Foreign Languages
Abutaleb Iranmehr; Seyyed Ali Ostvar Namaghi; Hossein Davari
Abstract
English language teaching in MA level, which is considered as one of the most popular majors in the Iranian academic setting with a five-decade life, has experienced three programs so far. The latest program, which was adopted in 2016 by the Council for the Transformation and Promotion of the Humanities, ...
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English language teaching in MA level, which is considered as one of the most popular majors in the Iranian academic setting with a five-decade life, has experienced three programs so far. The latest program, which was adopted in 2016 by the Council for the Transformation and Promotion of the Humanities, became operational from the beginning of the 2017-18 academic year, after three decades of the implementation of the second program, and is supposed to be revised after five years. Due to the importance of such a belated change in the program, this article attempts to critically examine and analyze the views of twelve faculty members working in state universities, which are operating this field of study, through participatory model. The findings, which have been analyzed in three categories including a) course titles, b) syllabi, and c) resources, indicate that in addition to the significant advantages of the new program in terms of attention to new subjects, revision of goals and syllabi, more attention to the Iranian context, etc., there are still noticeable shortcomings such as course titles, the selection and presentation of the syllabi as well as the suggested resources. Based on the findings, the authors conclude that the micro and macro goals of the program will not be achieved without due attention to such weaknesses. Finally, some suggestions have been proposed regarding the revision and improvement of the program.
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.
Linguistics and Ancient Languages
Reza Pishghadam; Atena Attaran
Volume 16, Issue 41 , January 2017, , Pages 83-97
Abstract
One of the major sources of psychology in the field of teaching English as foreign language in Iranian universities is a book named The Psychology of the Language Learner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition written by Zoltan Dornyei. The book was first published in 2005 and ...
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One of the major sources of psychology in the field of teaching English as foreign language in Iranian universities is a book named The Psychology of the Language Learner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition written by Zoltan Dornyei. The book was first published in 2005 and was later revised in 2015 and published by Routledge. This study thus aims to analyze this book critically due to the importance of psychological issues in teaching English as foreign language. The findings suggested that although Dornyei established a coherent framework for his book, he ignored the socio-cultural effects of society on learners’ psychological aspects. Additionally, they were some concepts, including emotional intelligence, which were left untouched in his book. Finally, the philosophical aspects of concepts being discussed within the book were not addressed or even challenged. Generally speaking, the books limited itself to western studies ignored, the social and cultural elements, and avoided challenging the concepts which can limit readers’ understanding.
Foreign Languages
Amir Zand-Moghadam; Arya RahimiGolkhandan
Volume 15, Issue 36 , November 2015, , Pages 77-104
Abstract
Abstract In line with the recent developments in English language teaching in the Iranian context and the changes in schools’ textbooks and materials, the present study aimed to evaluate English for Schools (Prospect 1; Junior Secondary Program) from the viewpoint of task-based language teaching ...
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Abstract In line with the recent developments in English language teaching in the Iranian context and the changes in schools’ textbooks and materials, the present study aimed to evaluate English for Schools (Prospect 1; Junior Secondary Program) from the viewpoint of task-based language teaching and syllabus design. To this end, Ellis’s (2003) general task framework was utilized. Exercises in all eight lessons of the book were analyzed based on this framework and afterwards, based on the given criteria, their nature was studied. The findings showed that only 16 out of a total of 57 exercises (28%) had a task-based structure/design. Thus, it can be claimed that the book’s design does not follow a task-based approach. Failure to use authentic input, scarcity of interactions opportunities between students, and numerous exercises (drills) which lacked useful outcomes can be counted as the main reasons for the gap between this publication’s design from a task-based approach and its eventual lack of efficiency.
