درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

AI-assisted translation has gained increasing attention in recent years, yet its effectiveness remains underexplored. The present study sought to shed light on the role of AI (ChatGPT) in mediating translation. To this end, 46 postgraduate ESP students majoring in three sub-disciplines of politics (across three classes) were selected through convenience sampling. No outliers were identified in these classes, and each was assigned to one experimental group (AI-assisted group, N = 16; AI–Human Revised group, N = 16; Human-only Scaffolded group, N = 14). A posttest-only control group design was adopted, and each group was mediated according to its respective intervention protocol. AI was instructed to follow a graduated mediation protocol developed for the purposes of this study. The final translations were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Findings revealed that the end product of the AI-assisted group, compared with the human-involved groups, exhibited major translation deficiencies ranging from the lexico-semantic level to syntax, the syntax–semantic interface, and rhetorical patterns. Additional procedural deficiencies were also observed and reported. Furthermore, participants’ translations were assessed using a rubric, and quantitative analysis showed that both human-involved groups significantly outperformed the AI-only group.

Being rooted in imagery and metaphor, Jungian psychology suggests that metaphors are expressions of archetypal imagery. While extensive research has examined how archetypal theory informs literal metaphors across various languages, less attention has been paid to whether metaphorical conceptualizations can serve as a modality—similar to dreams or active imagination—for representing archetypes and the collective unconscious. Linguistic data from intercultural interactions are crucial for uncovering shared conceptual structures across diverse communities. This study explored the "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar as a pivotal text in contemporary interfaith dialogue. We analyzed how the processes of metaphorizing archetypes were woven into this discourse. Specifically, we investigated whether archetypes are represented within the conceptual blending processes of metaphors, how the collective unconscious is reflected in the conceptual metaphors employed in interreligious dialogue, and how these metaphors may foster shared understanding among religious leaders. Using Conceptual Blending Theory (CBT), we identified metaphorical expressions that projected archetypal content, revealing the presence of key Jungian archetypes, such as the Mother, Rebirth, Shadow, Innocent, and God-Image. Our findings indicated that significant shared conceptualizations existed between Islamic and Christian leaders, which were grounded in the collective unconscious and articulated through archetype-based conceptual metaphors.

Nadja d'André Breton est une œuvre par excellence du genre surréaliste, caractérisée par des phrases qui, dans leur structure sous-jacente, révèlent l'inconscient, l'illusion et l'imagination de l'écrivain. La présente étude, fondée sur les théories de Jean Bellemin-Noël concernant «l'inconscient du texte», vise à examiner la traduction persane de Nadja faite par Kaveh Mirabbasi. Cette étude cherche à déterminer si le traducteur a effectivement recréé les éléments psychologiques dans la langue cible, qui se manifestent par l'écriture automatique, les rêves, les libres associations et l'utilisation d'éléments contrastés à la manière des surréalistes. Pour découvrir l'inconscient de l'écrivain, nous avons ensuite analysé le texte source en se concentrant sur ces éléments ainsi que sur la structure des phrases, la répétition thématique, les métaphores, les techniques, les choix de mots et les marqueurs textuels. Une étude contrastive avec le texte cible a permis de déterminer dans quelle mesure le traducteur a recréé ces aspects. Les résultats indiquent que Mirabbasi a largement réussi à recréer l’inconscient du texte grâce à la traduction littérale.

Cette étude se concentre sur l’exploitation des recettes de la cuisine iranienne dans la classe de FLE en Iran. Les apports linguistiques, culturels et socio-psychologiques de ces recettes ont été visés d’où notre question sur les modalités de leur exploitation plus efficace dans les cours de langue. Centré sur un corpus spécialisé, Les saveurs de mon pays, l’article a abordé dans la partie analytique tous les points importants à dégager sur les plans précités. L’étude des exemples du corpus sur différentes catégories dans le domaine culinaire nous a persuadées que l’entraînement avec de tels documents mais dans une autre langue permet aux apprenants de s’exprimer sur leur propre art culinaire, partie intégrante de leur culture et leur identité, pour se faire connaître à « l’Autre ». Cet entraînement authentique dans un cadre didactique pourrait être pratiqué à l’oral et à l’écrit via diverses activités adaptées au niveau de nos apprenants.

