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The optimal implementation of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in Iranian EFL higher education faces some challenges despite its incremental growth. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate the current challenges affecting university professors' and students' adoption of CALL in Iranian EFL contexts. For this purpose, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with three purposeful sampling groups of participants, both before and after the temporary shutdown of the educational sector due to COVID-۱۹ spread. Therefore, ۳۳ interviewees—university EFL professors, students, and Information Technology Support Engineers (IT-SE)— took part in an interview which took approximately ۹۰ minutes for each, conducted in person or over WhatsApp and Skype platforms. All the interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis by the first researcher and an assistant researcher. The obtained results highlighted nine major categories of themes that indicated the obstacles and challenges of optimal CALL implementation. These challenges are related to ۱) technological dimension, ۲) teacher dimension ۳) student dimension, ۴) software and hardware dimension, ۵) sanctions and filtering dimension, ۶) curriculum dimension, ۷) the nature of e-learning dimension, ۸) socioeconomic and cultural dimension, and ۹) university administrators' dimension.  It was the sanctions and filtering dimension, the nature of e-learning dimension, and the socioeconomic dimension that were exclusive to this study. Each of these major themes includes a set of minor themes. The results can contribute to educational planners, curriculum and material developers, and teachers to develop education programs for optimal CALL implementation in Iranian EFL higher education by removing the challenges.
 

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متخصصان درامر یادگیری زبان تکنیک‌های مختلفی را جهت آموزش واژه، به‌عنوان یکی از پایه‌های مهم فرآیند آموزش زبان معرفی کرده‌اند؛ یکی از آن‌ها ارائه واژه‌ها در گروه‌واژه‌های دارای ارتباط معنایی و یا فاقد ارتباط معنایی می‌باشد. این تحقیق بر آن است تا بررسی کند آیا در یادگیری واژه از طریق دو تکنیک گروه‌واژه‌‌های متضاد و گروه‌واژه‌های فاقد ارتباط معنایی، تفاوت معناداری بین فراگیران ایرانی‌ زبان انگلیسی با سطوح مهارت زبانی متفاوت (سطح مهارت زبانی بالا و پایین) و با جنسیت‌های متفاوت (مؤنث و مذکر) وجود دارد؟ بدین منظور ۱۲۰ دانش‌آموز(۶۰ مذکر و ۶۰ مؤنث) در دو آزمون اطلاعات واژه‌ای و معنی واژه‌ها شرکت کردند. جهت تجزیه وتحلیل داده‌های مرتبط با این تحقیق، «تجزیه واریانس دوسویه» به‌ کار ‌گرفته شد. نتایج نشان داد که شرکت‌کنندگان در گروه‌واژه‌‌های فاقد ارتباط معنایی، عملکرد بهتری نسبت به همتا‌‌‌‌یان خود در گروه‌واژه‌‌های متضاد داشتند و همچنین در هر گروه، شرکت‌کنندگان با سطح مهارت زبانی بالا، نمره بهتری نسبت به همتایان خود در سطح مهارت زبانی پایین کسب کردند. نتایج این تحقیق بیانگر این امربود که شرکت‌کنندگان مؤنث در تمامی گروه‌ها، عملکرد بهتری نسبت به همتایان مذکرشان نشان دادند. هدف از انجام این پژوهش یافتن این امر است که از میان دو تکنیک ذکرشده برای آموزش واژه، کدام‌یک می‌تواند روش مناسب‌تری برای آموزش واژه به فراگیران ایرانی زبان انگلیسی با دو سطح مهارت زبانی متفاوت و دو جنسیت مختلف می‌باشد.

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Cognitive Training (CT) refers to programs designed to enhance the efficiency of cognitive and brain mechanisms through practice and/or intentional instruction. A highly controversial issue in the field of Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) is its possible transferability to non-trained areas; one untouched discipline is second language (L۲) learning. Hence, due to the facilitative role of attention and the predictive strength of working memory in L۲ development and comprehension, CCT seems necessary for English language learners. Furthermore, few studies have investigated users’ perceptions of potential improvements in their cognitive functioning. To fill such inherent gaps and overcome the imposed barriers of conducting intervention studies during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic era, this study adopted an interdisciplinary approach to explore English language learners’ self-perceived Far Transfer (FT) effects of Remote Adaptive Multi-Domain Computerized Cognitive Training (RAMCCT) in general cognitive functioning and L۲-specific cognitive functioning. Thus, online observations of L۲ receptive skills courses (reading and listening) and synchronous semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a convenience sample of ۱۱ intermediate EFL learners who completed eight weeks of RAMCCT. Thematic Analysis (TA) revealed perceived advances in working memory, attention, multitasking, processing speed, hand-eye/ear coordination in general cognitive functioning, and improvements in either one or both of the L۲ receptive skills in terms of attention and comprehension and speed. The results are discussed by the corresponding links between attention, working memory, and multitasking, together with the automatization of the core cognitive processes. Implications address game designers, L۲ teachers, teacher training programs, and researchers.