Reading Performance of Iranian EFL Learners in Paper and Digital texts
Jaleh
Hassaskhah
Assistant Professor of TEFL, University of Guilan,Iran
author
Behzad
Barekat
Associate Professor of Linguistics, University of Guilan, Iran
author
Nahid
Farhang asa
MA of TEFL, Guilan University,Iran
author
text
article
2014
eng
Dependence on computers and internet has given birth to digital literacy. However, research into its influences on the reading process is still in its infancy. To fill the gap, this study was designed to investigate the ways in which text presentation mode (paper vs. digital) affects reading comprehension, as well as reading attitudes. To this end, a sample of 30 male and female English major students doing their Master’s (MA) participated in this study. Their reading comprehension was investigated by reference to the mode of text presentation, and their attitude towards either text type was examined through a self-assessment checklist. Results of the statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed a stronger preference for the paper-based texts, and an undifferentiated application of the same traditional method to all reading tasks. In addition, higher reading comprehension scores were obtained for paper- based texts, with male participants outperforming their female counterparts. The findings, providing further support for the significance of the mediating tools in the activity theory, imply that the digitalization of texts influences not only the nature of external behavior, but also of the mental functioning of individuals.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Shiraz University Press
2981-1546
33
v.
1
no.
2014
1
21
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2020_cfa9b1f09826fa4e624468c2decea114.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22099/jtls.2014.2020
Cross-Cultural Investigation into Generic Structure of Dissertation Acknowledgements in English and Persian: Reflections on Politeness Strategies
Alireza
Jalilifar
Shahid CHamran University of Ahvaz
author
Mohammad Javad
Mohammadi
Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
author
text
article
2014
eng
This contrastive study, in the first place, examined the generic structure and, in the second place, explored the face theory proposed by Arundale (2006) in 140 doctoral dissertation acknowledgments written by native speakers of Persian (NSP) and native speakers of English (NSE) in 7 disciplines representing soft sciences to find out what discourse genre components writers employ to articulate the communicative purpose of these acknowledgments. The results of the first phase of the study revealed four moves and a number of constituting steps. Careful surveillance uncovered an obligatory acknowledging move framed by two optional resonating and declaration moves. The findings related to the second phase of the study discovered that, approximately, majority of moves and steps exploited by the two groups function as connection face except for the shouldering responsibility step voiced as separation face. Persian writers, guided by their different cultural and literacy practices, utilized this step more than English writers. The study provided valuable information about the academic values, socio-cultural practices, and personal identity of the writer encoded in the rhetorical and organizational components of this genre.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Shiraz University Press
2981-1546
33
v.
1
no.
2014
23
47
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2021_055d330254030940f51c3444ae9ea274.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22099/jtls.2014.2021
Metadiscourse Strategies and Citation Patterns as Resources of Authorial Identity in Research Articles across International/Local Journals and Applied Linguistics Subdisciplines
Mohammad Nabi
Karimi
Kharazmi University of Tehran
author
Fatemeh
Asadnia
Kharazmi University
author
text
article
2014
eng
The present study explored the rhetorical representation of authorial identity signaled by interactive/interactional metadiscourse strategies and integral/non-integral citation patterns in international and Iranian local research article discussion sections. The study also explored variation in metadiscourse and citation resources across three subdisciplines of Language Testing, English Language Teaching, and Discourse Analysis. To this end, a representative sample of 60 discussion sections of articles published in three prestigious international journals and three well-accredited Iranian local journals was collected. The comparisons revealed that Iranian local articles used a greater number of interactive metadiscourse strategies, whereas international articles tended to employ more interactional metadiscourse markers. In the interaction between authorial identity and citation perspectives, it was demonstrated that Iranian local articles employed more integral citation resources, while their international counterparts utilized more non-integral citation patterns. Furthermore, the findings showed subdisciplinary variation in the use of interactional metadiscourse strategies and non-integral citation patterns in international RAs. This can be attributed to their distinctive communicative purposes, target readership, scope of investigation, and final research products. The study concludes with some implications for post-graduate students to equip themselves with both macro-level generic and micro-level discoursal properties required for writing research article discussion sections, and, accordingly manifesting their authorial identity.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Shiraz University Press
2981-1546
33
v.
1
no.
