Alireza Ahmadi

[ 1 ] - Factors Influencing Iranian Untrained EFL Raters' Rating Group Oral Discussion Tasks: A Mixed Methods Design

Using a mixed methods design, the present study attempted to identify the factors influencing Iranian untrained EFL raters in rating group oral discussion tasks. To fulfil this aim, 16 language learners of varying proficiency levels were selected and randomly assigned to groups of four and performed a group discussion task. Thirty two untrained raters were also selected based on their volunteer...

[ 2 ] - A confirmatory study of Differential Item Functioning on EFL reading comprehension

The present study aimed at investigating DIF sources on an EFL reading comprehension test. Accordingly, 2 DIF detection methods, logistic regression (LR) and item response theory (IRT), were used to flag emergent DIF of 203 (110 females & 93 males) Iranian EFL examinees’ performance on a reading comprehension test. Seven hypothetical DIF sources were examin...

[ 3 ] - The relationship between test-taking strategies and Iranian EFL learners’ performance on reading comprehension tests

Although most researchers have recently considered the role of test-taking strategies as one of the most vital factors in test taking process, it has been ignored by most EFL teachers in educational and academic settings including Iran. Because of the importance of test-taking strategies in EFL learners’ performance in tests, this research was set out to examine what strategies Iranian EFL test...

[ 4 ] - A Comparison of Writing Performance on Independent and Integrated Writing Tasks

Researchers and scholars have been attracted by the idea of using integrated writing task along with independent writing task to best assess the EFL learners’ writing competence. This study was conducted to compare the writing performance of EFL students in integrated and independent writing tasks. It also aimed to find out if writing performance varies with task types. A number of thirty Irani...

[ 5 ] - Oral Communication Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Learners: Focus on Language Proficiency and Cultural Background

Oral Communication Strategies are conscious techniques that L2 interlocutors employ to overcome the communication breakdowns in the target language. Hence, they can help to promote the effectiveness of communication ability. However, it must be noted that many variables can influence the use of these strategies. The present study, therefore, aimed to investigate the role of language proficiency...

[ 6 ] - A Study of Answer Changing Behavior in MC Tests: The Effect of the Academic Course, Field of Study, Gender and Teachers’ Attitude

This study investigated the answer changing behavior of the Iranian university students and its relationship to the academic course, gender, and field of study. 362 students at the University of Isfahan took part in the study. 76 English language teachers were also surveyed for their attitude toward answer changing on MC tests. The results indicated that 42.11% of the teachers had a negative at...

[ 7 ] - Examining Iranian EFL Learners' Knowledge of Grammar through a Computerized Dynamic Test

Dynamic assessment (DA) which is rooted in Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory involves the integration of instruction and assessment in a dialectical way to achieve two main purposes: enhancing learners' development and understanding about their learning potential. However, the feasibility and appropriateness of mediation are two main concerns of DA. The former is concerned with the applica...

[ 8 ] - Language Learning Strategy Use and Instruction for the Iranian Junior High School EFL Learners: A Mixed Methods Approach

In order to confirm the effectiveness of language learning strategies in theIranian context in junior high schools, this study was designed to examine thepatterns of strategy use, the effects of strategy instruction on the students’ strategyuse, and the relationship between the participants’ strategy use and their Englishachievement. To achieve this objective, 57 junior high school participants...

[ 9 ] - On Anthropomorphism in Technology-Enhanced Language Learning: Does Modality Matter in Agent-Based Multimedia Instruction on L2 Idioms?

The present study aimed to satisfy a twofold purpose: On the one hand, it sought to verify the postulation that agent-based instruction could offer a compromise approach to teaching L2 idioms where form and meaning would be equally emphasized during instruction. Given that anthropomorphism has not been much under scrutiny, this research, on the other hand, sought to ascertain whether learning a...

[ 10 ] - INVESTIGATING THE VALIDITY OF PHD ENTRANCE EXAM OF ELT IN IRAN IN LIGHT OF ARGUMENT-BASED VALIDITY AND THEORY OF ACTION

Although some piecemeal efforts have been made to investigate the validity and use of the Iranian PhD exam, no systematic project has been specifically carried out in this regard. The current study, hence, tried to attend to this void. As such, to ensure a balanced focus on test interpretation and test consequence, and to track evidence derived from a mixed–method study on the validity of Irani...

[ 11 ] - Task Type and Prompt Effect on Test Performance: A Focus on IELTS Academic Writing Tasks

Recent versions of international high-stakes tests like TOEFL and IELTS have made use of integrated tasks in addition to the traditional independent tasks in a claim to provide a more realistic estimation of the test takers’ language abilities. The present study aimed to investigate how test takers’ performance may differ on such tasks. As such, the test takers’ performance was compared on IELT...

[ 12 ] - The Effects of Collaborative Translation Task on the Apology Speech Act Production of Iranian EFL Learners

The present study aims to investigate the relative effectiveness of different types of pragmatic instruction including two collaborative translation tasks and two structured input tasks with and without explicit pragmatic instruction on the production of apologetic utterances by low-intermediate EFL learners. One hundred and fifty university students in four experimental groups and one control ...

