The application of zone of proximal development (ZPD), as a major tenet of Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT, 1978), has recently been invited in the L2 learning/teaching profession. This study mainly examined whether Iranian EFL learners’ interactions in diverse ZPD-activated proximal contexts through the use of storytelling instruction could improve their oral (speaking) proficiency and at...

Vocabulary acquisition through extensive reading is significant and should be treated with substantial concern. Learning the usage and meaning of words incidentally in their contexts and developing inferencing skill to understand unknown words during extensive reading is a powerful contributor to vocabulary growth. Research showing that incidental vocabulary acquisition through extensive readin...

The present Study aimed to examine the efficacy of using literary texts in promoting intercultural communication competence, and intercultural awareness and understanding within language teaching contexts. The participants were 50 Iranian undergraduate students of English Literature, 20 male and 30 female, with their ages ranging from 19 to 24 engaged in reading and discussing literary texts wi...

This study explores the perception of English monophthongs by native speakers of Mandarin (hereafter NSMs). The data were collected at the phonetics laboratory at Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (hereafter JUST), China. The results reveal that the overall percentage of correct vowel perception is 81.2%, that the phonetic contexts affect the subjects’ vowel perception, and that the ...

Project-based language teaching (PBLT) provides a number of potential language learning benefits through opportunities for authentic meaningful language use. Previous research has also indicated how PBLT can encourage student motivation and develop learner autonomy. However, mixed findings have been found when implementing PBLT in Asian contexts. The aim of this study was to describe the develo...

Although studies on L2 learning strategies are a major strand of second-language research, recent research interest has focussed on language learners’ metacognitive knowledge or awareness of strategies. Previous research has shed important light on the amelioration in L2 educational practices,but little researchis focused on EFL learners in input-poor environments. This paper reports on a study...

This  paper  focuses  on  some  pragmatic  expressions  that  are  characteristic  of  informal  spoken English, their possible equivalents in some other languages, and their use by EFL learners from different  backgrounds.  These  expressions,  called  general  extenders  (e.g.  and  stuff,  or something), are shown to be different from discourse markers and to exhibit variation in form, funct...

Elderly people commonly suffer from dyspnoea, which may stem from expiratory flow limitation (EFL). The relationship between EFL, as assessed by the negative expiratory pressure method and spirometric indices, was investigated in an elderly French population. Subjects, aged 66-88 yrs, filled in socio-demographic and standardised questionnaires, which dealt with: medical history, smoking status ...

This systematic review paper attempts to present the current database on effects of explicit connected speech instruction English as a Second Language (ESL) or Foreign (EFL) learners’ perceptive skills and production. A total 22 studies were gathered across digital through selective searching key terms. Using format by Thomson Derwing (2014), following information was tabulated: participants’ d...

To quantify gene expressions by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (Q-RT-PCR) in natural diatom assemblages, it is necessary to seek a biomass reference specific to the target species. Two housekeeping genes, TBP (encoding the TATA box-binding protein) and EFL (encoding the translation elongation factor-like protein), were evaluated as candidates for reference genes in Q-RT-PCR assays. Tran...