Iranian Elementary EFL Learners Research Articles

Modelling the interrelationships among self-regulated learning components, critical thinking and reading comprehension by PLS-SEM: A mixed methods study

This explanatory mixed methods study investigated the interrelationships among self-regulated learning (SRL) components, critical thinking and reading comprehension using PLS-SEM. For this purpose, a conceptual PLS-SEM model was evaluated on a sample of 183 Iranian elementary EFL learners. Then, 15 students were randomly selected to complete the follow up semi-structured interview. Three instruments including Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, the questionnaire of Critical Thinking ability in English Reading and a reading comprehension test were used to provide data sources for PLS-SEM models. The results of the quantitative analyses of measurement and structural models indicated that among the three components of SRL, cognitive strategies and metacognitive strategies significantly and directly affected critical thinking and reading comprehension. However, motivation had significant indirect effects on the outcome variables. Meanwhile, from among the SRL components, motivation had the strongest total effects on SRL. The qualitative findings of the study approved the predictive relationships of SRL components with reading comprehension and critical thinking. Moreover, the semi-structured interviews showed that the participants' effective use of self-regulated reading strategies, reading motivation and regulatory reading instruction were the major factors affecting EFL learners' SRL in reading comprehension and critical thinking.

The relationship between metacognition and multiple intelligence of Iranian elementary and intermediate EFL learners and their reading comprehension

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between metacognitive, multiple intelligence, and reading comprehension of elementary and intermediate EFL learners. To this end, the researchers recruited 60 elementary students of Hasanzadeh high school in grade 10th and 60 intermediate English learners from Bilan-Taymaz English institute in Kazeroun using the Oxford Placement Test. Afterward, the researchers administered the researcher-made reading comprehension test. Furthermore, the Multiple Intelligence Questionnaire and Metacognitions Questionnaire tests were conducted. Participants were asked to complete these questionnaires and to take the reading comprehension test through separate sessions on the Rubika app. The results revealed a significant relationship between the metacognition and reading comprehension of both elementary and intermediate EFL learners. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the multiple intelligences of Iranian elementary and intermediate EFL learners and their reading comprehension. According to the next results obtained through SPSS, the researchers found that there is a significant difference between the metacognition of the elementary and intermediate participants. The same result was obtained for multiple intelligence. Keywords: Iranian elementary EFL Learners, Iranian intermediate EFL learners metacognition, Multiple intelligence, Reading comprehension;

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Dear Reader,
 
 Thank you for showing interest in the Volume 11, Number 4 publication of the Contemporary Educational Researches Journal. As a renowned journal, this issue aims to uphold our previous standard in publishing high-standard articles. As such, this publication consists of thoroughly reviewed research articles from seasoned researchers from around the world.
 The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic is still being felt around the world and this issue addresses some of the major concerns on Educational research amidst the global pandemic. Some of the topics addressed in this issue include: Flipped learning – Pedagogic dilemmas; The vocabulary learning strategy use of Iranian elementary EFL learners; The relationship between the anxiety level of Iranian elementary EFL learners and their vocabulary learning strategies; Learning styles and vocabulary learning by Iranian undergraduate EFL learners; Prospects, challenges and evaluation of the BSc in EEE programme for diploma in engineering holders; Determining the influencing factors affecting the digital competencies of colleges students in blended teaching.
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The relationship between the anxiety level of Iranian elementary EFL learners and their vocabulary learning strategies

The current study aimed at examining the relationship between anxiety level of Iranian elementary English as a foreign language learners and the strategies that they adopt for learning English vocabulary. To this end, based on the performance of the participants on the Quick Placement Test, the researcher recruited 100 participants through availability sampling. To determine the strategies that the participants employ for learning English vocabulary, Schmitt’s taxonomy of vocabulary learning (VL) strategies questionnaire was administered. Also, the Spearman correlation was run to determine the correlation between various levels of anxiety and different VL strategies. The findings of the current study indicated that the effects of anxiety can adversely affect a person’s use of VL strategies. Likewise, when there is an increase in anxiety, VL strategy use decreases to a significant extent. Keywords: Vocabulary learning, strategies, foreign language, classroom, anxiety scale.

