Applied Linguistics Inquiry (ALI)

The present study aimed at addressing ESP instructors' perspectives towards ESP learners' needs at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). That is, we sought to investigate whether or not the learners’ needs in ESP classes are met satisfactorily. Using census rather than sampling, a total number of 10 ESP instructors were selected as the participants. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant individually. The results obtained from the interviews yielded 13 dominant themes. It was revealed that instructor-oriented themes were mainly concerned with perceived/felt needs, subject specialists/language instructors, a-priori/negotiated syllabus, team teaching/solitary teaching, instructors as suppressors of needs, receptive/productive skills, transmissive/transformative instructors, and positive/negative reinforcement. However, students' unheard voices in material selection, sense of belonging to the class, students' ratings of instruction and heterogenous/homogenous class groupings were mainly associated with student-oriented themes. Finally, content gradation was found to be associated with coursebook/material-oriented theme. Each of the recognized themes played either a facilitating or hindering role in making learners' needs met. Henceforth, delving into the role of such themes in ESP classes would open new insights into the instructors' viewpoints towards their leaners' needs. The frequency of the retrieved themes was a sign of commonality and generalizability among the majority of instructors; however, the indirect and unidimensional analysis of learners' needs could be remedied by inspecting the learners' actual needs through their own perspectives in future studies

Since writing abilities in both Persian and English are still underdeveloped among emergent multilinguals, it is essential to provide a pedagogy that addresses this need. Hence, this study aimed to investigate how language teachers develop a pedagogical translanguaging space within the Iranian multilingual context of writing classrooms. Participants in this study were eight language teachers from various provinces of Iran, where at least one indigenous language is spoken. The participants were asked to participate in a narrative inquiry session, where they shared their experiences of implementing translanguaging strategies for teaching writing. Transcendental phenomenology was used as the method, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings suggested strategies, such as artefact scaffolding where teachers ask students to use Google Translate Application to complete a composition and then edit it with peers and multilingual brainstorming to activate prior knowledge and also tasks such as bilingual writing in which students need to write a local story in Persian and a foreigner story in English, designed to enhance students' writing abilities in both Persian and English. This study offered a pedagogy leveraging students' linguistic repertoire through translanguaging strategies to enhance writing ability across multiple languages, fostering an inclusive educational environment that values diverse linguistic backgrounds. Teachers and teacher trainers can implement the recommended strategies and tasks in their classes and workshops.

Critical pedagogy places a significant emphasis on dialogue due to its transformative potential within educational settings. This approach fosters critical thinking, self-reflection, and empowerment among students, encouraging them to engage deeply with the material and question underlying assumptions. While research in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts has delved into the application of critical dialogue, there has been a notable gap in understanding how teachers perceive and implement this approach in their classrooms. This study seeks to address this gap by collecting data through ethnographic interviews with 22 teachers over three months. Data analysis was then conducted using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Results showed that for critical dialogic teaching to be effective, two essential conditions should be met: (1) the presence of a critical dialogical teacher who embodies characteristics such as openness, mediation, and the ability to create a supportive environment, and (2) the use of specific strategies, such as authentic tasks, group work, and technology, to foster engagement and diverse perspectives. These findings have significant implications for language education, highlighting the need for teacher training that supports the development of dialogical teaching practices, promotes inclusive classroom environments, and empowers students to engage critically with both language and content. The study also underscores the importance of addressing the cultural and contextual factors that influence how critical dialogue is perceived and implemented by teachers in EFL settings.

Emotions are important in the educational processes, influencing teachers' interactions while trying to teach in real and online classes. Therefore, this study investigated the transitional emotions experienced by English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers as they shifted from real/in-person classroom settings to online teaching, using an emotional geography model. Moreover, we aimed to explore the emotion regulation strategies that they used during their transitioning. Following a descriptive narrative design, we probed the transitional emotions of 10 Iranian EFL teachers while transitioning from real to online classrooms. The findings of the thematic analysis showed five key themes. First, physical geography may enhance cognitive change, resulting in positive emotions. Second, issues with the internet negatively impact classroom quality, leading to negative emotions. Third, situational modifications may help teachers adapt and meet their instructional needs amidst online challenges. Fourth, attentional deployment may serve as a strategy for improving professional geography. Lastly, situation selection and response modulation may aid in the development of moral and socio-cultural geography. These themes illustrate the interconnection between emotion regulation strategies and geographical models of emotions, highlighting their importance in transitioning from real to online teaching. Therefore, we concluded that emotion regulation strategies were helpful in solving the challenges that EFL teachers faced concerning their transitional emotions.

