درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This study examined the impacts of providing regulatory focus feedback (RFF) in the forms of prevention and promotion as well as reference of comparison feedback (RCF) in the forms of normative and self-referential on EFL learners’ speaking complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) in online speaking courses. For this purpose, 100 intermediate EFL learners in a language institute were randomly assigned into four experimental groups and one control group (N=20). Language learners were required to respond to two speaking tasks from the IELTS exam before and after receiving 16 sessions of the intervention. The data were subjected to ANCOVA analysis and paired samples comparisons. The results showed that the participants’ speaking performance was better in all four experimental groups compared to the control group. Moreover, the superiority of self-referential feedback in improving the participants’ oral production ability over normative feedback was demonstrated. Prevention-focused feedback was shown to be influential in improving accuracy. Finally, practical implications for how EFL teachers can enhance language learners’ oral production ability are discussed.

Kurmanji uses two morphological forms of pronouns and R-expressions: direct and oblique. The direct form of first and second pronouns (local pronouns) is fully specified for person and number. In contrast, direct third-person pronouns and R-expressions are unmarked; however, these arguments still exhibit person and number agreement with verbs and number and gender agreement with Ezafe heads. There are two approaches to deal with direct unmarked arguments. In the asymmetric approach, these arguments are assumed to be fully specified for relevant φ-features, which are deleted at PF (Phonological Form) after agreement, whereas in the symmetric approach, they are merged as underspecified for relevant features and acquire their interpretation via agreement. Given the prevalence of unmarked arguments in Kurmanji, the symmetric approach is more economical and minimalistic, requiring fewer theoretical tools and computations. The present study shows that the key distinction between local pronouns and unmarked arguments lies in the specification of relevant φ-features. Direct unmarked arguments enter the derivation underspecified for these features, establishing a relation of ‘subset control’ in agreement and acquiring their interpretation by spreading features from the agreeing head at the LF (Logical Form) interface. This study also reveals that agreement in Ezafe constructions and pro-drop sentences also involve subset control and agreement is the only possible way to license φ-features, such as gender in inanimate arguments and person in R-expressions.

This study aims to identify the role of transfer in the L3 acquisition of indefinite frequency adverbs, be it L1, L2 or both; and to find out whether CLI occurs on a feature-by-feature basis or as a wholesale phenomenon. Also, this study intends to investigate the influence of the learners' L2 proficiency on the L3 acquisition of indefinite frequency adverbs; and to examine the effect of different task modalities on the facilitative/detrimental role of background languages in the transfer of indefinite frequency adverbs in the early stages of German learning. To this end, we studied 30 Persian-speaking L3 learners with previous L2 knowledge of English. We collected data from a grammaticality judgement task to account for learners' receptive knowledge and an element rearrangement task to measure learners' production. The data were analyzed using multivariate tests and paired samples t-tests, which allowed us to estimate the effects of background languages, learners' L2 proficiency, and task type on the acquisition of indefinite frequency adverbs in L3. The results contradicted the wholesale CLI and supported the hybrid transfer models of CEM and LPM, which claim that transfer occurs property by property. The results also refuted the role of micro-variables, including learners' L2 proficiency and task type.

Dissatisfaction with product-oriented and static forms of assessment led to the emergence of process-oriented testing or dynamic assessment. Learners’ involvement in the assessment process can enhance their learning autonomy and help them process linguistic features more deeply. Accordingly, using a quantitative quasi-experimental research design, the researchers sought to explore whether utilizing DA principles would have any differential impact, believed to be statistically significant, on the Iranian male and female intermediate EFL learners’ learning and retention of English grammar. To this end, 30 EFL learners from two intact classes who were taking a general English course at Shayestegan English Language Institute, in Rasht, Iran were selected as a homoscedastic group of participants based on the scores they obtained on a sample copy of Oxford Solutions Placement Test (OSPT). The intact classes, each comprising 15 students, were then assigned to one experimental and one control group who then received treatment on their L2 grammar under different conditions: The experimental group received instruction on English grammar as per the principles of dynamic assessment in an eight-session intervention program. The control group likewise received treatment on L2 grammar over the course of the study, but they were trained using teacher-fronted instruction. Finally, the groups sat for an immediate and a delayed posttest of grammar to demonstrate their degree of learning and amount of retention of English grammar. Capitalizing on a 2 by 2 factorial design, which allowed for examination of both main and interaction effects of instructional modality and participants’ gender, the researchers employed a two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to examine the participants’ performance scores. The results revealed that, regardless of participants’ gender, instruction as delivered through dynamic assessment privileged the participants in the experimental group much better than that of the conventional method in terms of their learning an