Focused direct corrective feedback: Effects on the elementary English learners’ written syntactic complexity

This experimental study, using a pretest-treatment-posttest design, compared the effects of focused direct written corrective feedback and additional writing practice on L2 learners’ written syntactic complexity. The participants were 60 Iranian elementary EFL learners, whose L2 proficiency as well as L2 writing syntactic complexity and accuracy were controlled by administering the Oxford Quick Placement Test and a paragraph writing test. They were assigned to two groups: Focused direct corrective feedback (FDCF) and additional writing practice without feedback (No CF). The investigation included five sessions and lasted for three weeks. Every session, each participant wrote a paragraph of descriptive type in class. The experimental group received FDCF, while the control (i.e. No CF) group was provided only with additional writing practice. Lu's (2010) web-based L2 Syntactic Complexity Analyzer was utilized to calculate the five indices of syntactic complexity measures, including mean length of clause (MLC), mean length of sentence (MLS), mean length of T-unit (MLT), clauses per sentence (C/S), and verb phrases per T-unit (VP/T). The MANOVA test revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Pedagogical Utility of Pre-Listening Activities for Improving Iranian Elementary EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension

Pedagogical Utility of Pre-Listening Activities for Improving Iranian Elementary EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension

The Effect of Teaching Picture-books on Iranian Elementary EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Learning

<p><em>Regarding the attractiveness of picture books, this study examined the impacts of teaching picture books on vocabulary learning of 40 Iranian elementary students. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups of 20; one experimental and one control. Then, their knowledge of vocabulary was assessed through administering a researcher-made vocabulary pre-test. </em><em> After that, the researchers started to teach the experimental group through teaching picture-book of Starters Word List Picture Book. The words were taught to the students and they were required to match each word with its picture. The control group was instructed through their school textbook (Prospect One). The words were taught without their pictures; the words were read and simultaneously the students were wanted to repeat them and write their Persian equivalents. After the instruction ended, a vocabulary post-test was given to determine the effects of the treatment on the students’ vocabulary learning. The results of </em><em>paired and independent samples t-tests indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the post-test. It was also revealed that teaching through picture books resulted in better vocabulary learning. </em></p>

A Comparison of Vocabulary Learning Strategies among Elementary Iranian EFL Learners

A multitude of factors are involved in learning a second language, among which knowing ample vocabulary plays a crucial role. Despite many efforts for vocabulary learning, one of the first problems of foreign language learners, especially Iranian EFL learners, is how to commit lots of foreign words to memory. The present study aimed to compare three vocabulary learning strategies (flashcard strategy, sentence writing method, and vocabulary notebook strategy) with the traditional way of vocabulary learning (repetition) among Iranian elementary EFL learners to find out which one was the most efficient approach to vocabulary learning and best increased long-term retention of meaning. To do this end, four groups (three experimental groups and one control group) were chosen to take part in the experiment. The groups were all homogenized in the wake of administering a vocabulary pretest, and then each of the experimental groups was exposed to its pertinent treatment. After the completion of the experiment, and in the light of a vocabulary posttest, the results showed that there existed differences among the four strategies in terms of vocabulary learning and retention. In terms of vocabulary learning, the difference among the four groups was significant, but the difference on posttest which examined the long-term retention of the new vocabularies was not statistically significant. The study revealed that flash card strategy was the best strategy for vocabulary learning process among elementary level learners.

Differential Potential of SLA Output Tasks versus Input-based Teaching of English Grammar: A Comparative Study

The present study is an attempt to investigate a) the effect of output requirement on the acquisition of grammar and b) the differential functions of two output tasks (picture-cued production and editing reconstruction tasks) on the interlanguage improvement of participants. To this end, twenty four Iranian elementary EFL learners were assigned to two experimental groups (EG1 & EG2) and a control group (CG). A pre-test was administered to the three groups to measure their knowledge of the target grammar structure (present perfect tense) prior to any treatment. The participants in EG1 were required to produce their language based on a set of pictures presented, while the learners in EG2 were asked to edit a given text based on its grammatical appropriacy. Those in CG were exposed to the target grammar item merely by providing input. The effectiveness of the treatment tasks was measured using a post-test. The results revealed that those participants in the CG who were provided with input outperformed their peers in the EGs. Also there was no statistically significant difference found between the two output tasks.

