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Given the increasing prevalence of online learning and the absence of a validated instrument for assessing the critical writing skills of Iranian EFL learners in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) contexts, this study aimed to develop and validate an analytic rubric to enhance critical writing in CMC environments. The participants were 236 EFL students and 10 EFL/ESL teachers, representing a diverse range of demographics, experiences, and qualifications. The rubric development process was guided by a comprehensive literature review, the administration of a critical thinking questionnaire, expert feedback, thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, integration of Paul and Elder’s (2019) Intellectual Standards, and the development and application of a Likert-scale critical writing questionnaire. Subsequent pilot testing facilitated refinements based on feedback. Accordingly, the finalized analytic rubric featured four principal components: (1) Clarity, Accuracy, and Precision (CAP); (2) Relevance and Logic (RL); (3) Depth and Significance (DS); and (4) Breadth and Fairness (BF). A rigorous validation process, including expert evaluation, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmed the rubric's reliability and validity. The findings demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, as well as convergent and discriminant validity. This study offers valuable pedagogical implications for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers, learners, researchers, and curriculum developers.

This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of virtual reality (VR)-based therapy for emotional regulation in youth with exceptional needs. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 23 purposefully selected participants, including special education teachers, therapists, caregivers, and VR developers, all based in Minnesota, USA. Participants were selected based on their direct involvement with VR therapy programs for youth with neurodevelopmental or emotional regulation challenges. Interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo 14, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. The analysis revealed two main thematic categories: facilitators and barriers. Facilitators included seven subthemes: technological appeal, personalization, therapist control, motivation and engagement, institutional support, caregiver involvement, and observable emotional gains. Barriers were categorized into seven subthemes as well: accessibility and equity issues, sensory limitations, stakeholder resistance, cultural irrelevance, technical difficulties, ethical and privacy concerns, and lack of standardized guidelines. Participants reported that immersive features, real-time therapist adjustments, and family buy-in enhanced VR’s therapeutic effectiveness. Conversely, cost constraints, lack of culturally appropriate content, and technical or ethical challenges hindered adoption. Quotes from stakeholders enriched the thematic interpretation and contextualized the results. VR-based therapy shows promising potential in enhancing emotional regulation among youth with exceptional needs due to its immersive, customizable, and engaging design. However, successful implementation depends on addressing contextual challenges, including accessibility, technical infrastructure, and cultural inclusivity. Stakeholder collaboration and the development of standardized protocols are essential to scale VR interventions in educational and clinical contexts.

Background and Objective: It should be noted that the effect of educational computer games on the accuracy and concentration of students depends on several factors, including the type of game, content, design, and duration of use. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of educational computer games on the accuracy and concentration of eighth-grade female students in Kerman. Methods: Quasi-experimental research method and pre-test-post-test design with a control group were used. The statistical population of the research was all female students in the eighth grade of secondary school in Kerman City in the academic year 2022-2023 and a sample of 80 people was selected in the form of two classes of 40 people from the society by multi-stage cluster sampling method. Two Toulouse and Pieron accuracy questionnaires (1911) and Savary & Oraki concentration questionnaires (2015) were used to collect pre-test-post-test information and computer game software was used as an experimental practice. Results:Data analysis was also done with the statistical method of analysis of covariance and using SPSS19 software. The results showed that computer educational games have been effective in improving the accuracy and concentration of students in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Therefore, due to the flexibility of the structure of educational computer games and their non-linear organization, the motivational features of computer games and the benefit of learning rules and principles such as immediate reinforcement, they can contribute to increasing concentration and accuracy.

In recent decades, the importance of applying cultural dimension into language pedagogy has received extensive emphasis worldwide. The problem arises when EFL teachers are afraid of referring to cultural notions in their classes just because it seems that they lack sufficient cultural knowledge of the target language. This research study intended to inspect Iranian EFL teachers’ intercultural awareness by evaluating their opinions about the importance of cultural teaching. Sercu et al. (2005) adopted questionnaire was used to gather the anticipated data. The participants were comprised of 102 teachers who were provided with questionnaires in person using hard copies. An interview was conducted as well with participants in order to explore the difficulties they encounter in the way of teaching culture. the collected data were analyzed via statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. Content analysis was used for analyzing the qualitative data gathered from interview. The results showed that Iranian EFL teachers have favorable opinions about intercultural learning. They were unwilling to implement the intercultural approach to their teaching method because of time constraints, lack of suitable materials, and guidelines. Several implications are emergent from the findings including suggestions for educational policy-makers, material designers, language institutes, and teacher training programs.

