The Relationship between Self-Regulated Strategies and Burnout: A Teacher Analysis in the EFL Context of Iran

The deleterious effects of teacher burnout (academic-related stress) on academic outcomes have been previously established. However, teacher burnout’s relationship with self-regulated strategies as well as underlying factors contributing to their potential relationship is less understood. Consequently, the present study examined the link between Iranian EFL teachers’ self-regulation and burnout at Kerman English language institutes. For this aim, a total of 101 English language teachers teaching in fifteen language institutes in Kerman took part in this study. The research participant selection was according to the convenience sampling. They completed two questionnaires: Teachers’ Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ) designed by Yesim et al. (2009), based on the model proposed by Zimmerman’s self-regulation (2000), and Teachers’ Burnout Questionnaire (TBQ) extracted from Pines et al. (1981) Burnout Scale. This study was a quantitative correlation survey of issue in which the relationship between predictor variable (self-regulation) and criterion variable (burnout) was analyzed. The findings yielded via correlation analysis documented that there was a significant negative relationship between applying self-regulated strategies and burnout. Subsequent data analyses showed that among the components of self-regulated strategies, goal setting was the best predictor of burnout. It means that EFL teachers who establish goals for their teaching and attempt to accomplish them will be rarely at the risk of burnout

Enhancing Cultural Intelligence and Interpersonal Communication: Multi-Authenticity Exposure in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Context

The current study focuses on authentic exposure, specifically whether multi-authentic tasks affect the nature of L2 learners’ cultural intelligence and interpersonal communication in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context of Iran. To this end, sixty learners at an English language institute were assigned to control and experimental groups to carry out the M-A tasks. M-A was manipulated by assigning visual, aural, and printed tasks. Descriptive and inferential analyses of data, a comparison of the control and experimental groups over a four-month period, revealed that the implementation of authentic materials was successful in raising the cultural intelligence and interpersonal communication of EFL learners in the post-test. A subsequent ANOVA analysis showed that among M-A materials, visual was the most and aural was the least effective one increasing EFL learners’ cultural intelligence. Moreover, the printed material was the most effective one to make a moderate change in interpersonal communication of the participants

Promoting Goal Setting: An Experimental Study of Positive Psychology in an EFL Context

The present quasi-experimental study addresses the impact of a Character Strength Based Positive Psychology Intervention (CSBPPI) on Goal Setting (GS) of TEFL university students in Iran. In so doing, the study utilized an experimental design with 18 participants in the control group and 18 participants in the experimental group which totalled 7 male and 29 female students. The pretest showed that the participants of the two groups were homogenous with regard to their proficiency level as well as their goal setting. Data was collected over five months using Erickson et al. (2015) goal setting questionnaire before and after an MA course. The results of the post-test revealed that PP has a positive and significant impact on learners’ goal setting. The findings from this research suggest positive paths from positive psychology to understanding, managing and successfully setting the goals

A Study on the Effect of Age on the Representation and Processing of Second Language Grammar Achievement

Learners considering their age (children & adults) differ fundamentally, and these differences can affect the second language acquisition. This study aimed at investigating the effect of age on EFL learners’ grammar achievement. Oxford placement test was used to homogenize the participants. Based on the oxford placement test, the students were homogenized as the beginner ones and then they were distributed into two groups of children and adults each containing 50 students. In order to see the effect of age on EFL learners’ grammar achievement, oxford grammar test was used as a pre-test and post-test (simple present, present continuous & to be verbs) in both groups. The results revealed that there is not a critical period, but a sensitive period for second language grammar learning, and adults can show to be better learners in case of grammar achievement

Instrucción de concienciación metacognitiva: un estudio de método mixto sobre el desarrollo de escritura y la motivación intrínseca de los estudiantes de EFL de la escuela secundaria

