This study investigated Iranian high school teachers' conceptions of effective teaching and examined the relationship of those conceptions to their teaching practices. The authors tried to achieve the purpose through questionnaires, observation, and interview. These teachers identified "being student-focused" and "being…

The present study aimed to examine whether agent-based instruction would privilege English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners any better than mainstream approaches (e.g. analogical reasoning, guessing from context, image formation, semantic analysis, etc.) when it comes to the teaching of English idioms. It also sought to explore whether…

An experimental design was adopted in the present study to cross-compare the effect of two formative assessments, namely peer assessment (PA) and teacher assessment (TA), with summative assessment (SA) on the improvement of language learners' writing skill and self-efficacy. Writing excellence was operationalized by structural (grammar), lexical…

Situated in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context, this study navigates the intersection of language learner identity and foreign language engagement. Specifically, drawing on the concept of voice (Canagarajah, 2013; Johnstone, 1996; Kramsch, 2003), Bakhtin's (1981) theory of language, and the notion of investment (Darvin & Norton,…

This study probed the conceptualization of authenticity in teaching and its link to teachers' emotional life through critical emotional praxis because emotions are integral to discovering who we really are (McCarthy, E. D. 2009. "Emotional Performances as Dramas of Authenticity." In "Authenticity in Culture, Self, and Society,"…

Research on the impact of peer education (PE) on learning outcomes has produced inconclusive results, partly due to the methodology employed in such studies. There is a necessity to design blind, controlled studies. Further, quantitative approaches to evaluating PE may not provide a complete picture of the impact of PE on learning outcomes. The…

In spite of the existence of several educational resources in the field of language teaching as well as the quick growth of advanced technologies, educational textbooks still play a major role. This explains the significance of designing and evaluating textbooks in countries where language instruction is highly textbook-oriented. The present paper…

This mixed-method study investigated the language teachers' opinions on the inclusion of the principles of Participatory Approach in language classroom settings in Iran. Applying both quantitative and qualitative approaches of data collection procedures, the study explored the language teachers' attitude, on the perceived importance and use of the…

Using a grounded theory approach to the study of historical texts and an expert interview, this study investigates culturally embedded conceptions of giftedness as evidenced in one of the most important Iranian literary canons, "The Gulistan", to guide the development of education and programming for gifted and talented students in Iran.…

Teacher reflection is a salient activity which can assist teachers in getting a critical view about their effective teaching (Loughran, 2010). Among various factors that influence the teachers' reflection, teacher's Pedagogical Knowledge Base (PKB) can be considered of great significance. The current study sought to investigate the relationship…

In this interview, Dr. Ozen Guven talks to Dr. Mary Mendenhall, Sonia Gomez, and Emily Varni about their research on teachers and teaching practices in contexts of forced displacement. Mendenhall, Gomez, and Varni recently authored "Teaching Amidst Conflict and Displacement: Persistent Challenges and Promising Practices for Refugee,…

The improvement of mental health has been given considerable attention in educational settings since more than four decades. Accordingly, many programs were developed with the purpose of enabling children not only to deal with educational issues, but also to resolve their psychosocial problems. This study used an Explanatory Mixed-Methods Research…

An Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) may be evaluated either during the interview procedure (direct-method) or from a tape-made oral interaction (semi-direct method). Such variety in methods of assessment can influence test takers' scores extensively. However, it is not conclusive whether such differences are due to test format or something else.…

Over the past decades, there has been an increasing tendency to incorporate new technologies in language education. Although EFL students and teachers are accustomed to using new technologies in their everyday life, they may not be well aware of such assets in education. This qualitative study aimed at investigating how Iranian B.A. English…

The present study aims at investigating barriers upon development of virtual education in engineering majors at the University of Isfahan. The study has applied a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) and its population consists all of the department members of the technical and engineering majors at the University of Isfahan including 125…