This study aims to explore the psychological impact of virtual learning on students with special educational needs (SEN). This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 24 students with SEN recruited through online platforms. Theoretical saturation was reached, and data were analyzed using NVivo software following a thematic analysis approach. The interviews explored students’ experiences with virtual learning, including emotional responses, cognitive struggles, and social adaptation. Themes were identified through an iterative coding process, ensuring reliability and depth in capturing the psychological effects of digital education on this population. The results indicate that virtual learning has led to heightened emotional distress, including anxiety, stress, and reduced motivation, largely due to isolation and the absence of structured classroom environments. Participants reported significant cognitive challenges, such as attention difficulties, cognitive overload from digital tools, and struggles with learning retention. Socially, students experienced decreased peer interaction, communication barriers, and difficulty adapting to digital learning norms. However, some students developed coping mechanisms such as parental support and self-regulation strategies. The findings align with previous research highlighting the adverse effects of digital learning on students with disabilities, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. The psychological impact of virtual learning on students with SEN is profound, affecting their emotional well-being, cognitive engagement, and social adaptation. While some students benefit from digital learning’s flexibility, most require additional support to mitigate stress, cognitive overload, and social isolation. Educators and policymakers must prioritize inclusive digital education strategies, enhance accessibility, and provide structured support systems to improve learning experiences for students with SEN.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of play therapy in improving sensory processing and distress tolerance in adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 15) receiving eight 90-minute sessions of play therapy or a control group (n = 15) receiving no intervention. Sensory processing and distress tolerance were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up using standardized measures. Data analysis was performed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27 to evaluate within-group and between-group differences over time. The results indicated a significant main effect of time for both sensory processing (F(2, 84) = 92.32, p < 0.001) and distress tolerance (F(2, 84) = 111.60, p < 0.001), demonstrating substantial improvements across timepoints. The intervention group showed a notable increase in sensory processing scores from baseline (M = 48.72, SD = 5.91) to post-intervention (M = 64.15, SD = 6.38) and follow-up (M = 69.03, SD = 5.79), whereas the control group exhibited minimal change. Similarly, distress tolerance scores improved significantly in the intervention group (baseline: M = 42.85, SD = 6.27; post-intervention: M = 58.74, SD = 5.69; follow-up: M = 63.92, SD = 6.08), with no substantial improvement in the control group. The Bonferroni post-hoc test confirmed significant pairwise differences between baseline and subsequent assessments. Play therapy was found to be an effective intervention for enhancing sensory processing and distress tolerance in adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities, with improvements sustained at follow-up. These findings suggest that play-based interventions can be a valuable therapeutic approach for promoting sensory integration and emotional regulation in this population.

The study on second language (L2) argumentative writing has explored various surfaces and dimensions of learner behavior and presentation, although fewer studies have studied effective pedagogical strategies to boost students’ argumentative skills. The current study mentions the gap by exploring the effect of explicit argumentative instruction on the writing abilities of 30 Iranian IELTS candidates, according to CEFR ranging from B1 to B2, in an English Language Institute in Karaj - Iran in both Persian and English, the former their native language and the latter their foreign language . As a set of authentic IELTS Task 2 prompts were used and taken from the language learners, the study analyzed 180 argumentative essays, both in English and Persian, written by the participants prior, while and after instruction. The outcomes had shown noteworthy enhancement in the students’ English argumentative performance, with the recurrent use of argumentation key elements such as ‘claim’, ‘data’, and the ‘counterarguments’. Though, less emphasis was put on advanced argumentative structures such as ‘counterclaims’ and ‘rebuttals’. The results suggest that structured pedagogy in teaching argumentation can positively influence learners’ proficiency in both first language (L1) and second language (L2) writing. The insinuations for teaching argumentative writing in multilingual contexts will be further discussed.

The present explanatory mixed methods study was designed to investigate the difference between the effects of using the pyramid model of Willingness to Communicate (WTC) and Communicative Tasks (CTs) on reducing Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' speaking barriers. The participants were 57 Iranian EFL learners selected based on convenience sampling from a language institute in Tehran. The Preliminary English Test (PET) results verified their homogeneity. To foster a stronger spirit of cooperation among the participants, they were placed in three different classes based on their tendencies; hence, the researchers could consider them as three groups: the Pyramid Model Group (PMG), the Communicative Tasks Group (CTsG), and the Conventional Approach Group (CAG) each including 19 participants. The PMG received instructions pertaining to the six levels of PM in willingness to communicate (WTC), while the CTsG received instructions based on information gap, reasoning gap, and opinion gap activities. The CAG relied on the Audio-Lingual Method (ALM), which the institute regularly followed. Accordingly, the three groups went through pretesting, intervention, and post-testing. The participants completed a speaking barriers survey as pre- and post-tests. Then, ten participants from the three groups were randomly selected and interviewed about the impact of the methods they had experienced on their speaking barriers. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed the priority of the pyramid model of WTC over communicative tasks and conventional teaching in reducing learners' speaking barriers. The interview results also confirmed the quantitative findings indicating that anxiety, learners' low self-confidence, along with linguistic and instructional barriers could be reduced through being exposed to the pyramid model instructions. The results can be helpful for ELT professionals, EFL teachers and learners, and other stakeholders to hold more thriving L2 speaking classes.

