Zanco Journal of Human Sciences

Sami Abdulrahman is one of the most prominent leaders and figures in the history of the Kurdish liberation movement in Iraqi Kurdistan, and his role and status in contemporary Kurdish history are particularly notable, especially during the years 1970- 1975. Due to his talent and intelligence, he became trusted by Mullah Mustafa Barzani (the leader of the Kurdish revolution), who, in turn, nominated him to be a prominent member of the negotiation delegation between the Kurdish liberation movement and the Iraqi government, which resulted in the March 11, 1970 agreement. After the agreement, he served as a Kurdish minister in the Iraqi government (1970- 1975). This study aims to highlight Sami Abdulrahman's administrative and political role during the historical period of 1970- 1975. The importance of writing this study lies in revealing new facts about Sami Abdulrahman's role in the events of Iraqi Kurdistan, his relations with Baghdad, and his activities abroad based on a number of unpublished sources and documents. The research consists of an introduction, two main chapters, and a conclusion. In the first chapter, an overview of Sami Abdulrahman's life is presented, while the second chapter is devoted to his administrative and political role during the years 1970- 1975.

legend are ancient stories after the mythological period, that were common among all nations of the world, before the advent of new forms of narrative. Reading legends sheds light on many civilization, social and cultural conditions of nations. The Kurds, being one of the oldest nations in the region, have an inexhaustible heritage of legend. In the present research, according to Joseph Campbell's theory of the “hero's journey”, has been work on Kurdish legends with a more accurate definition and understanding than has ever existed among a significant part of Kurdish researchers. In this article, while using the term legend in its true sense, which includes stories of the prehistoric era, and at same time highlighting the differences with "myth", which although the home of legends, but never the analogue of the word; This is reflected in the meanings that each of the two terms carries. The stages of the hero’s journey are shown in two examples of legends, this global model is largely consistent with Kurdish legend.

This study titled ‘Feminine Writing Style in the Works of Kurdish Women Story Writers’ aims at identifying writing styles in the works written by Kurdish and Persian women story writers. Feminine stories as an independent literary genre have their own distinctive frame and features, and narrated in a particular feminine style. Some of these features distinguish feminine from masculine works. They resort to use certain words, expressions and statements reflect their own distinctive views, perspectives and environment, such as words and rephrase related to housekeeping, makeup, domestic stuffs, maternity, etc. Women are known for their accuracy; therefore, they dive into the details while describing or illustrating an issue, making use of descriptive words. In terms of syntactic structure, they usually utilize simple and short constructions. Feminine works are full of hesitant and doubt tools. Their discourses are full of expressions that are related to emotion, curses, prayers and non-linguistic symbols. To illustrate these differences from Sara Mills perspective, the stories of Kurdish and Persian women writers have been analyzed comparatively at three linguistic levels-the word, the sentence, and the discourse - in order to demonstrate how the feminine writing style is practiced across these layers.

As a history teacher, the researcher found that there is a problem of poor academic achievement among students in history. To overcome this problem, he suggests the use of PQ4R strategy. In order to determine the effect of PQ4R strategy on academic achievement among eleventh grade students, this study used an experimental approach, two groups (experimental and controlled) in the research community, which is Sazani Girls High School in Erbil province center For the year (2024-2025), the basic sample of the study consisted of (77) girl students, who, two eleventh grades of literature (A, B), consisted of, randomly, grade (A) was selected to represent the experimental group Strategy (PQ4R) study history, and grade (b) represents the control group, who study history in the normal way, the experimental group (38) students and the control group (39) students After using the spss statistical tool (for social sciences, to analyze the results of the study, the statistical tools used are (Spearman, Person, Co-Collection and Cronbach, Tai test, Kai2 test and deviation criterion and arithmetic center and Jetman). The results showed that the experimental group's academic achievement in history has changed significantly, their level has increased, this is due to the impact of the strategy (PQ4R) implemented on the experimental group.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between educational (didactic) methods and the development of social skills among students, with a focus on the impact of modern teaching methods on the development of their social skills. The descriptive formal approach was adopted as the basic framework for investigating this relationship, through the analysis of theoretical concepts related to didactics and social interaction.
The theoretical analysis indicates that the use of modern didactic methods in the education process contributes significantly to the improvement of students’ social skills, such as cooperation, problem solving and effective communication. The study has emphasized the importance of providing an educational environment that encourages group interaction and discussion, which supports positive relationship building among students and enhances their adaptability to future work environments.
The study showed that didactic methods based on group participation and discussion are relevant in enhancing students' social skills. It also shows that teachers can have a positive impact on this process by using teaching strategies that encourage active participation and teamwork, helping students to acquire the social skills that will be necessary for them in the labor market and society.
Based on the results, it was recommended that the education system should focus more on enhancing the social skills of teachers in teaching programs by integrating interactive and group activities that encourage students to participate and collaborate

The concept of homeland is one of the central themes in Persian literature, particularly in the poetry of the Constitutional Era, where it gained new significance amid Iran's social and political transformations. In classical Persian poetry, homeland typically referred to a birthplace or a ruler's territory, lacking a deep connection to national identity. With the advent of the Constitutional Movement and the emergence of modern concepts of nation and nationalism, homeland evolved into a land defined by shared ethnic, linguistic, and cultural bonds, as reflected in the works of poets such as Malek al-Sho'ara Bahar and Hajj Qadir Kuyi.
This study, employing a descriptive-analytical approach, conducts a comparative analysis of the evolution of the homeland concept and its role in fostering nationalism in the poetry of Hajj Qadir Kuyi and Mohammad Taqi Bahar. It demonstrates how poetry became a tool for resistance and the preservation of national identity. Bahar, drawing on ancient literary traditions such as the Shahnameh and using passionate language, expresses love for the homeland and concern over threats against it, portraying the homeland as a sacred beloved. Similarly, Hajj Qadir Kuyi, as a Kurdish poet, showcases his commitment to preserving the national and religious identity of Kurds by describing the natural beauties of the homeland and warning against foreign invasions.