The Impacts of Task-based Teaching on Grammar Learning by Iranian First Grade High School Students

During last decades, new methods and approaches were put forward to resolve teaching grammar problem. Among them, Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), focusing on learner’s involvement in tasks, tried to prepare efficient learners for successful handling of real-world performance and communication. The present study aims at investigating the impact of Task-Based Instruction (TBI) on grammar learning of elementary EFL Learners and their motivation after implementing TBI. In so doing, 74 Elementary EFL learners were selected randomly and whose proficiency level and grammar homogeneity were established via administering a Nelson grammar proficiency test and Michigan grammar test, respectively. Then, the treatment group enjoyed TBI by implementing different tasks for about fifteen 35-minute sessions. The control group benefited the same amount of grammar instruction, but not through the TBI. At the end, students of both groups were given the Michigan grammar-oriented post-test to gauge the effect of TBLT on improving the grammar proficiency of the learners. The data were analyzed through statistical techniques of t-test. The results revealed that TBI had a significant impact on promoting the grammar proficiency of Iranian elementary EFL learners. Moreover, by analyzing the mean of experimental group, it is understood that the level of motivation was high. The study concluded that TBI instruction on grammar could be used effectively for Iranian language learners especially for the improvement of their motivation.

The Effect of Rosetta Stone Computer Software on Vocabulary Learning of Iranian Elementary EFL Learners

In recent years, computer technology has been widely used for educational purposes. In fact, more and more teachers are using computers and the Internet in their classrooms. We’ve seen an enormous growth in the number of teachers using multimedia applications for foreign language teaching and learning. This study examines the effect of multimedia on vocabulary learning of elementary Iranian EFL learners. To achieve this purpose, 60 students were selected randomly among 85 students in a private institute in Sarableh city. These students were given the Solutions Placement Test in order to validate their proficiency levels. These participants were then randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Prior to the treatments, two groups sat for pre-tests. Then the students were exposed to the treatments for sixteen sessions; that is, the words list which was selected from the students’ books were taught to the subjects. These words were taught to the experimental group using the multimedia software “Rosetta stone” while they were taught to the control groups using the Teacher-led Method (TLM). After the treatments, two groups sat for post-tests. Then, the results of mean scores were interpreted by using Independent-Sample T-Test. The T-test analysis indicated that the difference in the post-test means between the control group (M= 29.90) and the experimental group (M=40.65) was statistically significant (t= 5.82, df= 38, 2-tailed p˂.0,05), because the P value (0.0009) was lower than 0.05. Therefore, there were significant differences between the post-test score of the two groups and the results of the research indicated that the CAVI groups performed better on post-tests when compared to the Teacher-led Instruction groups. Therefore, treatment proved to have a significant impact on vocabulary learning of the learners.

Estrategias de Compensación: Seguimiento al Nivel de Avance de la Expresión Oral de los Estudiantes de Inglés como Lengua Extranjera

El presente artículo intenta determinar las estrategias de compensación utilizadas por los estudiantes iraníes de primaria a través de la expresión oral. La población objetivo del estudio fueron 120 estudiantes (hombres y mujeres) de primaria, cuyas edades oscilaban entre los 11 y los 25 años, en un instituto de inglés en Rostam, Irán. Se aplicó el examen estandarizado de inglés KET para homogenizar la muestra. Después de la administración del examen de competencia, algunos exámenes orales consistían en diferentes temas de lengua, los cuales fueron administrados en la primera y en las siguientes sesiones del curso con el propósito de observar e identificar las estrategias de compensación usadas por los estudiantes de inglés como lengua extranjera con el mismo nivel de competencia. Se utilizaron estrategias de compensación correspondientes a la tipología Oxford para el diseño de la lista de control, en aras de facilitar la rápida grabación de estrategias de compensación observadas en el examen oral. Los temas asignados a los estudiantes para el examen oral sirvieron simplemente como una oportunidad para observar las estrategias de compensación usadas por los estudiantes. Los resultados indicaron que los estudiantes iraníes tienden a usar varios tipos de estrategias de compensación para comunicar el significado exacto de lo que pretenden transmitir.