Exploring the disciplinary interface between English for specific purposes (ESP) and World Englishes (WEs), regarding the potential contributions of both disciplines to research on areas of shared interest, including TEFL and ESP Teachers’ attitudes are the center of current study. This investigation examines Iranian EFL and ESP teachers’ views on integrating WEs into ESP classes and assesses the English-speaking needs of ESP students. The study comprised 32 TEFL, 17 EFL, and 15 ESP teachers (16 male and 16 female, aged 30–67), using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach with quantitative questionnaires. Analysis of the data showed that subjects in both groups largely held remarkably positive views on WEs and felt ESP teaching should align with student objectives. More than two-thirds of participants disliked the current ESP syllabuses; however, only ESP teachers were unhappy with the teaching methods, cultural content, and textbook. The participants also showed complete dissatisfaction with their ESP students’ speaking abilities. It can be inferred that ESP course does not fully prepare the students to embark on their studies because it does not sufficiently consider learners’ speaking needs

Multicultural education is a product of the impact of the globalization on education. Further, a factor with a main role in EFL teaching and learning is teacher effectiveness which has a significant place in the World educational programs. The present study sought to explore Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions of pluralistic teacher effectiveness. In line with the objective of the present study, the basic interpretive design within a qualitative paradigm. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 40 Iranian (20 males and 20 females) EFL teachers teaching in public high schools in different Iranian provinces. They were conveniently selected from among those teachers who were members of virtual groups and channels. To collect the required data, a semi-structured interview was implemented. Data analysis was done via qualitative thematic analysis. As revealed by the results, the following perceptions were extracted concerning pluralistic teacher effectiveness: Having Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication with Learners; Recognizing Differences among Students’ Learning Strategies; Having Preliminary Knowledge of Different Subjects; Taking Advantage of Different Teaching Methods; Showing Respect and Attention to all Students; Teaching Ruminatively; Having Accountability and Responsibility; Generating a Conducive Class Atmosphere; Using Technology; Using Motivational Strategies; Using Various Evaluation Methods; and Building a Fair Classroom.

This study aimed to compare the effects of Automated Writing Evaluation Feedback (AWEF) and Peer Feedback (PF) on the development of self-regulation in writing among Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. The participants consisted of 58 intermediate-level Persian-speaking English learners, aged 25 to 30, enrolled in two intact IELTS preparation classes at a private language institute in Tehran. The learners were assigned into two experimental groups: one group (n = 30) received peer feedback, while the other (n = 28) received automated feedback through ProWritingAid. To assess the impact of these interventions, data were collected using the Writing Strategies for Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire (WSSRLQ), semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. Quantitative analysis using independent samples t-tests revealed significant improvements in self-regulation scores for both groups post-intervention, with the AWEF group showing a significantly greater increase. Qualitative analysis of interview and observation data further supported these findings, indicating that AWEF participants engaged in more structured and proactive revision practices, while PF participants developed greater reflective awareness and emotional resilience through collaborative interaction. Triangulated results confirmed that both feedback types positively influenced self-regulated writing behaviors, with AWEF demonstrating a stronger overall impact.

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) education has gained prominence as a specialized field designed to address the distinct linguistic needs of learners. Although AI-enhanced instruction has been investigated within general English language learning, its implementation in ESP contexts particularly concerning vocabulary recall and retention has remained insufficiently explored. This study sought to evaluate the impact of AI-supported instruction on vocabulary recall and retention among Iranian ESP learners. Based on non-random convenience sampling, a total of 48 undergraduate students in an ESP course from a university in a southeastern province in Iran participated in the present quasi-experimental study. The participants were non-randomly assigned into two different groups: an experimental group (n=24) receiving AI-powered vocabulary instruction through Diffit, and a control group (n=24) receiving traditional print-based vocabulary instruction. Data were collected during a twelve-week intervention through AI-powered instruction of ESP vocabulary. To address the research questions, a univariate repeated measures analysis of covariate (ANCOVA) was employed. Findings revealed that AI-enhanced instruction significantly improved vocabulary recall and retention among ESP learners. The results offer robust evidence supporting the efficacy of AI-based instructional approaches in enhancing vocabulary learning outcomes within ESP settings.