Journal of New Trends in English Language Learning
Volume:3 Issue: 2, Jun 2024

Although many studies have documented the impact of fairness on enhancing students’ learning, only a few have been done in language learning situation in general and in the Iranian EFL context, in particular. Therefore, this study sought to investigate fairness in the context of the Iranian General English University Entrance Examination (Konkoor) to see the extent to which it is a fair measure of the candidates’ English language ability in terms of admission requirements, format, structure, and content. The researchers developed a questionnaire called EUEE, containing two sections: a demographic box and close-ended items with a 5-point Likert-type scale asking respondents to express their opinions. The findings showed that while the majority of respondents agreed that the EUEE met the standards of corporate responsibility and no-test product services, there were significant concerns about its validity, fairness, reliability, test design, equating, linking, norming, cut score, test administration, scoring, reporting, and test takers’ rights and responsibilities.

This research investigated the perceptions of Iranian EFL students regarding the use of Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools and explored the aspects the tools that contributed to their proficiency development. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative design was adopted to fulfil the objectives of the study by concerning a focus-group interview and a self-report questionnaire for which a total number of 112 students majoring in translation studies were purposively selected. The participants, enrolled in translation programs at various universities across Iran, represented diverse backgrounds, language pairs, and levels of experience. The study commenced with focus group interviews with a subset of participants to gather in-depth insights into their experiences and attitudes towards CAT tools. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data collected from the interviews. With reference to the data gathered through the interviews, an adapted thematic-based Likert scale questionnaire was applied to assess participants' perceptions of CAT tools considering usage patterns, perceived benefits and challenges. The questionnaire was cross-validated according to the first phase data analysis using Cronbach’s Alpha. The findings revealed that students held a generally positive perception of CAT tools, recognizing their potential in enhancing translation proficiency development. CAT tools were identified as effective tools for increasing productivity and efficiency, ensuring improved consistency in translations, saving time and costs, enhancing quality assurance, and facilitating collaboration and teamwork. The study suggested pedagogical implications for translation education via integrating CAT tool training into the curriculum for a better preparation of the students to meet their proficient and professional demands.

The current study sought to investigate, from the perspectives of male and female English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers, the relationships between gender identity and the success of EFL teachers. In order to achieve this goal, 420 EFL teachers—200 men and 220 women—participated in the study. The teachers were delivering English instruction at several language schools located in Alborz and Tehran. Convenience sampling was used to choose the participants. The design used in this study was correlational. The participants were given the Masculinity/Femininity Scale and the Characteristics of Successful Iranian EFL Teachers Scale to gather data. The participants completed the scales over the course of a month. Following data collection, the data was analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation technique. The results demonstrated a significant relationship between gender identity and the success of male and female teachers. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study.

This study explores the efficacy of cognitive and metacognitive strategy instruction in enhancing the writing cognitive processes of Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Utilizing various instructional approaches, including scaffolded metacognitive instruction and writing metacognitive strategies, the research investigates the effects on learners’ metacognitive awareness and writing accuracy. Research on cognitive-oriented writing is a young but growing field. The current mixed methods study explored the extent to which brainstorming, focus on form (FonF), and metacognitive strategy instruction could affect cognitive processes (planning, translating, revising) of Iranian EFL learners. The participants were 150 BA learners in three intact classes majoring in English language translation at IAU, Islamshahr Branch. During 16 sessions, each group experienced brainstorming, metacognitive strategy instruction, or FonF activities as pre-task conditions. Writing pretest and posttest, and semi-structured interview were utilized to collect the data. The results obtained from one-way ANOVA revealed that pre-task conditions statistically impacted the cognitive processes of learners’ writings. The findings suggest a positive correlation between strategic knowledge, metacognitive strategies, and improved writing skills among Iranian EFL learners. The study not only contributes to the understanding of the interplay between cognitive and metacognitive processes in language learning but also provides valuable insights for educators aiming to enhance writing proficiency in EFL settings.

The term ''identity'' which refers to one's rights, equality and dignity, equal opportunity in work and education and equal pay, emerged in the United States in the mid-twentieth century in the context of immigration, social change, and emancipator movements. This study examines the distinctive ways in which contemporary black female authors have employed speculative fiction to portray diasporic identities in their female protagonists. The novels examined in this study offer new ways of conceptualizing the connection between cultural trauma and society and ultimately by giving voice, choice and identity, have tried to empower their characters to take a stand against male operation and discover a sense of selfhood. The findings indicate an identity pattern and ways of reshaping the identity, voice and healing during and after traumas distinct to the Afrodiasporic community in the female protagonists.

Professional identity constitutes a main part of the English language teaching (ELT) system. This study aimed at investigating and comparing male and female novice and experienced EFL teachers’ expected and feared possible selves. In so doing, a sequential exploratory mixed methods design was used. The target population of the study included all male and female EFL teachers teaching at private language institutes of Iran. The sample of the study included a total number of 30 (15 males and 15 females) EFL teachers from private language institutes in different provinces of Iran through available sampling. Fifteen teachers were categorized as novice teachers (those with 1-5 years of teaching experience) and fifteen ones as experienced teachers (those with more than 5 years of teaching experience). To collect the data, a written reflective journal was used. The collected data were analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis. The results showed that the following expected possible selves were identified for novice and experienced EFL teachers: Professional Improvement, Enthusiasm to Learn Teaching Online, Building Warm Relations with Students, and Seeking to Learn New Teaching Methods. Moreover, the following feared possible selves were identified for novice and experienced EFL teachers: Being Known as an Unsuccessful Teacher, Lack of Ability to Manage Students, Being Exhausted, and Losing Job Satisfaction. Moreover, the results showed that experienced and novice EFL teachers do not significantly differ regarding their expected and feared possible selves. Finally, it was shown that male and female EFL teachers do not significantly differ regarding their expected and feared possible selves. The results have implications for EFL teachers, teacher education curriculum planners, teacher trainers and future researchers.

Metaphors play an important role in language learning. Previous research has shown that Iranian EFL learners often struggle with the use and comprehension of metaphors in English, which can hinder their overall language proficiency. In recent years, technology-based instruction has gained popularity in language learning, and many studies have investigated its effectiveness in improving learners' language skills. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of technology-based instruction on learners' metaphorical competence. The present study aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact of technology-based instruction on the improvement of Iranian EFL learners' metaphorical competence. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental design was employed, with two groups of participants: an experimental group (n=30) who received technology-based instruction on metaphors, and a control group (n=30) who received traditional instruction. Data were collected using a pre-test and a post-test, which measured participants' metaphorical competence and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests. The results demonstrated that the experimental group outperformed the control group in post-test scores, indicating that technology-based instruction was effective in improving Iranian EFL learners' metaphorical competence. Implications for language teaching and learning are discussed.

The goal of this study was to see how technology affected EFL students' interaction and satisfaction during the COVID-19 outbreak when they were learning in online classes. Following the identification of the study's homogeneous participants, the participants were exposed to two types of treatment, namely, online through the platform of Sky Room and face-to-face, traditional education. The treatment lasted for 10 sessions, 60 min each. In order to investigate the participants’ satisfaction, the satisfaction scale developed by Wu et al. (2010) was administered among the participants at the end of the treatment. In addition, to investigate the effect of online education on EFL learners’ interaction, the interaction scale established by (Karaman, 2015) was run among the participants after the treatment. The results of the Chi-square test revealed a significant difference between the interaction and satisfaction levels of the participants in online and traditional classes with the interaction and satisfaction levels being higher in online classes. The results have pedagogical implications for policymakers as well as practitioners.