This study was intended to explore the Iranian EFL learners’ stance towards Technology-Enhanced Personalized Language Learning (TEPLL) and how it influences language development. Specifically, this study investigated the relationships among learners’ stances towards TEPLL, relating to effectiveness, integration into daily life, autonomy, engagement, and satisfaction, with L2 speaking and writing motivation. It also examined how learners’ stances to the instruction of TEPLL were related to their progress in developing productive skills both in speaking and writing. In addition, instructional facets promoting and inhibiting learners’ progress were highlighted. With 120 EFL Iranian learners from five language institutes in Isfahan, Iran, the present project assigned participants to experimental and control groups with 60 persons each, according to the proficiency levels: pre-intermediate, intermediate, and advanced. Data were collected via a Learning Experience Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The experimental group received instruction in TEPLL through Speechling for speaking practice and through Moodle for writing practice. The results generally indicated a positive stance towards TEPLL; the learners reported high scores regarding perceived effectiveness, ease of integration, autonomy, engagement, and satisfaction. They also demonstrated more motivation concerning the development of L2 speaking and writing. On the other hand, it established the challenges of technical problems, inadequate content, and poor preparation. Interviews with students showed that TEPLL is an excellent tool for practicing speaking and pronunciation but also brought to the surface the demand for better audio-visual quality, more content volume, and individual support. The findings suggest that while potentially very effective in bettering the language learning of Iranian EFL learners, TEPLL has to be administered with caution, and its administration kept under constant review to reduce the potential challenges. Keywords: Self-determination Theory (SDT), Stance, Technology-Enhanced Personalized Language Learning (TEPLL)

The integration of AI in educational contexts has been a heated debate among scholars. Despite the important role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in foreign language education, exploring English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ voices regarding their motivation to use AI in foreign language education has received scant attention. Therefore, this study explores the motivational factors influencing the adoption of AI in foreign language teaching through the lens of self-determination theory (SDT). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews from six EFL teachers in the context of Saudi Arabia. The study identified several key sub-themes within the broader motivational factors of relatedness, autonomy, and competence from the SDT framework. Regarding competence, participants emphasized the role of AI in enhancing their ability to deliver personalized instruction and manage their classrooms more efficiently. For relatedness, the sub-theme of mutual support and community building emerged as crucial, highlighting the importance of collaboration between teachers and students in AI adoption. In the context of autonomy, self-initiated professional development was prominent, reflecting teachers’ active efforts to stay updated on AI technologies. Teachers felt that mastering AI tools not only improved their competence but also enabled them to adapt AI-based solutions to meet students' individual needs. However, they also noted the challenge of ensuring that AI tools complement rather than replace critical pedagogical skills, highlighting the need to maintain a balance between using AI for efficiency and preserving essential human elements like creativity and critical thinking.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) has become increasingly important in applied linguistics due to growing demands from universities and policymakers to integrate research into educational practice. However, how this integration occurs across disciplines and contexts remains unclear. This mixed-method study investigates challenges in language instruction in Iran. Using random sampling, 50 TEFL instructors teaching EAP participated; 89% held doctorates, and 73% spent 10–30% of their work time on research. The study examines the difficulties university-level TEFL professors face in integrating research into EAP instruction. A detailed Likert-scale questionnaire assessed perceptions of ideal versus actual inclusion of seven research-related concepts. Due to non-homogeneous data, Wilcoxon signed-rank and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. Three key themes from open-ended responses explained the gap between expectations and practice: organizational limitations, student-related variables, and instructor-related obstacles. Results showed strong belief in research integration but limited implementation. Student issues included low motivation; institutional barriers involved rigid curricula and misaligned goals. Instructor challenges included limited research skills, disciplinary expertise, self-confidence, and motivation. These challenges are shaped by institutional context, research experience, and workload. The study highlights the need for institutional support, curriculum reform, and professional development to help TEFL instructors effectively connect research and EAP teaching.

