WF plus OR task was found to be the most effective condition. The results are justified in light of Laufer and Hulstjin’s (2001) Involvement Load Hypothesis, Nation and Webb’s (2011) Technique Feature Analysis, the Skill Acquisition Theory, and Swain’s (1985) Output Hypothesis. The study concluded with pedagogical implications for language teachers and materials developers with regard to including both word-focused and meaning-oriented L2 vocabulary tasks in language classes and language textbooks. پرونده مقاله

This experimental study considered the effects of learning style variations on EFL learners’ performance in different question types of the reading skill and their strategies to get higher scores. To achieve such goals, ninety learners with different academic backgrounds from IELTS classes of Shukuh English Language Institute in Tehran, participated in this study. The researcher first utilized two questionnaires with regard to learning styles and strategy uses. According to the Kolb’s questionnaire it is believed that learners have Activist, Theorist, Pragmatist and Reflector learning styles. A majority of candidates were recognized as Reflector but activist candidates had a better performance in IELTS and also for strategy use. In considering learning style variation according to the results of the one-way analysis of variance, we were on the safe side to say that variation due to belonging to different style groups causes variation of performance for Yes, No, not given questions in reading skill. The most favorable learning strategy of the activist learners, who were the most successful students according to their band scores, was making summaries which had not only the highest frequency, but also the highest weighted sum. پرونده مقاله

The present study aimed to rediscover the global criteria for English language teacher evaluation. To do so, a large body of research was reviewed, and the characteristics of effective teachers along with their indicators were compiled. Nine characteristics which proved to be the most frequently indorsed by scholars were selected as the global criteria of teacher effectiveness. Then, these criteria were utilized to employ five English language teachers in a language institute in Kerman, Iran. The classroom performance of these teachers and that of five others formerly employed based on some local criteria was observed by the institute supervisor. At the end of the semester, perceptions of the students of both groups of teachers were explored through a questionnaire developed by the authors. Finally, the performances of the two groups of teachers were compared in terms of the students' and the observer's perceptions. The results showed that the teachers employed based on the global criteria of teacher effectiveness outperformed those recruited based on the local criteria. This indicates that the selected criteria of teacher effectiveness can be reliable for English teacher performance evaluation. پرونده مقاله

This study examined the effect of Iranian EFL teachers’ years of experience and their effectiveness on Iranian EFL students’ achievement. 70 EFL teachers and 60 intermediate students were selected from different English language institutes in Shiraz, Fars province. The instruments to collect data were Oxford Quick Placement Test, Demographics, and Teacher Effectiveness Questionnaire. The results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA, frequency analysis, independent samples t-test, and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings revealed teachers’ perceptions of effectiveness are related to their years of teaching experiences. It appeared that highly experienced teachers in this study perceived that their effectiveness positively influenced students’ achievement. Besides that, it is hoped that this study can also add more in-depth literature review in academia about the effect of Iranian EFL teachers’ experience and their effectiveness) organization and communication skills, pedagogical knowledge, socio-affective skills, and English proficiency) on EFL students’ achievement. پرونده مقاله

This mixed-methods design study investigated Iranian TOEFL iBT and IELTS teachers’ views on thestructure of the TOEFL iBT and IELTS receptive and productive sections from the yardsticks of dynamicand static assessment. It also examined the conformity level of the receptive and productive sections ofTOEFL iBT and IELTS to dynamic assessment and static assessment standards. To achieve the objectivesof the study, 100 information-rich TOEFL iBT and IELTS teachers selected based on purposive andsnowball sampling completed two 8-item researcher-made questionnaires on the underlying features ofthese exams. To cross-validate the quantitative results, we performed semi-structured interviews with 10informed teachers selected through purposive sampling from among the questionnaire respondents. Thesemi-structured data were content analyzed using a researcher-made framework categorizing thedistinctive dynamic assessment and static assessment features. The results of the qualitative phasecorroborated those of the quantitative part revealing that these exams mainly conform to static assessmenttenets and that they enjoy only a few dynamic assessment features. The pedagogical implications of thefindings are also explicated. پرونده مقاله

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Iranian EFL teachers’ years of experience and their empowerment on Iranian EFL students’ achievement. To this end, 70 EFL teachers and 60 intermediate students were selected from different English language institutes in Shiraz, Fars province. The instruments used in this study include the Oxford Quick Placement Test, Demographics, and Teacher Empowerment Questionnaire. The results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA, frequency analysis, independent samples t-test, and Multiple Regression Analysis. The result from the descriptive analysis regarding the distribution of means based upon the responses provided by the participants of the present study indicated that highly experienced teachers view their most empowered subscale as autonomy, status, self-efficacy, impact, decision-making and professional growth, respectively. These results suggested that teachers perceive their highest level of empowerment to reside in their ability to make decisions on what is taught or about curriculum, and to have control over daily schedules. In addition, it is important to mention that low-experienced teachers view their most empowered subscale as self-efficacy, professional growth, status, autonomy, impact and decision-making. The findings of the current research suggest that teachers perceive their highest level of empowerment to reside in their ability to share their skills and knowledge with students to help them learn. پرونده مقاله

The dualistic nature of the present study explored if there existed any relationship between organizational silence, job insecurity, job satisfaction, and burnout among EFL instructors and if job satisfaction me- diated the latent relationships among organizational silence, job insecurity, and burnout. To this end, 120 EFL instructors from different Azad University branches in the Fars province, Iran, chosen based on one- stage convenience cluster sampling filled out four questionnaires, i.e. questionnaire, Burnout Inventory, and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. To investigate any relationship between organizational silence, job insecurity, and burnout among EFL instructors, the researchers performed the Pearson Correlation coefficient. Additionally, to investigate if job satisfaction mediated the relationships between the three variables, the researchers ranpath analysis via Amos 21. The results revealed direct positive relationships between organizational silence, job insecurity, and burnout among EFL instructors and job satisfaction did not mediate these relationships indicating that organizational silence and job insecurity could directly cause burnout or affect the probable level of burnout among EFL instructors and their level of satisfaction did not intervenet he present study provides significant contributions to principals, managers, and organi- zational policymakers in educational settings by warning them of the important factors that cause job bur- nout among EFL instructors and affect their well-being and efficacy.The results also added some more insight about EFL instructors‟ affairs to the body of related literature. پرونده مقاله