abstract the present study examined the effect of genre-based tasks on efl learners' speaking performance and probed whether genre-based tasks may empower efl learners to perform better on speaking tests. a further concern of the study was to explore whether the effect of genre-based tasks on speaking ability of efl learners varied across different age groups, i.e. teenagers (13-16 years o...

The use of computer software in language testing has been widely acknowledged. Rapid Profile (hereafter RP) is software used to screen EFL learners‟ speech samples to assess their language acquisition level. The aim of this paper is to compare the results of RP and a conventional placement test of a UK University language centre in assigning EFL learners to their proficiency levels. Speech samp...

Translation research has been of interest to both practitioners and theoreticians in the field. As far as the practical side of the coin is concerned, translation problems have been studied with an eye to the role of inter-lingual and intra-lingual transfer. The research reported here was an attempt to understand the nature of translation problems of Iranian EFL learners. For this purpose, thre...

traditional and modern vocabulary instruction techniques have been introduced in the past few decades to improve the learners’ performance in reading comprehension. semantic mapping, which entails drawing learners’ attention to the interrelationships among lexical items through graphic organizers, is claimed to enhance vocabulary learning significantly. however, whether this technique suits all...

Although attribution theory has been applied in many fields of education as a way of understanding individual differences, it has somewhat been neglected by professionals in ELT to date. This study has thus sought to investigate the role of EFL learners’ attributions for success and failure in learning a foreign language and their performance on placement tests. Three instruments, namely, the I...

Strategies play an important role in learning a second or foreign language (L2). The aim of the current study was to develop and evaluate a co-sharing-based strategy learning system for L2 vocabulary learning known as “Mywordtools.” Mywordtools is designed specifically for lexical learning, enabling learners to use the currently available vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) as well as e-tools...

We present research towards developing a pronunciation dictionary that features sensitivity to learners’ native phonology, specifically designed for Korean learners of English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL). We envision a future system that can record and process learners’ imitation of the dictionary pronunciation and instantly provide segmental and prosodic feedback on accent. Towards this goal, ...

The clinical marker in specific language impairment (SLI) population is the subject of considerable debate. SLI is the one of the frequently diagnosed atypical language phenomena found among early school-age children (McArthur et al., 2000; Spear-Swerling, 2006). For example, children with SLI have difficulty applying the Past Tense rule to verbs, even though they can accurately repeat phonolog...

The present study examined the process and product effects of note-taking strategy training on Iranian EFL learners’ comprehension and retention of written material, with gender as a moderating variable. Intermediate undergraduate EFL learners (N = 108) were assigned to experimental and control groups. The Experimental (intervention) Group received training on how to take notes, using graphic o...

Writing skill is one of the four language skills in learning English language in EFL setting. The role of self-esteem in learning second language as is one of the major important factors is very vital; because, success or failure of a learner depends mostly on the degree of ones' self-esteem. This research aimed at investigating the correlation between self-esteem and English writing achievemen...