Dr. Reza Kafipour is a Ph.D. holder in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). He is a faculty member in the English department at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
This research examines students' beliefs about language learning by evaluating the measurement eq... more This research examines students' beliefs about language learning by evaluating the measurement equivalence of the beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI). The graded response model (GRM) was used to examine differential item functioning (DIF) in the BALLI across four different countries, namely: Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. The sample was drawn from 1613, including 500 males and 1113 females who completed the online version of the BALLI, comprising five subscales of beliefs about foreign language aptitude, the difficulty of language learning, the nature of language learning, learning and communication strategies, and motivations and expectations. Most BALLI items showed non-uniform DIF. This finding implies that students in different countries had different perceptions of the BALLI items. Therefore, researchers should be very cautious about using the BALLI in different countries. This cross-cultural comparison may generate new insights into revising the BALLI items or developing another scale to compare students' beliefs about language learning in different countries.
Exploring the relationship between academic achievement, creativity, multiple intelligences, and ... more Exploring the relationship between academic achievement, creativity, multiple intelligences, and motivation among Iranian medical students can provide valuable insights into their educational experiences and inform the development of effective strategies to enhance learning outcomes. This study investigated the relationship among Iranian medical students through a correlational-descriptive design. Participants included all 200 BA-level students of Islamic Azad University, Iran. The Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) in Persian, the Torrance Creative Thinking Test (TCTT) in Persian, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Questionnaire in Persian were used to collect data. The university archived their grade point averages (GPAs) to determine students' academic progress. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Goodness-of-Fit Test, descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation tests, and independent samples t-tests were used to examine the acquired data. The data analysis revealed a significant correlation between Iranian EFL learners' creativity, multiple intelligences, motivation, and academic success; creative learners outperformed non-creative learners in terms of academic achievement; extrinsic learners outperformed intrinsic learners in terms of academic achievement; the highest academic achievement was associated with the interpersonal intelligence profile, while the lowest academic achievement was associated with the intrinsic intelligence profile. The findings may provide insight to stakeholders in the field, such as curriculum planners, tutors, and policymakers, regarding the relationship between creativity, multiple intelligences, motivation, and academic achievement, as well as the importance of factoring this relationship into ELT program design.
Vocabulary and its appropriate use play a crucial role in second language learning and teaching.H... more Vocabulary and its appropriate use play a crucial role in second language learning and teaching.However, vocabulary acquisition in EFL education failed to receive the attention it deserved.Collocations have a significant role in EFL teaching and learning as they develop the learners’ proficiency with lexis. Lexical approach gives special attention to teaching and learning collocation. Although most of the studies have proved the significance of collocations, researchers have pointed out that collocations are a serious problem for second language learners and one of the difficult parts of vocabulary learning for them including advanced learners and professional translators and they always hesitate over which words go hand in hand with which correctly. This book therefore tries to investigate the impact and significance of knowledge of collocation all four language skills.The results of the study will direct teachers’ attention to focus on collocations, and it will present useful ways for teachers to implicate a better understanding of the nature of English collocations and their effect on four language skills.
The study highlights the presence of intolerance within the textbooks
used for Islamic education,... more The study highlights the presence of intolerance within the textbooks used for Islamic education, which has negative implications for peace and harmony. However, the understanding of this intolerance construction in the textbooks is currently limited. Therefore, this research aims to identify and analyze the intolerant values embedded within these textbooks’ language, content, and scenarios. The ultimate goal is to develop an action plan to prevent the dissemination of intolerance through the education system. To achieve this objective, qualitative methods such as content analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed to collect and analyze data. The study’s findings indicate the following: a) The textbooks used for Islamic education can foster and promote intolerant beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among students, who may mistakenly associate these with the teachings of Islam. b) The narratives promoting intolerance found within the textbooks result from negligence during the writing, reviewing, and editing processes. C) The development of new textbooks is necessary, and it should be a collaborative effort involving intellectuals, religious and cultural leaders, with a focus on promoting values of peace and social harmony. In conclusion, the study recommends a comprehensive mapping of the textbooks used in Islamic education at different education levels to identify and address any potential threats to peace. If strategically approached, Islamic education can serve as a platform for nurturing students’ moral foundations and fostering peaceful coexistence within society.
Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article o... more Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article offers a comprehensive plagiarism assessment rubric from a four-year study of analyzing students’ plagiarism. From qualitative analyses of 120 students’ paraphrase samples, we identified seven plagiarism dimensions and employed a five-point Likert-scale to rank each dimension’s severity. Then, we enlisted editors, reviewers, and research supervisors to refine the severity of the plagiarism dimensions to articulate a plagiarism spectrum. We produced a Plagiarism Scoring Rubric to categorize 127 plagiarism combinations out of the seven plagiarism dimensions’ composites. Finally, we described how the Plagiarism Scoring Rubric, accompanied by the severity indices, supports instructors in scoring students’ plagiarism and enables students to understand proper crediting of prior work better when citing and paraphrasing.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of role-play on the vocabulary learning and retention ... more This study aimed to investigate the impact of role-play on the vocabulary learning and retention of Iranian intermediate-level EFL learners. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was employed to achieve this objective. The study consisted of 50 male intermediate students who were conveniently selected as participants. The research instruments included an Oxford Placement Test (OPT), a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a delayed posttest. During the treatment period, the experimental and control groups attended 12 classes at the institute. The conditions were identical for both groups, except that roleplay was incorporated into the instructional approach for the experimental group while it was omitted for the control group. The findings indicated that role-play positively and significantly influenced the learners' vocabulary acquisition and long-term retention.
Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefor... more Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefore, any technique that can help promote vocabulary learning should be encouraged. The current study aimed to explore the effect of first-language translation on Iranian intermediate extroverted and introverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The authors chose 80 Iranian EFL learners using convenience sampling and applied a quasiexperimental design for the research. First, they administered the Oxford Placement Test, the Eysenck personality questionnaire, and a vocabulary pretest and posttest. Then, the treatment started using the first language to teach vocabulary to introverted and extroverted learners. The findings showed that first-language translation had a statistically significant effect on developing Iranian intermediate extroverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The results implied that the instructors could use L1 in teaching a language in general and vocabulary in specific as an effective strategy, just for extroverted learners, as it was found ineffective for introverted learners. Furthermore, the results showed that L1 translation as a learning strategy can be more effective for vocabulary learning by extrovert EFL learners than introverts. Therefore, it can be concluded that the learners' personality traits should be considered in teaching and learning vocabulary, but as a supplementary teaching strategy since using the first language was just effective for parts of the learners, extroverts.
Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefor... more Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefore, any technique that can help promote vocabulary learning should be encouraged. The current study aimed to explore the effect of first-language translation on Iranian intermediate extroverted and introverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The authors chose 80 Iranian EFL learners using convenience sampling and applied a quasiexperimental design for the research. First, they administered the Oxford Placement Test, the Eysenck personality questionnaire, and a vocabulary pretest and posttest. Then, the treatment started using the first language to teach vocabulary to introverted and extroverted learners. The findings showed that first-language translation had a statistically significant effect on developing Iranian intermediate extroverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The results implied that the instructors could use L1 in teaching a language in general and vocabulary in specific as an effective strategy, just for extroverted learners, as it was found ineffective for introverted learners. Furthermore, the results showed that L1 translation as a learning strategy can be more effective for vocabulary learning by extrovert EFL learners than introverts. Therefore, it can be concluded that the learners' personality traits should be considered in teaching and learning vocabulary, but as a supplementary teaching strategy since using the first language was just effective for parts of the learners, extroverts.
IntroductionTesting and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. Mo... more IntroductionTesting and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. Moreover, the ultimate goal of tests is to reinforce learning and motivate students. At the same time, instructors can gather information about learners’ current level of knowledge through assessment to revise and enhance their teaching. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Dynamic Assessment on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ speaking skills by considering language learners’ cognitive styles (field dependence and field independence).MethodsFor this purpose, 60 Iranian intermediate-level EFL female learners were selected through convenience sampling from three language institutes with similar teaching methods in Shiraz, Iran. The current study has a quasi-experimental design since randomization was impossible. First, the authors used the Nelson Proficiency test and interview to determine the participants’ proficiency level and speaking ability, respectively. ...
The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a pro... more The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a problem worldwide. In this manuscript, we offer one example from Indonesia. Using data from 15 public elementary schools from three small regions in Indonesia: Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta, we analyze conditions that result in neglect. Student neglect is any inappropriate action by an incompetent person that results in serious physical or emotional harm, or abuse, which presents a serious risk of harm to the student. The data were collected through documentation, interview, and observation. The study results showed no specific handling adjustment problems regulations and mechanisms, specialized professional staff handling adjustment, and specific room for handling adjustment problems within the public elementary school due to the unawareness, misunderstanding, ignorance, the less-caring educational system, and also the disconnection of the relationship between the educational institution...
