زهرا نادری فرجاد

Online learning is one of the educational channels that learners and educational centers have recently turned to. However, there are still concerns about its effectiveness. The aim of the study was to explain learners' perspectives on the effectiveness of online learning. The present study was a qualitative study using content analysis method that was conducted in 1402. The participants were 38 female (n=22) and male (n=16) language learners from Tehran Language School who had experience in online learning and were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected and analyzed through interviews. The overall analysis of the interviews indicates that 63% of learners (n=24) rated the method as weak, 20% (n=8) rated the method as average, and 17% (n=6) rated the method as good. 29 percent (n=11) believed that the method was effective in improving their knowledge, and 23 percent (n=9) considered the method effective in improving speaking skills. 15 percent (n=6) are willing to participate in online learning again and 83 percent (n=31) believed that the most important problem of online learning is the lack of necessary infrastructure and 83.6 percent (n=32) of the participants believe that the best learning method to improve English language skills is face-to-face learning. The findings indicate that online learning is not a suitable method for improving English language knowledge and skills compared to face-to-face education and if it is necessary to learn English online, it is necessary to provide infrastructure.

An intervention study was conducted to investigate whether individuals with Down syndrome would benefit from teaching alphabetic skill and single word reading in foreign /second language despite their phonological, cognitive, memory, and intellectual disabilities. This study is a part of a longitudinal case study focusing on developing a program for reading English done at three stages which comprised teaching English alphabet, vocabulary, and reading. The study focused on a Persian speaking girl with Down syndrome who demonstrated phonological deficit prior to intervention. Data were collected by video recording, documentation, and keeping diaries. Assessments of progress were made at the beginning of a new session following the last teaching session and maintenance of gains was held three months after the last teaching session. The result showed significant gains in reading monosyllabic words. The findings demonstrated that Down syndrome individuals can learn basic reading skill in second / foreign language using "combined approach of phonics and reading" along with multisensory language learning approach (MSL).