2014
72
49
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2023_aac05d9aa5329c29e4b2b94b6da706eb.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22099/jtls.2014.2023
The Impact of Deductive, Inductive, and L1-Based Consciousness-Raising Tasks on EFL Learners' Acquisition of the Request Speech Act
Zia
Tajeddin
Allameh Tabataba’i University
author
Rasoul
Hosseinpur
Allameh Tabataba'i University
author
text
article
2014
eng
The necessity and importance of teaching pragmatics has come to light by many researchers (e.g. Rose & Kasper, 2001). Due to the consensus over the need to teach pragmatic competence, the main issue now centers on the question of how we should teach this competence in the most effective way. Consistent with this line of research, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of deductive, inductive, and L1-based consciousness-raising instructional tasks on EFL learners' acquisition of the request speech act during a seven-week instruction period. The results obtained through a written DCT administered to 140 EFL learners indicated that instruction had a significantly positive effect on learners' acquisition of the request speech act. The comparison of the task types demonstrated that, all in all, the deductive task was the most effective one. Furthermore, the results showed that the learners were generally receptive to L1-based awareness-raising tasks and that these tasks were more effective than inductive tasks. This study suggests that consciousness-raising instructional tasks could be utilized in raising students’ sociopragmatic awareness and be applied in helping them develop their interlanguage pragmatics.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Shiraz University Press
2981-1546
33
v.
1
no.
2014
73
92
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2022_6fcc2449e71e63ea5e5f20de4a6e92c8.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22099/jtls.2014.2022
Voice in Short Argumentative Texts Written by Undergraduate Learners of English
Abbas
Zare-ee
University of Kashan
author
Navvab
Hematiyan
University of Kashan
author
Sajjad
Askari Matin
University of Tehran
author
text
article
2014
eng
The present study explored the intensity level of authorial voice in relation to the quality of argumentative writing. 42 undergraduate learners of English as a foreign language (36 girls and 6 boys) spent 45 minutes to individually complete in-class position-taking writing tasks for three weeks. Their overall academic writing quality scores assigned based on portfolio assessment were studied in relation to their voice expression quantified using a voice intensity rating scale (VIRS). Findings indicated that, among the components of authorial voice, only “assertiveness” showed a positive moderate relationship with academic writing quality (r=0.45, p≤ 0.05). In the follow-up qualitative analyses of voice-expression strategies, interviews with participants whose voice intensity had been rated either as the strongest or as the weakest showed nine strategies for voice expression. At the sentence-level, high-voice participants most frequently used intensifiers to express assertiveness, while low-voice writers tried to use other lexico-grammatical tools. At the text-level, both high-voice and low-voice participants were concerned about the effect of the topic on their voice expression. The findings imply that undergraduate English as a foreign language writers do try to express voice and that the required strategies can be one of the targets of EFL writing research and instruction.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Shiraz University Press
2981-1546
33
v.
1
no.
2014
93
111
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2025_45bf0c1aa315ad11ec60a16165423103.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22099/jtls.2014.2025
A Probe into Adaptive Transfer across Writing Contexts: A Case of an EGAP Class
Gholam Reza
Zarei
Isfahan University of Technology
author
Ahmad
Alibabaee
Sheikhbahaee University
author
text
article
2014
eng
In an effort to expand the disciplinary discussions on transfer in L2 writing and because most studies have focused on transfer as reuse and not as an adequate adaptation of writing knowledge in new contexts, the present study as the first of its kind aimed to explore the issue of adaptive transfer in an English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP) writing course. The study thus focused on types of adaptive transfer across disciplines and the processes involved in achieving them. The data were collected through interviews conducted on writing samples both from the participants' EGAP class and their other courses in the university (non EGAP). The results showed five categories of adaptive transfer including 'organizing, grammar refining, rephrasing, metaphorizing, and resource using'. Also, the analysis of the data demonstrated a variety of processes involved in the accomplishment of adaptive transfer, which all pointed to the multidimensionality of evaluation and re-evaluation that the writers conducted to achieve their composing potential. Additionally, the results revealed slight disciplinary inconsistency for the categories of adaptive transfer detected, with the English Language enjoying the highest and Electrical Engineering the lowest frequency of such transfer. The results imply that EGAP classes can create a directive condition for the enhancement of learning transfer.
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
Shiraz University Press
2981-1546
33
v.
1
no.
2014
113
133
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2024_eff608d91b37e0a1c864ba57f004fe23.pdf
dx.doi.org/10.22099/jtls.2014.2024