Introduction: Testing and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. ... more Introduction: Testing and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. Moreover, the ultimate goal of tests is to reinforce learning and motivate students. At the same time, instructors can gather information about learners’ current level of knowledge through assessment to revise and enhance their teaching. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Dynamic Assessment on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ speaking skills by considering language learners’ cognitive styles (field dependence and field independence).
Methods: For this purpose, 60 Iranian intermediate-level EFL female learners were selected through convenience sampling from three language institutes with similar teaching methods in Shiraz, Iran. The current study has a quasi-experimental design since randomization was impossible. First, the authors used the Nelson Proficiency test and interview to determine the participants’ proficiency level and speaking ability, respectively. Next, they took the group embedded figures test (GEFT) to determine the participants’ type of cognitive style (field dependence or field independence). Next, the participants were randomly assigned to two experimental (FD and FI learners with the dynamic assessment) and two control groups. Paired and independent-sample t-test were applied to analyze the data.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that although dynamic assessment was effective for both experimental groups, the Field-dependent group with dynamic assessment outperformed the other. Thus, it can be concluded that in addition to the dynamic assessment, language learners’ cognitive style can also play a vital role in increasing the assessment effectiveness. This type of assessment attracts instructors’ attention to learners’ potential to help the language learners gradually improve their performance. In addition, language institutes can introduce this new way of assessment in their advertisements and attract more students, leading to higher income and publicity for them.
The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a pro... more The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a problem worldwide. In this manuscript, we offer one example from Indonesia. Using data from 15 public elementary schools from three small regions in Indonesia: Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta, we analyze conditions that result in neglect. Student neglect is any inappropriate action by an incompetent person that results in serious physical or emotional harm, or abuse, which presents a serious risk of harm to the student. The data were collected through documentation, interview, and observation. The study results showed no specific handling adjustment problems regulations and mechanisms, specialized professional staff handling adjustment, and specific room for handling adjustment problems within the public elementary school due to the unawareness, misunderstanding, ignorance, the less-caring educational system, and also the disconnection of the relationship between the educational institution and the community. The study suggests that student neglect on adjustment problems at public elementary schools should not be taken lightly because this can threaten the psychological condition of students in the future.
Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article o... more Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article offers a comprehensive plagiarism assessment rubric from a four-year study of analyzing students’ plagiarism. From qualitative analyses of 120 students’ paraphrase samples, we identified seven plagiarism dimensions and employed a five-point Likert-scale to rank each dimension’s severity. Then, we enlisted editors, reviewers, and research supervisors to refine the severity of the plagiarism dimensions to articulate a plagiarism spectrum. We produced a Plagiarism Scoring Rubric to categorize 127 plagiarism combinations out of the seven plagiarism dimensions’ composites. Finally, we described how the Plagiarism Scoring Rubric, accompanied by the severity indices, supports instructors in scoring students’ plagiarism and enables students to understand proper crediting of prior work better when citing and paraphrasing.
The current study tries to explore language learning strategies (LLSs) of Iranian postgraduate le... more The current study tries to explore language learning strategies (LLSs) of Iranian postgraduate learners and the effect of motivation and attitude on their strategy use. Oxford's classification of language learning strategies is the framework of the current study. Her strategy taxonomy includes six categories as memory, cognitive, metacognitive, compensation, social and affective strategies. 156 Iranian post graduate students in Kerman province were selected according to two-step cluster sampling. Then, translated version of Oxford's strategy inventory for language learning (SILL) was administered to the participants to determine their strategy use. Attitude/motivation test battery (AMTB) was also used to identify the participants' type of attitude and motivation. After collecting and analyzing data, the following results were found: a) Unlike the findings of the majorities of the studies done so far on foreign language learners, Iranian post graduate students of art and ...
This research examines students' beliefs about language learning by evaluating the measurement eq... more This research examines students' beliefs about language learning by evaluating the measurement equivalence of the beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI). The graded response model (GRM) was used to examine differential item functioning (DIF) in the BALLI across four different countries, namely: Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. The sample was drawn from 1613, including 500 males and 1113 females who completed the online version of the BALLI, comprising five subscales of beliefs about foreign language aptitude, the difficulty of language learning, the nature of language learning, learning and communication strategies, and motivations and expectations. Most BALLI items showed non-uniform DIF. This finding implies that students in different countries had different perceptions of the BALLI items. Therefore, researchers should be very cautious about using the BALLI in different countries. This cross-cultural comparison may generate new insights into revising the BALLI items or developing another scale to compare students' beliefs about language learning in different countries.