The Impact of Textual Input Enhancement on Iranian Elementary EFL learners’ Vocabulary Intake

Nowadays, there has been a lot of emphasis on L2 vocabulary learning in the language teaching curriculum. Dueto the emergence and prevalence of growing methods in the area of second language teaching, lots of researchershave tried to take advantage of these methods in enhancing L2 learning vocabulary. Thus, the present studyinvestigated the effect of textual input enhancement as a focus on form method on Iranian EFL learners’vocabulary intake from reading. Ninety one elementary EFL learners in Tabriz Azad University participated in astudy for eight sessions. A quasi-experimental design with a randomized control and an experimental group wasused. Both groups were given five reading texts and comprehension questions to complete. While theparticipants in experimental group read the textually enhanced input through bolding, the participants in thecontrol group read the same texts without input manipulation. Multiple-choice recognition tests were used tomeasure the intake of vocabulary. The results showed a significant difference between control and experimentalgroup. The study concluded with some pedagogical implications.

English

A growing body of research has been investigating how L2 writers, while writing in the second language (L2), make use of their first language (L1). In view of this, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of translation on the enhancement or deterioration of Iranian Elementary EFL learners’ writing ability. The participants (N = 60) were prompted to perform two writing tasks: (a) writing directly in English (learners’ L2) and (b) writing in their L1 (Persian) and then translating it into English. They were also assigned a checklist, a retrospective verbal report, to express their attitudes towards the two modes of writing. Analysis of the results revealed that although translation may be of help to some learners, it cannot be an effective strategy to enhance the writing ability of all learners. In effect, the results indicated that there was a significant difference between two writing tasks in terms of using expressions, transitions, and grammatical points. What was of particular interest to the authors was the fact that direct writing did not seem to be as direct as it was expected. The vast majority (75%) of students reported they think in Persian, as “often” or “always” while doing the English task in the direct writing mode. This finding suggests that teachers should incorporate translation strategies into their writing courses and explicitly teach students how to employ effective strategies in different situations. The provision of instruction and practice in using L1, particularly in planning and organizing learners’ writings, may be of benefit to some learners in performing certain writing tasks. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/GEMA-2014-1402-05

The Effect of Using Language Games on Vocabulary Retention of Iranian Elementary EFL Learners

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of using language games on elementary students’ vocabulary retention. Thirty two numbers of students were chosen. They were at the same level of proficiency and were assigned into two groups of 16. The control group received traditional method of teaching vocabulary such as: drills, definitions, etc. and the experimental group was exposed to language games as a treatment. The treatment of the study took four weeks, one session every week. After the treatment, posttest 1 was administered to both groups in order to investigate the students’ immediate vocabulary learning in two different conditions, with and without language games. After two weeks posttest 2 was administered to both groups to determine the delayed effect of learning again with and without the treatment. Four weeks after the second posttest –six weeks after the completion of the course- the third posttest was administered to determine the participants’ ability of retention in both groups. Analyzing the data revealed that the effect of the game-like activities was more significant in the delayed time than the immediate one.

Task-based Cycle in Reading Comprehension Classes

This study has investigated the effect of task-based cycle on Iranian Elementary EFL learners' reading comprehension. In order to accomplish the research, two intact classes, including 84 engineering EFL learners (studying pre-university course) were chosen in Tabriz Azad University. An experimental method of research was employed. The experimental group was taught according to the elements of task-based cycle proposed by Willis & Willis, (2007). The control group didn’t receive such treatment. After eight sessions (3 months), a post-test was given. The analysis of the obtained data, carried out through t-test, revealed a significant difference between control and experimental group on the dependent variable, reading comprehension. However, gender didn’t affect reading comprehension significantly. The results of the present study may have pedagogical implications for instruction and curriculum development.