Based on Shulman's (1986) concept of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) emerged and became a helpful framework for comprehending the objectives of using technology in pre-service teacher training programs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate Iranian pre-service EFL teachers’ (PSEFLTs) perceptions towards their TPACK regarding their gender and academic year of study. To this aim, 254 Iranian PSEFLTs across various academic years of study filled out a 39-item EFL TPACK questionnaire developed by Baser et al. (2016). The questionnaire included seven categories: Content Knowledge (CK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), Technology Knowledge (TK), PCK, Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). Based on the collected data, which were subjected to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc analysis, it was found that PSEFLTs generally held mildly favorable perceptions towards their TPACK. Notably, the lowest mean score was observed for the TK component, while the component with the highest mean score was the CK component. In terms of the gender effect, statistically significant differences were found in the TK and TPCK dimensions, where males outscored females in both TK and TPCK and females outscored males in CK. Furthermore, an examination of the relationship between participants' TPACK and their academic years of study manifested a statistically significant difference primarily between freshmen and seniors. The results are expected to encourage curriculum planners to develop PSEFLTs’ training programs by integrating technology courses into the ELT curriculum.

Although there are growing attempts to equip learners with strategies in the English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) classroom, there has not been much effort made to implement strategies to assist learners in the learning of speech acts (e.g., Cohen & Ishihara, 2005). Moreover, in the realm of second language acquisition, the exploration of individual differences has garnered significant attention from researchers and practitioners alike. Considering these two important facts, this study delved into the intricate relationship between willingness to communicate (WTC), learner subjectivity, and the utilization of speech act strategies among 200 Iranian EFL learners. Drawing upon the WTC questionnaire developed by MacIntyre et al. (2001), learner subjectivity scale by LoCastro (2001), and speech act strategy inventory by Cohen and Ishihara (2005), this research aimed to unravel the interplay between these variables. The findings obtained through Spearman's rho correlation illuminated the positive interplay between WTC and learners' speech act strategy use, as well as the positive interaction between learner subjectivity and EFL learners' speech act strategy use. These results underscore the significance of personal attributes, such as WTC and learner subjectivity, in influencing learners' strategic competence in utilizing speech acts. Furthermore, this study contributes valuable insights for learners seeking to enhance their autonomy and self-directed learning, while also fostering a deeper awareness of individual differences and speech act strategies among EFL learners to facilitate their success and self-confidence.

This mixed-methods study investigated the communicative competence and communicative strategies employed by Iranian English for Specific Purposes (ESP) students and teachers, a context where curricula often prioritize linguistic knowledge over interactive proficiency. Data were collected from 150 Master of Arts (MA) engineering students and ten ESP instructors using a communicative competence questionnaire and audio-recorded classroom observations. The observations were transcribed and coded using an established taxonomy of communicative strategies, which demonstrated high inter-rater reliability. The results revealed a difference wherein students reported strong self-perceived interpersonal skills but exhibited significant difficulties in conversational smoothness and comfort. Analysis of classroom interactions showed that students relied predominantly on compensatory strategies, with a heavy use of code-switching, while teachers primarily used stalling strategies. A significant difference was found in the strategic patterns between the two groups, and more complex strategies like circumlocution were absent among the students. The findings point to a critical misalignment between students’ sociocultural confidence and their strategic repertoire, underscoring a systemic neglect of oral proficiency and strategy training. The study concludes that a curricular shift toward explicit strategy instruction and authentic communicative practice is urgently needed in Iranian ESP education.

The growing importance of technology for teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic urges educators to become technology-proficient teachers and use technology to run their classes. Meanwhile, teachers with different traits may have various perceptions of using technology. This study explores the relationships between teachers' personality types and attitudes toward adopting technology in English Language Teaching (ELT). Thus, it is aimed to determine if personality types would predict teachers' attitudes toward technology (ATT) in ELT. An online questionnaire with 92 participants (English language teachers) using the Big Five Inventory (John et al., 1991) for personality domains and Kessler's (2007) questionnaire for measuring ATT were utilized. After analyzing the data, it was uncovered that the personality types could predict ATT in ELT. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between personality factors and ATT among English language teachers. The results showed a significant positive relationship between  extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness , openness to experience  on one side, and ATT. Additionally, Neuroticism was not found to be significant in the ATT. The Findings indicated that teachers' negative ATT might have a detrimental effect on its implementation in the classroom. This study's findings might shed new light on the relations between types of personalities and their priority for running technology-oriented classes.