Exploring the relationship between academic achievement, creativity, multiple intelligences, and ... more Exploring the relationship between academic achievement, creativity, multiple intelligences, and motivation among Iranian medical students can provide valuable insights into their educational experiences and inform the development of effective strategies to enhance learning outcomes. This study investigated the relationship among Iranian medical students through a correlational-descriptive design. Participants included all 200 BA-level students of Islamic Azad University, Iran. The Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) in Persian, the Torrance Creative Thinking Test (TCTT) in Persian, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Questionnaire in Persian were used to collect data. The university archived their grade point averages (GPAs) to determine students' academic progress. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Goodness-of-Fit Test, descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation tests, and independent samples t-tests were used to examine the acquired data. The data analysis revealed a significant correlation between Iranian EFL learners' creativity, multiple intelligences, motivation, and academic success; creative learners outperformed non-creative learners in terms of academic achievement; extrinsic learners outperformed intrinsic learners in terms of academic achievement; the highest academic achievement was associated with the interpersonal intelligence profile, while the lowest academic achievement was associated with the intrinsic intelligence profile. The findings may provide insight to stakeholders in the field, such as curriculum planners, tutors, and policymakers, regarding the relationship between creativity, multiple intelligences, motivation, and academic achievement, as well as the importance of factoring this relationship into ELT program design.
Vocabulary and its appropriate use play a crucial role in second language learning and teaching.H... more Vocabulary and its appropriate use play a crucial role in second language learning and teaching.However, vocabulary acquisition in EFL education failed to receive the attention it deserved.Collocations have a significant role in EFL teaching and learning as they develop the learners’ proficiency with lexis. Lexical approach gives special attention to teaching and learning collocation. Although most of the studies have proved the significance of collocations, researchers have pointed out that collocations are a serious problem for second language learners and one of the difficult parts of vocabulary learning for them including advanced learners and professional translators and they always hesitate over which words go hand in hand with which correctly. This book therefore tries to investigate the impact and significance of knowledge of collocation all four language skills.The results of the study will direct teachers’ attention to focus on collocations, and it will present useful ways for teachers to implicate a better understanding of the nature of English collocations and their effect on four language skills.
The study highlights the presence of intolerance within the textbooks
used for Islamic education,... more The study highlights the presence of intolerance within the textbooks used for Islamic education, which has negative implications for peace and harmony. However, the understanding of this intolerance construction in the textbooks is currently limited. Therefore, this research aims to identify and analyze the intolerant values embedded within these textbooks’ language, content, and scenarios. The ultimate goal is to develop an action plan to prevent the dissemination of intolerance through the education system. To achieve this objective, qualitative methods such as content analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed to collect and analyze data. The study’s findings indicate the following: a) The textbooks used for Islamic education can foster and promote intolerant beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among students, who may mistakenly associate these with the teachings of Islam. b) The narratives promoting intolerance found within the textbooks result from negligence during the writing, reviewing, and editing processes. C) The development of new textbooks is necessary, and it should be a collaborative effort involving intellectuals, religious and cultural leaders, with a focus on promoting values of peace and social harmony. In conclusion, the study recommends a comprehensive mapping of the textbooks used in Islamic education at different education levels to identify and address any potential threats to peace. If strategically approached, Islamic education can serve as a platform for nurturing students’ moral foundations and fostering peaceful coexistence within society.
Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article o... more Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article offers a comprehensive plagiarism assessment rubric from a four-year study of analyzing students’ plagiarism. From qualitative analyses of 120 students’ paraphrase samples, we identified seven plagiarism dimensions and employed a five-point Likert-scale to rank each dimension’s severity. Then, we enlisted editors, reviewers, and research supervisors to refine the severity of the plagiarism dimensions to articulate a plagiarism spectrum. We produced a Plagiarism Scoring Rubric to categorize 127 plagiarism combinations out of the seven plagiarism dimensions’ composites. Finally, we described how the Plagiarism Scoring Rubric, accompanied by the severity indices, supports instructors in scoring students’ plagiarism and enables students to understand proper crediting of prior work better when citing and paraphrasing.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of role-play on the vocabulary learning and retention ... more This study aimed to investigate the impact of role-play on the vocabulary learning and retention of Iranian intermediate-level EFL learners. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was employed to achieve this objective. The study consisted of 50 male intermediate students who were conveniently selected as participants. The research instruments included an Oxford Placement Test (OPT), a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a delayed posttest. During the treatment period, the experimental and control groups attended 12 classes at the institute. The conditions were identical for both groups, except that roleplay was incorporated into the instructional approach for the experimental group while it was omitted for the control group. The findings indicated that role-play positively and significantly influenced the learners' vocabulary acquisition and long-term retention.
Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefor... more Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefore, any technique that can help promote vocabulary learning should be encouraged. The current study aimed to explore the effect of first-language translation on Iranian intermediate extroverted and introverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The authors chose 80 Iranian EFL learners using convenience sampling and applied a quasiexperimental design for the research. First, they administered the Oxford Placement Test, the Eysenck personality questionnaire, and a vocabulary pretest and posttest. Then, the treatment started using the first language to teach vocabulary to introverted and extroverted learners. The findings showed that first-language translation had a statistically significant effect on developing Iranian intermediate extroverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The results implied that the instructors could use L1 in teaching a language in general and vocabulary in specific as an effective strategy, just for extroverted learners, as it was found ineffective for introverted learners. Furthermore, the results showed that L1 translation as a learning strategy can be more effective for vocabulary learning by extrovert EFL learners than introverts. Therefore, it can be concluded that the learners' personality traits should be considered in teaching and learning vocabulary, but as a supplementary teaching strategy since using the first language was just effective for parts of the learners, extroverts.
Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefor... more Vocabulary is an essential language component that will affect all four language skills. Therefore, any technique that can help promote vocabulary learning should be encouraged. The current study aimed to explore the effect of first-language translation on Iranian intermediate extroverted and introverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The authors chose 80 Iranian EFL learners using convenience sampling and applied a quasiexperimental design for the research. First, they administered the Oxford Placement Test, the Eysenck personality questionnaire, and a vocabulary pretest and posttest. Then, the treatment started using the first language to teach vocabulary to introverted and extroverted learners. The findings showed that first-language translation had a statistically significant effect on developing Iranian intermediate extroverted EFL learners' vocabulary learning. The results implied that the instructors could use L1 in teaching a language in general and vocabulary in specific as an effective strategy, just for extroverted learners, as it was found ineffective for introverted learners. Furthermore, the results showed that L1 translation as a learning strategy can be more effective for vocabulary learning by extrovert EFL learners than introverts. Therefore, it can be concluded that the learners' personality traits should be considered in teaching and learning vocabulary, but as a supplementary teaching strategy since using the first language was just effective for parts of the learners, extroverts.
IntroductionTesting and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. Mo... more IntroductionTesting and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. Moreover, the ultimate goal of tests is to reinforce learning and motivate students. At the same time, instructors can gather information about learners’ current level of knowledge through assessment to revise and enhance their teaching. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Dynamic Assessment on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ speaking skills by considering language learners’ cognitive styles (field dependence and field independence).MethodsFor this purpose, 60 Iranian intermediate-level EFL female learners were selected through convenience sampling from three language institutes with similar teaching methods in Shiraz, Iran. The current study has a quasi-experimental design since randomization was impossible. First, the authors used the Nelson Proficiency test and interview to determine the participants’ proficiency level and speaking ability, respectively. ...
The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a pro... more The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a problem worldwide. In this manuscript, we offer one example from Indonesia. Using data from 15 public elementary schools from three small regions in Indonesia: Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta, we analyze conditions that result in neglect. Student neglect is any inappropriate action by an incompetent person that results in serious physical or emotional harm, or abuse, which presents a serious risk of harm to the student. The data were collected through documentation, interview, and observation. The study results showed no specific handling adjustment problems regulations and mechanisms, specialized professional staff handling adjustment, and specific room for handling adjustment problems within the public elementary school due to the unawareness, misunderstanding, ignorance, the less-caring educational system, and also the disconnection of the relationship between the educational institution...
Introduction: Testing and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. ... more Introduction: Testing and assessment tools evaluate students’ performance in a foreign language. Moreover, the ultimate goal of tests is to reinforce learning and motivate students. At the same time, instructors can gather information about learners’ current level of knowledge through assessment to revise and enhance their teaching. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Dynamic Assessment on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ speaking skills by considering language learners’ cognitive styles (field dependence and field independence).
