Unveiling the Invisible Gem: Identifying the Obstacles on the Path of Critical Literacy Practices in EFL Digital Classes in Iran

Salimi, Esmaeel Ali; Ostad, Omid

doi:10.22049/jalda.2024.28312.1521

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Esmaeel Ali Salimi ¹
Omid Ostad ²

¹ Associate Professor of Applied linguistics, English Department, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, University of Allameh Tabataba’i, Tehran, Iran

² PhD Candidate in TEFL, Allameh Tabataba’i University (ATU), Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22049/jalda.2024.28312.1521

Abstract

In the present climate, Critical Literacy has become an area gathering momentum more than ever before, tantamount to an ‘invisible gem’ as almost many education systems have attempted, but failed, to incorporate it into their curricula. To address this elusive notion, this study aimed to investigate the obstacles in the way of possible dilemmas, challenges, constraints, and limitations Iranian EFL teachers face in the process of implementing critical literacy in their online classes. This qualitative research study was conducted in two phases. First, an open-ended set of questions was developed after reviewing the literature, scrutinizing the existing questionnaires, and collecting data from experts in the field. To do so, after reviewing the literature, a list of questions was composed. Subsequently, qualitative data were collected (and analyzed) from 29 EFL teachers through an open-ended questionnaire and interview. The framework and elicited data led to the development of 23 items for the interview part. Accordingly, the online classes of all the teachers were observed by the researchers for an entire term. From what has been discussed, the following conclusion may be drawn that critical literacy needs to be part of the language teaching curricula in Iran. The finding can potentially aid the key educational stakeholders, including second/foreign language (L2) policymakers, teacher educators, authorities in charge of recruiting teachers, and materials developers, to take appropriate measures to increase pre- and in-service L2 teachers’ critical literacy and, as a result, encourage the implementation of this key concept in the instructional contexts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

1. Applied Linguistics (Language Teaching and Learning)

Article Title [Persian]

رونمایی از گوهر نامرئی: شناسایی موانع بر سر راه اجرای فرآیند سواد انتقادی در کلاس‌های آنلاین درایران

Authors [Persian]

دکتر اسمعیل علی سلیمی ¹
امید استاد ²

¹ دانشیار زبانشناسی کاربردی، گروه زبان و ادبیات انگلیسی، دانشکده ادبیات فارسی و زبان های خارجی، دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی، تهران، ایران

² دانشجوی دکتری آموزش زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی، تهران، ایران

Abstract [Persian]

در اوضاع و شرایط کنونی، سواد انتقادی تبدیل به حوزه‌ای شده است که بیش از هر زمان دیگری شتاب گرفته و در حکم « گوهر نامرئی» است، چرا که تقریباً بسیاری از سیستم‌های آموزشی کوشیده اند آن را در برنامه‌های درسی خود جای دهند. به منظور بررسی این مفهوم،این پژوهش بر آن است تا معضلات احتمالی، چالش‌ها، محدودیت‌ها، به ویژه محدودیت‌هایی را که معلمان زبان انگلیسی ایرانی در فرآیند اجرای سواد انتقادی در کلاس‌های آنلاین خود با آن مواجه هستند بررسی کند.این پژوهش کیفی در دو مرحله انجام شد. در مرحله نخست، پس از بررسی ادبیات تحقیق و سنجش دقیق پرسشنامه‌های موجود و جمع‌آوری داده‌ها از متخصصان این حوزه، مجموعه‌ای از پرسش‌های باز، تهیه و فهرست شد. سپس، داده های کیفی جمع آوری شده از ۲۹ معلم زبان انگلیسی از طریق پرسشنامه باز و مصاحبه، مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. چارچوب و داده های استخراج شده، به توسعه ۲۳ پرسش برای بخش مصاحبه رهنمون شد. بر این اساس، کلاس های آنلاین کلیه معلمان برای یک ترم کامل از سوی نگارنده مشاهده شد. با در نظر گرفتن یافته ها و دیگر موارد مطرح شده، می توان چنین نتیجه گرفت که بخشی از برنامه های درسی آموزش زبان در ایران باید به سواد انتقادی اختصاص یابد. این یافته‌ها به طور بالقوه به متولیان امر آموزش، از جمله سیاست‌گذاران زبان دوم/خارجی، مربی معلمان، مقامات مسئول جذب معلمان، و توسعه‌دهندگان مواد آموزشی کمک می‌کند تا اقدامات مناسبی برای افزایش سواد انتقادی معلمان زبان دوم/خارجی قبل و حین خدمت انجام دهند که در نتیجه، ترغیب اجرای این مفهوم کلیدی را در زمینه آموزشی به دنبال دارد.

Keywords [Persian]

سواد انتقادی
موانع
کلاس های آنلاین زبان انگلیسی
دانشجویان ایرانی

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Unveiling the Invisible Gem: Identifying the Obstacles on the Path of Critical Literacy Practices in EFL Digital Classes in Iran

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Volume 12, Issue 1 - Serial Number 23April 2024Pages 25-50

Volume 12, Issue 1 - Serial Number 23
April 2024
Pages 25-50