The Effect of Length of Exposure to CALL Technology on Young Iranian EFL Learners’ Grammar Gain

In the twenty-first century, integration of technology into education is a force worthy of contemplation. Among all the possible technological tools that can be integrated into EFL classes, computers seem to have achieved a more dominant position. One of the outstanding features of computers is their potential to present educational games and to add fun to grammar learning. This study investigated the possible effects of the integration of CALL technology on young Iranian elementary EFL learners' grammar gain. Moreover, it examined the role of length of exposure to find an optimum balance for the proper amount of CALL integration to language activities. One control and two experimental groups, each consisted of 15 participants, were engaged. One of the experimental groups used CALL technology for twice as long as the other group. 'Family and Friends 2' with its accompanying MultiRom was utilized in the experimental groups. This software presented computer-based grammar activities. All the participants tried their answers in separate immediate as well as delayed post-tests. The results of one way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences between control and experimental groups in the immediate post-test. The findings of the delayed post-test showed that a significant difference did exist between the control group and the second experimental group. Furthermore, the length of exposure was found to be influential. The results of this study provide some insights for teachers and administrators to review their curricula, approaches, and educational tools, and to consider the possibility of incorporating CALL technology into their teaching environments.

The Impact of Textual Input Enhancement and Explicit Rule Presentation on Iranian Elementary EFL Learners’ Intake of Simple Past Tense

The present study investigated the impact of textual input enhancement and explicit rule presentation on 93 Iranian EFL learners’ intake of simple past tense. Three intact general English classes in Tabriz Azad University were randomly assigned to: 1) a control group; 2) a TIE group; and 3) a TIE plus explicit rule presentation group. All participants were given 3 reading texts and comprehension questions to complete. For participants in groups 2 and 3 the input was textually enhanced through bolding. Participants in group 3 in addition had explicit rule presentation of simple past tense. Intake of simple past tense was measured through performance on a Multiple-Choice Recognition Tests. The results showed that there was a significant difference among pretest, first posttest and delayed posttest. Posttest 1 was significantly higher than posttest 2. Furthermore, TE+ rule presentation group significantly outperformed the control group in both posttest1 and posttest 2. The study concluded with some pedagogical implications.

Asynchronous Computer-Mediated Corrective Feedback and the Correct Use of Prepositions: Is It Really Effective?.

An area that has recently attracted increasing attention is providing feedback on learners’ writing accuracy through the Internet. However, research in this area has largely focused on synchronous communication, i.e., chatting, with fewer studies assessing asynchronous technologies, i.e., e-mailing. Therefore, this study investigates the effectiveness of asynchronous computer-mediated corrective feedback-explicit and implicit, on increasing the correct use of prepositions. Forty-five Iranian elementary EFL learners at the ILI in Tehran were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, receiving explicit and implicit corrective feedback respectively, and one control group receiving no corrective feedback. Each group included 15 participants. After the treatment, a post-test was administered to assess the probable increase in the correct use of prepositions for the experimental groups compared to the control group. Analysis of the results through a one-way ANOVA revealed that the experimental group 1 who received explicit corrective feedback significantly outperformed the experimental group 2 and the control group. The experimental group 2 who received implicit corrective feedback showed no significant improvement over the experimental group 1 and the control group. Although the findings support the current view on feedback through technology, due to the scarcity of research, more investigation is merited as there is much to gain regarding this burgeoning field.

The Effect of Consciousness-Raising Tasks on Iranian Elementary EFL Learners' Syntax Acquisition

This study was carried out to examine the effect of consciousness-raising tasks on the syntax acquisition of Iranian elementary EFL learners. To this end, a Cambridge Key English Test (KET) was administered to 85 elementary level learners at a Language Institute in Tehran, Iran. From among these learners, 60 homogeneous subjects were selected and divided into control group and experimental group. Before starting the treatment, a pretest was administered to both groups and t-test results showed no significant difference in their information about the grammatical structures under study. Then, the control group learned these structures traditionally whereas the experimental group worked on a sequence of consciousness-raising tasks. At the end, all subjects in both groups were post tested to check the progress they made after receiving the treatment. The results of the analysis of data showed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the posttest.