Methods: For this purpose, 60 Iranian intermediate-level EFL female learners were selected through convenience sampling from three language institutes with similar teaching methods in Shiraz, Iran. The current study has a quasi-experimental design since randomization was impossible. First, the authors used the Nelson Proficiency test and interview to determine the participants’ proficiency level and speaking ability, respectively. Next, they took the group embedded figures test (GEFT) to determine the participants’ type of cognitive style (field dependence or field independence). Next, the participants were randomly assigned to two experimental (FD and FI learners with the dynamic assessment) and two control groups. Paired and independent-sample t-test were applied to analyze the data.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that although dynamic assessment was effective for both experimental groups, the Field-dependent group with dynamic assessment outperformed the other. Thus, it can be concluded that in addition to the dynamic assessment, language learners’ cognitive style can also play a vital role in increasing the assessment effectiveness. This type of assessment attracts instructors’ attention to learners’ potential to help the language learners gradually improve their performance. In addition, language institutes can introduce this new way of assessment in their advertisements and attract more students, leading to higher income and publicity for them.
The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a pro... more The challenge of being able to respond to student adjustment needs in elementary schools is a problem worldwide. In this manuscript, we offer one example from Indonesia. Using data from 15 public elementary schools from three small regions in Indonesia: Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta, we analyze conditions that result in neglect. Student neglect is any inappropriate action by an incompetent person that results in serious physical or emotional harm, or abuse, which presents a serious risk of harm to the student. The data were collected through documentation, interview, and observation. The study results showed no specific handling adjustment problems regulations and mechanisms, specialized professional staff handling adjustment, and specific room for handling adjustment problems within the public elementary school due to the unawareness, misunderstanding, ignorance, the less-caring educational system, and also the disconnection of the relationship between the educational institution and the community. The study suggests that student neglect on adjustment problems at public elementary schools should not be taken lightly because this can threaten the psychological condition of students in the future.
Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article o... more Defining “plagiarism” is not simple, and its complexity is too seldom appreciated. This article offers a comprehensive plagiarism assessment rubric from a four-year study of analyzing students’ plagiarism. From qualitative analyses of 120 students’ paraphrase samples, we identified seven plagiarism dimensions and employed a five-point Likert-scale to rank each dimension’s severity. Then, we enlisted editors, reviewers, and research supervisors to refine the severity of the plagiarism dimensions to articulate a plagiarism spectrum. We produced a Plagiarism Scoring Rubric to categorize 127 plagiarism combinations out of the seven plagiarism dimensions’ composites. Finally, we described how the Plagiarism Scoring Rubric, accompanied by the severity indices, supports instructors in scoring students’ plagiarism and enables students to understand proper crediting of prior work better when citing and paraphrasing.
The current study tries to explore language learning strategies (LLSs) of Iranian postgraduate le... more The current study tries to explore language learning strategies (LLSs) of Iranian postgraduate learners and the effect of motivation and attitude on their strategy use. Oxford's classification of language learning strategies is the framework of the current study. Her strategy taxonomy includes six categories as memory, cognitive, metacognitive, compensation, social and affective strategies. 156 Iranian post graduate students in Kerman province were selected according to two-step cluster sampling. Then, translated version of Oxford's strategy inventory for language learning (SILL) was administered to the participants to determine their strategy use. Attitude/motivation test battery (AMTB) was also used to identify the participants' type of attitude and motivation. After collecting and analyzing data, the following results were found: a) Unlike the findings of the majorities of the studies done so far on foreign language learners, Iranian post graduate students of art and ...
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used for Islamic education, which has negative implications for peace and harmony. However, the understanding of this intolerance construction in the textbooks is currently limited. Therefore, this research aims to identify and analyze the intolerant values embedded within these textbooks’ language, content, and scenarios. The ultimate goal is to develop an action plan to prevent the dissemination of intolerance through the education system. To achieve this objective, qualitative methods such as content analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed to collect and analyze data. The study’s findings indicate the following: a) The textbooks
used for Islamic education can foster and promote intolerant beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among students, who may mistakenly associate these with the teachings of Islam. b) The narratives promoting intolerance found within the textbooks result from negligence during the writing, reviewing, and editing processes. C) The development of new textbooks is necessary, and it should be a collaborative effort involving intellectuals, religious and cultural leaders, with a focus on promoting values of peace and social harmony. In conclusion, the study recommends a comprehensive mapping of the textbooks used in Islamic education at different education levels to identify and address any potential threats to peace. If strategically approached, Islamic education can serve as a platform for nurturing
students’ moral foundations and fostering peaceful coexistence within society.