Inaam Kachachi et Lydie Salvayre montrent dans leurs œuvres, Si je t'oublie, Bagdad et Pas pleurer, un portrait sincère des répercussions de la guerre à travers deux époques différentes. Elles partagent, plus ou moins, des points de vue communs sur des événements sociaux, politiques et historiques qui ont eu lieu pendant la guerre. L'esprit féminin de Kachachi et de Salvayre domine fortement leurs dimensions romanesques. En fait, les deux écrivaines mettent en scène des femmes libres pour exposer leurs idées, à savoir Zeina, l’héroïne de Kachachi et Montse, la narratrice de Salvayre. La guerre et ses effets sont sans doute les éléments déclencheurs de l’œuvre romanesque de Kachachi et de Salvayre. Kachachi révèle la dissolution de la famille irakienne qui s'est dispersée à cause de la guerre. De son côté, Salvayre montre également la division au sein d'une même famille à cause de la guerre civile. Les deux protagonistes sont ainsi obligés de choisir l'exil et l'immigration comme résultat de ces guerres. En même temps, les deux écrivaines, Kachachi et Salvayre avaient l’intention de raviver les mémoires pour révéler le passé comme un témoignage historique.

Les locutions sont essentielles pour maîtriser une langue et leur acquisition favorise la communication. De plus, les cartes mentales aident à visualiser et comprendre ces combinaisons de mots, facilitant ainsi leur acquisition. La carte mentale aide aussi le mémoire de travail et mémoire visuelle, car elle permet d'organiser l'information de manière structurée. En utilisant des images, des couleurs et des mots-clés, elle stimule les connexions neuronales, rendant l'apprentissage plus interactif et engageant. En raison de l'absence de cartes mentales dans l'enseignement du FLE en Iran, nous nous proposons d'étudier les locutions figées et non figées à l'aide de cartes mentales. Dans cette étude analytique, notre objectif est de savoir comment les cartes mentales peuvent aider à acquérir les locutions. Nous avons ciblé des étudiants de deux groupes. Ceux ayant appris ces locutions par le biais de cartes mentales ont obtenu les meilleures notes. Les résultats ont montré l'efficacité des cartes mentales dans l'utilisation de ces combinaisons de mots.

In today’s vast digital landscape, where the online world knows no bounds, website localization has emerged as a critical imperative for companies worldwide to effectively promote and sell their products. However, the evaluation of website localization quality in Persian remains an underexplored domain. This study aims to fill this gap by providing insights into the assessment of localization within the Iranian context while considering the global context as well. To do so, this investigation examined Sumsung’s website localization quality, incorporating Gutiérrez-Artacho and Olvera-Lobo’s (2017) indicators, as well as additional criteria such as website usability and cultural adaptation. The findings revealed that due to the complex and time-consuming nature of the localization process, Samsung has adopted a strategic approach that can be described as globalization or reverse localization, rather than a comprehensive culturalization approach commonly discussed in translation studies. By neutralizing its content, Samsung has effectively navigated the challenges posed by the cost and resources required for localization. This strategic decision allows Samsung to maintain a consistent and inclusive brand image across different markets. This study contributes to the field of translation studies in terms of reality-based theorizing by shedding light on the localization practices of a prominent multinational company. Finally, the findings offer valuable insights for companies seeking to enhance their website localization strategies and effectively engage with diverse users in an increasingly globalized world.

Pendant le COVID-19, les universités et les établissements d'enseignement supérieur ont été appelés à dispenser un enseignement en ligne en raison de la pandémie. Le nouvel environnement d'enseignement a créé une nouvelle méthode d'enseignement qui a inspiré la plupart des pays à adopter l'enseignement en ligne même après la pandémie. L'Université de Yarmouk, parmi d'autres en Jordanie, a établi ses classes post-COVID-19 entièrement en ligne ou hybride (partiellement en ligne). L'étude actuelle vise à révéler l'efficacité de l'apprentissage en ligne des langues étrangères après la pandémie de COVID-19 du point de vue d'étudiants universitaires choisis au hasard dans différentes universités. Pour mener à bien la présente recherche, nous avons élaboré un questionnaire et l'avons envoyé à des étudiants universitaires de différentes universités jordaniennes.  Les réponses ont été recueillies et analysées dans le programme SPSS. Les résultats de l'étude ont montré que l'interaction par le biais de l'e-learning a obtenu une moyenne de (3,09), avec un pourcentage de (62%). De plus, la capacité des étudiants à accéder aux ressources d'apprentissage en ligne a obtenu une moyenne de (3,06) et un pourcentage de (61,3%), tandis que l'efficacité de l'enseignement par l'apprentissage en ligne a obtenu une   moyenne   de (3,04)   et   un   pourcentage   de (61%).  La   recherche   a   abouti   à   plusieurs recommandations, notamment la nécessité pour l’administration universitaire de se concentrer davantage sur les besoins des étudiants en langues étrangères en matière d'e-learning à l'avenir et de développer des systèmes bien connus tels que le système modèle.