Research on stress-causing variables in the teaching profession often documents an interplay between teacher burnout and its correlates. This study brings forth concerns about the contribution of teacher/school climate, job satisfaction and self-efficacy as the hypothesized predictors of occupational burnout among EFL teachers. Using multiple regression analyses, a descriptive correlational model was examined against the survey data collected from a sample of 198 Iranian EFL teachers. The results showed significant inverse relations between dimensions of teacher/school climate and dimensions of burnout, showing teacher/school climate as a significant negative predictor of burnout (p <.05, R2=.20, β=-.447). The results also revealed the significant role of teacher satisfaction and teacher self-efficacy in predicting aspects of burnout (p <.05). The two variables were also found as mediator of the effect of teaching climate on dimensions of burnout, showing a perspective of interaction between contextual factors and individual resources. Given the effects of teacher/school contextual stressors and their direct or indirect influence on teachers’ vulnerability to burnout syndrome, the implications of the findings are discussed in view of teacher training and intervention programs.

The study of the symbiotic relationship between language and culture, along with the call for a rigorous theory and systematic investigative framework, has been a longstanding pursuit. In the past decade or so, Sharifian’s Cultural Linguistics (CL) has demonstrated its potential as a robust theoretical framework and a sharply honed investigative, analytical instrument with a multidisciplinary origin (including English as an International Language (EIL) to explore the interplay between language and culture. The present paper aimed at reviewing the applications of the CL approach and methodology in language-related studies. Arguing for the evolving role of culture in language education and research in the era of (post)digital revolution, this paper attempted to demonstrate the insights the theoretical and analytical frameworks of CL could bring to the realm of language teaching and learning. In so doing, as a starting point, the paper provides a concise overview of the principles and practices of the relatively novel interdisciplinary field of CL. First, the theoretical frameworks of the CL approach are described. This is followed by an explanation of the analytical frameworks of the CL methodology. Finally, some critical reflections on the CL’s approach and methodology are offered. This synopsis is then followed by a state-of-the-art account of the application of CL in language-related studies in the era of (post)digital revolution. The paper concludes with the future directions in such an interdisciplinary venture.

The dynamic world of international policing necessitates seamless communication between officers from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Interpol, the world's largest international police organization, exemplifies this environment. Understanding how politeness strategies are employed within this context is crucial for fostering effective collaboration and information exchange. Due to this significance, the present study investigated the politeness strategies used in emails of L1 and L2 user English-speaking police officers of Interpol. To this end, 100 emails composed by L1 and L2 police officers were obtained from the Interpol office in Tehran, Iran, and the frequency of politeness strategies was calculated by two professional raters. The Chi-square test did not reveal a statistically significant difference in the overall application of politeness strategies between L1 and L2 officers. However, the analysis of individual strategies highlighted some clear variations in usage patterns: L1 user officers employed more politeness strategies than their L2 user counterparts. In addition, the findings revealed that both groups used negative politeness strategies more often than positive strategies. The findings of this study can help police training centers develop a better scope on what structures to focus on in their lesson plans to make their cadets ready to work in the international arena.

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into language development has garnered considerable interest, especially within the realm of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education. Psychological flow is regarded as a pivotal element that affects learning outcomes; however, its significance in the context of AI-assisted language learning has yet to be thoroughly investigated. This study examines the relationship between psychological flow induced by AI, tendencies of fortitude, mental health, and critical thinking among 214 university students enrolled in EFL programs who utilized AI-integrated language learning aids. Data were gathered via structured online surveys, and the relationships among the variables were examined utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings suggest that the psychological flow induced by AI has a substantial impact on learners' levels of fortitude, mental well-being, and critical thinking. The findings indicate that when learners engage in AI-assisted language learning and experience a state of flow, they exhibit elevated levels of perseverance, improved mental well-being, and enhanced critical thinking. These outcomes underscore the dual function of flow in AI-assisted language learning, as it not only augments learners' cognitive engagement but also fosters positive emotional states that are conducive to improved mental health and enhanced problem-solving abilities. The findings of the study possess significant pedagogical implications, indicating that AI-based platforms ought to be developed to promote a state of fluidity by integrating personalized learning trajectories, real-time feedback mechanisms, and engaging features.