rank each dimension’s severity. Then, we enlisted editors, reviewers, and research supervisors to refine the severity of the plagiarism dimensions to articulate a plagiarism spectrum. We produced a Plagiarism Scoring Rubric to categorize 127 plagiarism combinations out of the seven plagiarism dimensions’ composites. Finally, we described how the Plagiarism Scoring Rubric, accompanied by the severity indices, supports instructors in scoring students’ plagiarism and enables students to understand proper crediting of prior work better when citing and paraphrasing.
Methods: For this purpose, 60 Iranian intermediate-level EFL female learners were selected through convenience sampling from three language institutes with similar teaching methods in Shiraz, Iran. The current study has a quasi-experimental design since randomization was impossible. First, the authors used the Nelson Proficiency test and interview to determine the participants’ proficiency level and speaking ability, respectively. Next, they took the group embedded figures test (GEFT) to determine the participants’ type of cognitive style (field dependence or field independence). Next, the participants were randomly assigned to two experimental (FD and FI learners with the dynamic assessment) and two control groups. Paired and independent-sample t-test were applied to analyze the data.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that although dynamic assessment was effective for both experimental groups, the Field-dependent group with dynamic assessment outperformed the other. Thus, it can be concluded that in addition to the dynamic assessment, language learners’ cognitive style can also play a vital role in increasing the assessment effectiveness. This type of assessment attracts instructors’ attention to learners’ potential to help the language learners gradually improve their performance. In addition, language institutes can introduce this new way of assessment in their advertisements and attract more students, leading to higher income and publicity for them.
used for Islamic education, which has negative implications for peace and harmony. However, the understanding of this intolerance construction in the textbooks is currently limited. Therefore, this research aims to identify and analyze the intolerant values embedded within these textbooks’ language, content, and scenarios. The ultimate goal is to develop an action plan to prevent the dissemination of intolerance through the education system. To achieve this objective, qualitative methods such as content analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed to collect and analyze data. The study’s findings indicate the following: a) The textbooks
used for Islamic education can foster and promote intolerant beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among students, who may mistakenly associate these with the teachings of Islam. b) The narratives promoting intolerance found within the textbooks result from negligence during the writing, reviewing, and editing processes. C) The development of new textbooks is necessary, and it should be a collaborative effort involving intellectuals, religious and cultural leaders, with a focus on promoting values of peace and social harmony. In conclusion, the study recommends a comprehensive mapping of the textbooks used in Islamic education at different education levels to identify and address any potential threats to peace. If strategically approached, Islamic education can serve as a platform for nurturing
students’ moral foundations and fostering peaceful coexistence within society.
rank each dimension’s severity. Then, we enlisted editors, reviewers, and research supervisors to refine the severity of the plagiarism dimensions to articulate a plagiarism spectrum. We produced a Plagiarism Scoring Rubric to categorize 127 plagiarism combinations out of the seven plagiarism dimensions’ composites. Finally, we described how the Plagiarism Scoring Rubric, accompanied by the severity indices, supports instructors in scoring students’ plagiarism and enables students to understand proper crediting of prior work better when citing and paraphrasing.
Methods: For this purpose, 60 Iranian intermediate-level EFL female learners were selected through convenience sampling from three language institutes with similar teaching methods in Shiraz, Iran. The current study has a quasi-experimental design since randomization was impossible. First, the authors used the Nelson Proficiency test and interview to determine the participants’ proficiency level and speaking ability, respectively. Next, they took the group embedded figures test (GEFT) to determine the participants’ type of cognitive style (field dependence or field independence). Next, the participants were randomly assigned to two experimental (FD and FI learners with the dynamic assessment) and two control groups. Paired and independent-sample t-test were applied to analyze the data.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that although dynamic assessment was effective for both experimental groups, the Field-dependent group with dynamic assessment outperformed the other. Thus, it can be concluded that in addition to the dynamic assessment, language learners’ cognitive style can also play a vital role in increasing the assessment effectiveness. This type of assessment attracts instructors’ attention to learners’ potential to help the language learners gradually improve their performance. In addition, language institutes can introduce this new way of assessment in their advertisements and attract more students, leading to higher income and publicity for them.