Shiraz University Press
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
2981-1546
33
1
2014
05
01
Reading Performance of Iranian EFL Learners in Paper and Digital texts
1
21
EN
Jaleh
Hassaskhah
0000-0001-5107-5190
Assistant Professor of TEFL, University of Guilan,Iran
hassas@guilan.ac.ir
Behzad
Barekat
Associate Professor of Linguistics, University of Guilan, Iran
behzadbarekat@yahoo.com
Nahid
Farhang asa
MA of TEFL, Guilan University,Iran
nahid.farhangasa@yahoo.com
10.22099/jtls.2014.2020
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.
activity theory,Interactive theory,digital texts,paper-based texts,Reading comprehension
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2020.html
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2020_cfa9b1f09826fa4e624468c2decea114.pdf
Shiraz University Press
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
2981-1546
33
1
2014
05
01
Cross-Cultural Investigation into Generic Structure of Dissertation Acknowledgements in English and Persian: Reflections on Politeness Strategies
23
47
EN
Alireza
Jalilifar
Shahid CHamran University of Ahvaz
ar.jalilifar@gmail.com
Mohammad Javad
Mohammadi
Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
m.mohammadi1377@gmail.com
10.22099/jtls.2014.2021
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.
acknowledgments,genre,Generic structure,Politeness,face
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2021.html
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2021_055d330254030940f51c3444ae9ea274.pdf
Shiraz University Press
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
2981-1546
33
1
2014
05
01
Metadiscourse Strategies and Citation Patterns as Resources of Authorial Identity in Research Articles across International/Local Journals and Applied Linguistics Subdisciplines
72
49
EN
Mohammad Nabi
Karimi
0000-0001-7834-6368
Kharazmi University of Tehran
karimi_mn@yahoo.com
Fatemeh
Asadnia
Kharazmi University
whizz_kid_2008@yahoo.com
10.22099/jtls.2014.2023
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.
Authorial Identity,Interactive Metadiscourse,interactional metadiscourse,Integral Citation,Non-integral Citation
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2023.html
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2023_aac05d9aa5329c29e4b2b94b6da706eb.pdf
Shiraz University Press
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
2981-1546
33
1
2014
05
01
The Impact of Deductive, Inductive, and L1-Based Consciousness-Raising Tasks on EFL Learners' Acquisition of the Request Speech Act
73
92
EN
Zia
-
Tajeddin
0000-0002-0430-6408
Allameh Tabataba’i University
zia_tajeddin@yahoo.com
Rasoul
Hosseinpur
0000-0002-3718-5948
Allameh Tabataba'i University
rmhosseinpur@gmail.com
10.22099/jtls.2014.2022
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.
Consciousness-raising (C-R),Deductive C-R Task,Inductive C-R Task,L1-based C-R Task,Request Speech Act
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2022.html
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2022_6fcc2449e71e63ea5e5f20de4a6e92c8.pdf
Shiraz University Press
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
2981-1546
33
1
2014
05
01
Voice in Short Argumentative Texts Written by Undergraduate Learners of English
93
111
EN
Abbas
Zare-ee
0000-0001-6140-9107
University of Kashan
abbaszarei72@yahoo.co.uk
Navvab
Hematiyan
University of Kashan
abzar_eet@yahoo.com
Sajjad
Askari Matin
University of Tehran
matin.sa@gmail.com
10.22099/jtls.2014.2025
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.
EFL writing,English as a foreign language,Authorial voice,second language writing,academic writing
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2025.html
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2025_45bf0c1aa315ad11ec60a16165423103.pdf
Shiraz University Press
Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills)
2981-1546
33
1
2014
05
01
A Probe into Adaptive Transfer across Writing Contexts: A Case of an EGAP Class
113
133
EN
Gholam Reza
Zarei
Isfahan University of Technology
grzarei@cc.iut.ac.ir
Ahmad
Alibabaee
Sheikhbahaee University
ahmadalibabaee@shbu.ac.ir
10.22099/jtls.2014.2024
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.
Adaptive transfer,learning transfer,L2 Writing,Transfer type,Transfer process
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2024.html
https://tesl.shirazu.ac.ir/article_2024_eff608d91b37e0a1c864ba57f004fe23.pdf