Despite extensive research on factors influencing student engagement (SE) from a positive psychology perspective, the connection between adaptability and SE has been underexplored. The present study investigates the relationship between learners' adaptability, plurilingual and pluricultural competence (PPC), and SE in second language acquisition, guided by the PERMA model, which posits that well-being consists of Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (Seligman, 2018). The researchers employed stratified random sampling to collect data from 599 male and female Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. These students then completed questionnaires, including the PPC scale (Galante, 2022), the adaptability scale (Feng et al., 2005), and the SE scale (Lam et al., 2014). Findings have shown that adaptability significantly predicts enhanced PPC, which in turn fosters greater SE. However, analysis of covariate variables revealed that gender and age were not significant predictors of PPC. Grade was a significant predictor of engagement, and language background was a significant predictor of PPC. These results underscore the importance of integrating adaptability training and PPC development into EFL curricula to cultivate culturally responsive learning environments and enhance SE. Further research is needed to determine the moderating roles of demographic variables. This will contribute to a more engaged, adaptable, and globally competent student body, better prepared for success in diverse contexts.

The present study, using a sequential mixed-methods design, mainly aims at determining the extent to which teacher stroke and teacher time perspective contribute to teacher creativity. In doing so, the participants consisted of 110 EFL students from English private institutes in the quantitative phase of the study, and a pool of eight learners were selected to participate in the qualitative phase of the study. A number of instruments were used to measure teacher stroke, time perspective and creativity. To analyze the data, the Pearson moment-to-moment correlation, multiple regression, content-based categorization, and inter-coder reliability were used. The results revealed that there was a statistically significant association between teacher stroke and teacher creativity as well as between teacher time perspective and teacher creativity. Furthermore, the results of multiple regression determined that teacher time perspective was the most possible predictor of teacher creativity since this variable provided the most robust contribution to explaining teacher creativity. The results elicited from the responses to the interviews with the students provided nine themes including: positive feelings, energizer, motivation, time management, involvement, fun, active participation, self-confidence, and trying something new. Finally, a number of practical implications are offered from EFL teachers and students and some further suggestions are made.

Acknowledging translator’s agency, the present research argues what remains relatively under-explored in translation studies is how translators’ demographics and professional background closely interacts with their decision-making when it comes to book selection criteria. Therefore, this quantitative research examines whether professional factors of, among other things, translation experience, educational degree, significantly affect translators’ selection criteria for book translation in contemporary Iran. Based on a snowball sampling method, 248 professional translators answered a self-report questionnaire, which collected their professional data and measured their preferences based on a range of book selection criteria, including socio-cognitive considerations, externally driven motivations, success guarantee factors, translators’ authority and agency, internally driven motivations and publishers’ authority and agency. Results indicated that only translators’ educational background, experience, and field of study significantly predicted their book selection criteria. Further, their educational degree affected their book selection criteria, such as externally driven motivations, publishers’ authority and agency, success guarantee factors.

Teacher resilience and work engagement are critical factors in enhancing educational effectiveness and fostering a positive learning environment in today's rapidly evolving landscape of education. The present study aimed to find whether teacher resilience components (i.e., internal motivations, social skills, pedagogical skills, and contextual support) predict experienced Iranian EFL teachers’ work engagement (i.e., cognitive-physical engagement, emotional engagement, social engagement with colleagues, and social engagement with students). For this purpose, 200 novice and experienced Iranian EFL teachers were selected randomly, and the data were collected by the Engaged Teachers Scale and the English Language Teacher Resilience Instrument and analyzed by standard multiple regression. The regression analysis results for experienced teachers indicated that cognitive-physical engagement was predicted by internal motivation; emotional engagement was predicted by internal motivations, social skills, and pedagogical skills; and contextual support predicted the experienced teachers’ social engagement with colleagues. For novice teachers, internal motivations, social skills, and contextual support predicted cognitive-physical and emotional engagement. Furthermore, internal motivations and contextual support predicted their social engagement with students, and social engagement with colleagues was explained by social support. These results suggest that enhancing teacher resilience can lead to increased engagement levels, ultimately benefiting student learning experiences. Besides, the findings underscore the importance of providing support structures in educational settings to bolster teacher well-being and effectiveness. This study highlights the need for targeted interventions that focus on developing teachers' resilience and engagement, which could have lasting positive effects on the education system.