Autonomous learning is a study skill that may be challenging not only to learners with a dependent learning style but also to teachers used to teacher-oriented methodology. However, the considerable shift in the teaching and learning paradigm especially after the 2020 pandemic has made autonomous learning a must-gain skill. This research aimed to explore EFL teachers' perceptions of learner autonomy (LA), their actual practices, and the challenges of LA promotion at Omani secondary schools. It also investigated possible associations between teachers' beliefs about promoting LA and their academic level, gender, and years of experience. Within a convergent mixed-method parallel design, thirty Omani EFL school teachers were selected through convenience sampling to participate in the study. The instruments included teachers’ perceptions questionnaire, classroom observation data, and interviews with teachers. Frequency counts, ordinal regression analysis, and grounded theory were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data. The results revealed that although EFL teachers at Omani secondary schools practice some strategies that promote learner autonomy, these practices are not intentionally and exclusively implemented for LA purposes. Moreover, the results showed some discrepancies between teachers’ beliefs and their actual practices of LA due to some constraints and challenges such as the intensive English curriculum, teachers being overloaded with numerous school tasks besides teaching, learners' limited exposure to English outside the classroom, and teachers' inadequate professional background in the concept, principles, and practices of learner autonomy. No significant association was found between the teachers' general beliefs about LA and their particulars. It may be argued that the concept of autonomous learning and strategies to promote LA should be included as a core component of teacher training programs. By the same token, more self-study and self-assessment practices may be added to the English course materials in schools to help learners develop this essential skill for their higher education.

The present study explored the effects of interactionist Dynamic Assessment (DA) and age on the writing accuracy of IELTS candidates. This research investigated the existence of an interactional effect between the age of learners and the type of treatment they received. First, 140 IELTS candidates were split into two age groups, adult and young. Each group was divided into two equal smaller groups, randomly assigned to two types of DA. All four groups took a writing pre-test. After a nine-session treatment of interactionist DA in study groups and interventionist DA in control groups, all groups took a writing post-test. The data collected during the post-test were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and compared with the pre-test data. The findings showed that implementation of interactionist DA significantly improved the learners’ writing accuracy while the learners’ age had no significant effect on their writing accuracy. With respect to the study findings, EFL teachers could use interactionist DA to enhance the accuracy of learners' writing skills by providing more opportunities for the learners to interact.

This study was an attempt to see whether the instruction of pragmatic markers in virtual vs. face-to-face classroom settings had any effect on Iraqi EFL learners’ speaking ability. It also attempted to examine the intervening effects of some factors including age (teenagers in the language institute vs. adults in the university), gender, social class, and the learners’ English language proficiency levels.  To achieve these purposes, a group of 224 Iraqi EFL learners at a university and a private language institute in Kufa, Iraq passing conversation courses were selected and randomly divided into four groups. The two experimental groups (both in university and language institute settings) received instruction on pragmatic markers in online vs. face-to-face conversation classrooms while the two control groups (in university and language institute settings) did not receive instruction on pragmatic markers in online vs. face-to-face conversation classrooms. An English language speaking test was given to the learners to assess their oral performance before and after the treatment. The test was randomly selected from IELTS speaking tests. For the teenagers in the language institute, a simplified speaking task was designed based on IELTS criteria for assessing speaking performance. The results indicated that generally those who received pragmatic instruction outperformed those who did not receive such kind of instruction and the participants in face-to-face classrooms outperformed their virtual counterparts in terms of speaking ability. The study also examined the intervening effects of some social and personal factors including age, gender, social class and level of language proficiency. Based on the findings of this study, the male participants and the students from higher proficiency levels outperformed females and their lower proficiency counterparts in terms of speaking ability. However, they did not show any differences with regard to age and social class. This study offers important implications for EFL teachers, learners and material designers, with regard to the promising effect of face-to-face instruction of different pragmatic features of language through speech acts on learners’ speaking skill.