Foreign Languages
Reza Taherkhani; Hashem Sharafi
Abstract
Since textbooks are one of the main learning resources in any curriculum, evaluating them for the benefit of the author and the audience, as well as their effect on students’ performance is an essential and valuable undertaking. This article evaluates English for the Students of Fabric and Garment ...
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Since textbooks are one of the main learning resources in any curriculum, evaluating them for the benefit of the author and the audience, as well as their effect on students’ performance is an essential and valuable undertaking. This article evaluates English for the Students of Fabric and Garment Design and Sewing Technology book authored by Akram Nasher (2017), from English for Specific Purposes (ESP) books series. To this end, the book was evaluated based on Mahmoodi and Ahmadisafa’s model (1393). Also, according to the model and for the purpose of gaining experts’ views in the field, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with three Fabric and Garment Design experts from Art, Al-Zahra and Science and Culture Universities of Tehran. The results indicated that despite problems and shortcomings in the texts, exercises and activities, the book has enough educational adequacy and can be used as a source of Specific English. At the same time; however, it requires serious revision in order to eliminate the existing deficiencies. To fulfill this need, the researchers and experts have made useful suggestions
Foreign Languages
Reza Taherkhani; Fateme Mottaghi
Abstract
Globalization has led to changes in the conceptual meaning of culture, one of which is the perception of people towards language in EFL contexts. Critical evaluation of teaching materials is a vital step in improving the status of the books, especially for the future. Therefore, the current study aims ...
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Globalization has led to changes in the conceptual meaning of culture, one of which is the perception of people towards language in EFL contexts. Critical evaluation of teaching materials is a vital step in improving the status of the books, especially for the future. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the English book entitled «Prospect 2» in terms of its cultural aspects. This newly-published book is used to teach English for 8th graders in Iran. In this study, experienced English teachers in Hamedan were interviewed, using Kilickaya's (2004) questions. The results were qualitatively analyzed using Dörnyei's (2007) model. The results revealed that this book is localized to a considerable degree, and the cultural aspects of the book are about the local culture of Iran. Consequently, considering the interrelationship between language and culture, totally omitting the cultural features of the language would lead to incomplete knowledge of the language students are learning.
Foreign Languages
Reza Taherkhani; Mahsa Bayat; Shabnam Ghasemi
Abstract
Evaluation of teaching materials has a significant impact on the development and implementation of educational programs and it is by means of evaluation that course book developers and instructors can judge the influence of materials. The current study, using mixed method, evaluated third year high school ...
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Evaluation of teaching materials has a significant impact on the development and implementation of educational programs and it is by means of evaluation that course book developers and instructors can judge the influence of materials. The current study, using mixed method, evaluated third year high school English course book i.e. Prospect 3. 83 teachers and 470 students of this grade participated in the study, nationwide, to complete the questionnaires. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts under study, 10 teachers were also interviewed. The data collected by questionnaires were analyzed using two separate descriptive statistics. The results of two multiple regression analyses revealed that for teachers the component of skills and for students the components of practices and activities were the stronger predictors of book evaluation. It could be concluded that taking these results into account helps instructors to have a clear critical evaluation of the book and to devise a more comprehensive lesson plan.
Foreign Languages
Reza Taherkhani; Rahime Karbakhsh Ravari; Robab Zamani Jamshidi
Volume 18, Issue 8 , December 2018, , Pages 231-253
Abstract
Critical evaluation of language learning books is a vital step in a successful curriculum. The need is especially conspicuous for newly-published materials. Consequently, the present paper tried to explore and evaluate the ESP book entitled English for the Students of Sociology recently written ...
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Critical evaluation of language learning books is a vital step in a successful curriculum. The need is especially conspicuous for newly-published materials. Consequently, the present paper tried to explore and evaluate the ESP book entitled English for the Students of Sociology recently written by Mohammad Hossein Kesharvarz and Musa Nushi Kochaksaraie and published by SAMT in 2016. The paper critically examined the overall pedagogical value and suitability of the book. To achieve this goal, the book was evaluated based on Mahmoodi and Ahmadi Safa’s (2015) model. Semi-structured interviews based on the model were also conducted to delve into content teachers’ perspectives who were specialists in sociology. Seven experts in the field of sociology from Bu-Ali Sina, Ilam and Guilan universities were interviewed by the researchers. The results showed that the new book has improved quite dramatically compared to the previous book published by SAMT. Moreover, the findings revealed that in spite of some deficiencies in the selection of the activities, exercises, and texts, the book is suitable and can be used as an ESP source. The researchers provide some useful suggestions for improving the shortcomings of the book.
History
Reza Taherkhani; Mohammad sepehri
Volume 18, Issue 1 , April 2018, , Pages 235-257
Abstract
There are not enough main references and contexts related to Aghkoyunlular era despite political and cultural revolution of Iran in their sovereignty in the second part of ninth century AH and whatever had been recognized until now is not published critically. The works have been compiled in the Field ...
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There are not enough main references and contexts related to Aghkoyunlular era despite political and cultural revolution of Iran in their sovereignty in the second part of ninth century AH and whatever had been recognized until now is not published critically. The works have been compiled in the Field of Historiography in this era, which was a continuation of simple writing through late seventh century AH. Historians’ works of this era are synthetic and technical. The writers have exaggerated about the praise of Aghkoyunlular Turkmen, and they have called them the best Islamic governors of the era. The histories of this era are complementary of one another and its historiography is based on personal observations and documentaries of that era. Therefor, It is so important, so the main question of the present study is to see what the strong and weak points of Aghkoyunlulars historians works are. It is seen that the present study could determine the principles, cosmology rules, strong and weak points of Historiography of this era. Descriptive–analytical method was used in this study.
Foreign Languages
Reza Taherkhani; Seyyed Amir Afzali Mir; Afshin Malmir; Arash Mosalsal; Zahra Montazeri
Volume 17, Issue 7 , January 2018, , Pages 77-91
Abstract
Studying and reviewing textbooks can be considered essential steps in any curriculum. Therefore, the present nationwide study evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the book "English for 10th Degree of High School Students". So, 400 students and 40 teachers of the 10th degree from Hamedan, ...
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Studying and reviewing textbooks can be considered essential steps in any curriculum. Therefore, the present nationwide study evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the book "English for 10th Degree of High School Students". So, 400 students and 40 teachers of the 10th degree from Hamedan, Mashhad, Rasht, and Ahvaz participated in this research by completing the questionnaire developed by Abdolvahab (2013). In order to confirm the validity and reliability of the research instrument, first, the mentioned questionnaire in the scale of 100 students and 30 teachers was tested so that the reliability or Cronbach's alpha was equal to 0.86, and its validity was proved by Factor Analysis. According to the results, teachers found the book appropriate regarding the themes and content; however, they regarded the appearance and the sociocultural aspects of the book weak. The students believed that the book is suitable in terms of its content, themes, and appearance. But, they believed the book is to some extent weak considering the listening skill and the sociocultural aspects. It can be concluded that, generally, the book is successful based on the appearance and application, in achieving its goals, content, and language skills, and it has attracted the attention of both teachers and students respectively.