[ 13 ] - بررسی مجدد آزمون کلوز و تک: تاثیر آشنایی با ژانر بر عملکرد در آزمون درک مطلب به زبان خارجی

تحقیق حاضر تلاشی است در جهت بررسی نقشی که آشنایی با ژانر در عملکرد فراگیران زبان انگلیسی بهایفا می کند. این تحقیق همچنین (C-test) و تک (cloze) عنوان زبان خارجی در دو نوع آزمون کلوزسعی در روشن ساختن این موضوع دارد که آیا آزمون تک همانند آزمون کلوز توانایی زبان را مورد سنجشقرار می دهد؟ شرکت کنندگان در این تحقیق پنجاه و یک دانشجوی کارشناسی رشته زبان و ادبیاتانگلیسی دانشگاه اصفهان با سطح زبانی متوس...

[ 14 ] - سنجش دانش کاربردشناسی فارسی آموزان غیرایرانی: بررسی نقش دوره‌های آموزش زبان فارسی، زبان مادری و سطح زبانی زبان‌آموزان

باوجود توجه و تمایل روزافزون به پژوهش درحوزهی کاربردشناسی بینزبانی، پژوهش در زمینهی ارزشیابی این حوزهی بسیار مهم در زبان دوم، هنوز کندتر از ارزشیابی جنبههای دیگر رشد و پیشرفت توانش زبانی فراگیران زبان دوم پیش میرود (روور، ٢٠٠٦). از این‏رو، پژوهش حاضر، علاوه بر سنجش سطح دانش کاربردشناسی غیرفارسیزبانانی میپردازد که فارسی را به عنوان زبان دوم در ایران میآموزند و تأثیر سطح زبانی، زبان مادر...

[ 15 ] - The relationship between test-taking strategies and Iranian EFL learners’ performance on reading comprehension tests

Although most researchers have recently considered the role of test-taking strategies as one of the most vital factors in test taking process, it has been ignored by most EFL teachers in educational and academic settings including Iran. Because of the importance of test-taking strategies in EFL learners’ performance in tests, this research was set out to examine what strategies Iranian EFL test...

[ 16 ] - A Comparison of Writing Performance on Independent and Integrated Writing Tasks

Researchers and scholars have been attracted by the idea of using integrated writing task along with independent writing task to best assess the EFL learners’ writing competence. This study was conducted to compare the writing performance of EFL students in integrated and independent writing tasks. It also aimed to find out if writing performance varies with task types. A number of thirty Irani...

[ 17 ] - Oral Communication Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Learners: Focus on Language Proficiency and Cultural Background

Oral Communication Strategies are conscious techniques that L2 interlocutors employ to overcome the communication breakdowns in the target language. Hence, they can help to promote the effectiveness of communication ability. However, it must be noted that many variables can influence the use of these strategies. The present study, therefore, aimed to investigate the role of language proficiency...

[ 18 ] - Iranian Language Teachers’ Passion for the Profession: A Qualitative Study

To explore Iranian professionally developed English teachers’ passion for the English language teaching profession, an interview with 7 open-ended questions was conducted to 14 Iranian professionally developed teachers to discover what factors were at work in their professional growth. Participants included 8 Ph.D. holders, 3 Ph.D. candidates, and 3 M.A. holders in TEFL who had more than 20 yea...

[ 19 ] - The Effect of Explicit Consciousness-Raising of Autonomous Learning Activities on Iranian EFL Students’ Achievement Test Scores

This study set out to examine the effect of explicit consciousness-raising of autonomous learning activities on a group of students’ General English achievement test scores following a mixed methods design. At the beginning of the study, four intact classes were selected based on their availability, of which one class was assigned to the experimental group and the others to the control groups, ...

[ 20 ] - Interpreting the Validity of a High-Stakes Test in Light of the Argument-Based Framework: Implications for Test Improvement

The validity of large-scale assessments may be compromised, partly due to their content inappropriateness or construct underrepresentation. Few validity studies have focused on such assessments within an argument-based framework. This study analyzed the domain description and evaluation inference of the Ph.D. Entrance Exam of ELT (PEEE) sat by Ph.D. examinees (n = 999) in 2014 in Iran....

[ 21 ] - A Study of Raters’ Behavior in Scoring L2 Speaking Performance: Using Rater Discussion as a Training Tool

The studies conducted so far on the effectiveness of resolution methods including the discussion method in resolving discrepancies in rating have yielded mixed results. What is left unnoticed in the literature is the potential of discussion to be used as a training tool rather than a resolution method. The present study addresses this research gap by exploring the data coming from rating behavi...

[ 22 ] - Exploring Novice Raters’ Textual Considerations in Independent and Negotiated Ratings

Educators often employ various training techniques to reduce raters’ subjectivity. Negotiation is a technique which can assist novice raters to co-construct a shared understanding of the writing assessment when rating collaboratively. There is little research, however, on rating behaviors of novice raters while employing negotiation techniques and the effect of negotiation on their understandin...