ERIC Number: EJ1333606
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Mar
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0155-0640
EISSN: N/A
Cultural and Politico-Religious Challenges Impacting Critical Reading of Text for Iranian Postgraduates in Australia
Shokouhi, Hossein; Zaini, Amin
Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, v45 n1 p76-97 Mar 2022
This study investigates the impact of cultural and politico-religious dominance on the practice of critical reading (CR) of texts by a group of Iranian postgraduate students in Australia. Four postgraduate students were interviewed individually four times (each time for reading one text) for critical understanding of two pairs of Persian texts, each with opposing viewpoints, on current socio-political and nationalistic debates of Iran. They were then involved in a focus group discussion for further critique of each other's viewpoints. Findings indicate two major Persian constructs that influence CR: "hefz-e zaaher" 'keeping up appearances' and "ta'sob/gheyrat," approximating to 'one's honor combined with prejudice and bigotry'. Findings also reveal that participants' CR is contributed by heavy emotional attachment to nationalistic views engendered by Persian poetry. Chafe (1982), too, found that emotional attachment in appraising text was true with American English speakers. Finally, the focus group discussion had a slight impact on encouraging CR. Overall, it seems that participants' repositioned journeys in Australia have influenced their perspective.
Descriptors: Cultural Influences, Religious Factors, Graduate Students, Foreign Students, Cultural Differences, Student Attitudes, Attachment Behavior, Nationalism, Foreign Countries, Critical Reading, Political Attitudes, Criticism, Social Attitudes, Indo European Languages, Reading Materials, Social Bias, Cultural Traits, Poetry, Group Discussion, Perspective Taking, Attitude Change
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iran; Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A