Iranian learners

Dynamic assessment (DA) which is rooted in Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory involves the integration of instruction and assessment in a dialectical way to achieve two main purposes: enhancing learners' development and understanding about their learning potential. However, the feasibility and appropriateness of mediation are two main concerns of DA. The former is concerned with the application of DA for a large number of students, while the latter is concerned with providing test takers with appropriate hints. The purpose of the current study was three-fold: to examine the difference between dynamic and nondynamic tests, to understand about test takers' potential for learning, and to find out how mediation works for high and low ability students. To achieve these aims, computer software was developed. The software is capable of both providing the test takers with graduated hints for each item automatically, and adapting the overall difficulty level of the test to the test takers' proficiency level. To test the efficiency of the software in employing dynamic assessment, 83 Iranian university students participated in the study. The results of the study indicated that the computerized dynamic test made significant contribution both to enhancing students' grammar ability and to obtaining information about their potential for learning. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the use of dynamic assessment can simultaneously lead to the development of the test takers' ability and provide a more comprehensive picture of learning potential. Accordingly, teachers are recommended to use dynamic assessment to make more informed decisions about their students.

This study was undertaken to cast light over EFL learners' perception of culture. To that end, a group of English language learners was taught English through Interchange Series and their perception of culture was assessed using a researcher constructed questionnaire. The same questionnaire was also administered to the parents of the same learners to detect any probable differences. The results revealed that the EFL learners are largely distinct from their parents in perceptions of the designated cultural issues. While EFL learners were oriented towards Western Culture, their parents were lopsided towards domestic issues.

This research study aims to investigate the motivation behind Iranian EFL learners' desire to learn English, with a specific focus on the political and socio-economic factors that influence them. The study takes into account the changing political and social landscape in Iran, which has been shaped by globalization and advancements in information and communication technology (ICT). In order to gain a deeper understanding of the driving forces behind Iranian EFL learners' English language acquisition, the researcher conducted interviews with thirty participants who had been studying English for approximately 3 to 6 years. The interviews were transcribed and the data was then analyzed using a systematic approach, including open, axial, and selective coding. The resulting model identified seven factors and twenty-seven categories that contribute to language motivation. These seven factors were a) The government’s foreign and economic policy, b) Transfer of religious and national ideology and patriotism, c) Academic and occupational aspirations, d) Improving social life, e) Fear of failure, f) International posture, and g) IT advancements. This model can serve as a valuable resource for informing future educational policies and curriculum development in Iran.

This study examined Iranian EFL learners’ perceptions of L1 (Persian) pre-task planning on speaking performance—specifically accuracy, fluency, and complexity—within a Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) framework. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted, collecting quantitative and qualitative data concurrently to provide a holistic view. Quantitative data were gathered via a 15-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 100 intermediate learners, selected through convenience sampling from three Hormozgan language institutes, following two counterbalanced oral-opinion tasks in a 60-minute session. Qualitative data were collected simultaneously through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, purposively chosen from the questionnaire respondents based on diverse perception scores to enrich insights, conducted within 1–2 days. Quantitative analysis, employing descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, showed a strong L1 planning preference, boosting accuracy and fluency, while thematic analysis of interviews highlighted enhanced confidence with L1 and L2 transition difficulties, with complexity perceptions mixed. Integrating these findings, L1 planning supports immediate oral proficiency and reduces anxiety in Iran’s low-exposure EFL context, though L2 proficiency limits complexity. These findings align with Cognitive Load Theory and Sociocultural Theory, offering context-specific pedagogical insights for incorporating L1 planning in TBLT practices while underscoring the need for strategies to bolster L2 complexity.

This paper explores how the application of desirable difficulties—spacing, interleaving, retrieval, and generative learning—affects long‑term retention and productive performance among Iranian learners of German as a Foreign Language (GFL). Building on a cognitive framework that distinguishes the durability of stored knowledge from its momentary accessibility, the study adopted a mixed‑methods design with A1‑level learners from Tehran. A total of twenty participants (N = 20) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 10) receiving instruction based on desirable difficulties and a control group (n = 10) following massed‑practice routines. Quantitative analysis showed that the experimental group had significantly higher retention and production skills scores in the delayed post-tests, and the results were statistically significant (p < 0.01). Qualitative data derived from semi‑structured interviews with six volunteer learners from the experimental group indicated that participants associated increased cognitive challenge with deeper understanding and enhanced motivation. The results show that including challenging but beneficial activities helps make language knowledge more lasting and easier to use in different situations. This offers support for the idea of using spaced retrieval and interleaved practice in teaching foreign languages in a structured way to help learners develop strong and long-term language skills.