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of using metacognitive awareness instruction (MAI) on EFL learners’ writing skill and their intrinsic motivation. To follow this goal, three research questions were designed and proposed. The questions sought to explore the impact of using metacognitive awareness instruction on the writing performance of the learners and also to know if any meaningful relationship could be observed between the learners’ writing development and their intrinsic motivation. To these goals, two groups of high school EFL learners established the participants of the study. To collect the data of the study, three instruments were used: a test of homogenization, pre and post writing tests and finally intrinsic motivation questionnaire developed and examined by (Renee Payne, 2007). The achievements of the study indicated the positive impact of using MAI on the writing improvement of the learners. Moreover, the writing motivation of the learners significantly increased. Finally, meaningful relationship could be observed between the writing levels and the motivation orientation of the learners.El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el impacto del uso de la instrucción de conciencia metacognitiva (MAI) en la habilidad de escritura de los estudiantes de EFL y su motivación intrínseca. Para seguir este objetivo, se diseñaron y propusieron tres preguntas de investigación. Las preguntas buscaban explorar el impacto del uso de la instrucción de conciencia metacognitiva en el desempeño de la escritura de los alumnos y también saber si se podía observar alguna relación significativa entre el desarrollo de la escritura de los alumnos y su motivación intrínseca. Para alcanzar estos objetivos, dos grupos de estudiantes de EFL de secundaria establecieron a los participantes del estudio. Para recopilar los datos del estudio, se utilizaron tres instrumentos: una prueba de homogeneización, pruebas previas y posteriores a la escritura y finalmente un cuestionario de motivación intrínseca desarrollado y examinado por (Payne, 2007). Los logros del estudio indicaron el impacto positivo del uso de MAI en la mejora de la escritura de los alumnos. Además, la motivación escrita de los alumnos aumentó significativamente. Finalmente, se pudo observar una relación significativa entre los niveles de escritura y la orientación de motivación de los alumnos

Metacognitive Awareness Instruction: A Mixed Method Study on High School EFL Learners’ Writing Development

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of using metacognitive awareness instruction (MAI) on EFL learners’ writing skill. To follow this goal, a research questions were designed and proposed. The questions sought to explore the impact of using metacognitive awareness instruction on the writing performance of the learners. To achieve this goal, two groups of high school EFL learners established the participants of the study. To collect the data of the study, three instruments were used: a test of homogenization, pre and post writing tests and finally intrinsic motivation questionnaire developed and examined by (Renee Payne, 2007). The achievements of the study indicated the positive impact of using MAI on the writing improvement of the learners

Construction and re-construction of identities: A study of learners' personal and L2 identity

The indispensable role of identity in language learning has recently attracted considerable attention among SLA scholars. Consequently, the current mixed-methods classroom-based study investigated whether the implementation of intercultural movie clips could contribute to improving the personal identity, and have a positive impact on L2 identity of participants in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context of Iran. To this end, two intact classes were assigned to the control and experimental group, each containing thirty students. This quasi-experimental study was implemented on the pre-test post-test equivalent-group design. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative analysis, using two questionnaires and a semi-structured interview, the results indicate that positive changes took place in the personal and second language identity of the participants. More specifically, they moved from a closed community of practice in which self was seen from one horizon to an intercultural community of practice in which others were seen besides self. The changing community provided by movie clips had an impact on the participants' views and trends. Thus access to new social, cultural, and linguistic resources resulted in the adoption of new identities. Indeed, teachers and educators should know that language can be considered as a site for the construction of self-identification or group affiliation since language is a key element in identity formation and identity is a sense of self or sense of belonging

Enhancing Self-Esteem in Classroom Language Learning: The Potential of Implementing a Strength-Based Positive Psychology Intervention at Higher Education

Since positive psychology (PP) is a nascent area of research, there are very few empirical studies assessing the impact of positive psychology interventions. Accordingly, this article reports on a quantitative study concerning the use of a positive psychology intervention to develop learners’ self-esteem in the context of higher education in the English as a foreign language (EFL) sector in Iran. Data was collected during the academic year 2016–2017 from a university in Iran using Cooper Smith (1967, 1981) Self Esteem Inventory Adult Form (CSEI-A) , a self-report questionnaire, as the instrument and administering it before and after a TEFL master course. Thirty six university students participated in a five-month long quasi-experimental study. The current study’s primary aim was to investigate in detail the potential of PP intervention for supporting the self-esteem progress in the context in question. The study showed a statistically significant improvement in the self-esteem of the participants in the experimental group after completing the course suggesting positive paths from positive psychology to understanding the strengths, and managing the weaknesses effectively. The encouraging results from this program suggest new avenues for approaching the change of self-esteem

The Implementation of a Multiple Intelligences Teaching Approach: Classroom engagement and physically disabled learners

The present mixed-methods classroom-based study investigated whether the provision of multiple intelligences teaching approach to physically disabled learners could contribute to activating multiple intelligences and have a positive impact on their classroom engagement. To address this issue, three intact classes of 10 Iranian physically disabled learners participated in this study. In so doing, the study utilized an experimental design with 10 participants in the control group and 20 participants in two experimental groups. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative analysis, the results indicate that, over six months, the use of the multiple intelligences teaching approach contributed to a significant improvement in the learners' multiple intelligences. The implementation was also successful in raising the learners' classroom engagement. Further, comparing the first language (Persian) & second language (English) multiple intelligences-based instruction, L2 (English) multiple intelligences-based instruction was more effective in fostering physically disabled learners' multiple intelligences and classroom engagement