This study examines the role of the executive branch on the US foreign policy in the Middle East between 2001 and 2021. The executive branch has a decisive role in directing US foreign policy in the Middle East. The president has many responsibilities in US foreign policy. The most important duties of the president are commander-in-chief of the US military, head of US diplomacy, making agreements with states and appointing senior officials with the approval of the Senate. Alongside of the role the President of the United States, there are many other institutions which help president in term of implementing foreign policy. This includes, the State Department, the Department of Defense, the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). One of the goals of this study is to examine how the executive branch has influenced US foreign policy in the Middle East. Further, it is noticeable that the formulation and implementation of US foreign policy often depends on different worldviews and perspectives of presidents. In addition, presidents' policies and decisions evolve over time and vary depending on the subject matter. For example, in the relationship and treatment of US presidents with Iran, Turkey and Israel. Also, ancillary institutions have played a role in providing information, supporting policy, and implementing presidents’ policies.

Level of Psychological immunity and self-esteem among kindergarten students and the relationship between Psychological immunity and self-esteem among students and differences in level of Psychological immunity and self-esteem among students according to) first and fourth( grade and place of residence(city center - outside the city) , The research tool consists of a measure of psychological immunity based on the theory (Olah) and several other literatures created with the measure of self-esteem that the researcher has made material The sample of the research is (100) students, The data collected by the )t.test( for one sample and two samples, and the (Χ²) test, Pearson correlation , The results of the study include the level of Psychological immunity and self-esteem among students is highly , and there is a relationship between Psychological immunity and self-esteem, There is no statistically significant difference between the students regarding the level of psychological immunity based on the study level and place of residence, There is no difference among students according to the variable of study level Regarding self-esteem, but there is a difference among students on their place of residence, with the difference favoring students from outside the city, "At the end of the research, several recommendations and suggestions were presented.

Citizen participation is considered one of the crucial linkages for the development of political, economic, and social spheres in all countries, and it is also a fundamental prerequisite for the democratization process in these nations. Currently, the level of citizen participation in most countries worldwide, including democratic and industrialized nations, has declined. In the Kurdistan Region, citizen participation in parliamentary elections faces various challenges. Therefore, the significance of this study lies in its attempt to identify the main challenges contributing to the decrease in citizen participation in the Kurdistan Parliament elections - Iraq.
To clarify the importance of our topic and analyze the sections that the study aimed to address, we have identified several questions, such as: What are the most significant challenges hindering effective and widespread citizen participation in the Kurdistan Parliament elections - Iraq, and what are the impacts of these challenges? What effect do shortcomings in voter registration and the difficulty of accessing polling stations have on citizen participation in the Kurdistan Parliament elections? What role does a lack of trust in the political process and political parties play in reducing citizen participation in elections? To answer these questions, the study utilized "descriptive methods as well as system analysis" to gain a deeper understanding of the complex challenges affecting participation.
At the conclusion of the study, we identified the findings reached during our research, which include:
1. Deep economic problems and various imbalances in the economic structure, accumulated over several decades, particularly the weakness of non-oil sectors in production, income generation, and labor absorption, are among the main factors that have consistently exposed the region's economy to the threat of major crises and problems. This has contributed to the decline in citizen participation rates in the Kurdistan Parliament elections.
2. The lack of awareness regarding the fundamental principles of the democratic system, including the timely conduct of periodic elections every four years, poses another challenge to the decrease in citizen participation in the Kurdistan Parliament elections.
3. Kurdish media and communication outlets have been unable to provide citizens with adequate information and knowledge regarding their duties and rights.

In providing insight into the impact of digital media on societal harmony, this research addresses the issue of Digital Media: Algorithmic Amplification of Hate Speech and Its Impact on Coexistence and Social Cohesion in the Kurdistan Region. The study aims to identify the role of algorithms in deepening polarization and threatening peaceful coexistence among different communities. Participants were recruited through non-probability sampling, comprising 488 digital media users across the region. The study employed a survey methodology, using an electronic scale with multiple items to measure “exposure to hate speech” and “belief in coexistence.” This method is useful for analyzing associations and predictive relationships, as well as for gaining a systematic understanding of factors influencing attitudes toward coexistence. Data were analyzed using statistical tools from the SPSS program, including correlation and multiple regression analysis. The most significant findings revealed a weak positive correlation between exposure to hate speech and belief in coexistence, indicating a “defensive reaction” phenomenon within society. Place of residence and ethnicity emerged as the most influential factors, while platform usage showed no statistically significant effect. These results suggest that digital media functions more as a mirror reflecting political and geographical realities than as a primary shaper of attitudes. Furthermore, although digital media can threaten social cohesion, it paradoxically strengthens the belief in “coexistence” a cornerstone of cohesion as a counter-response.

From the fourth to the seventh centuries AH (10th-13th centuries CE), Islamic scholars emphasized that the basic principle of the state was to achieve justice, enforce Sharia law, and serve the public interest of Muslims. The duties of the state among Islamic thinkers during this period include: protecting the religion, enforcing certain punishments (al-hudud and al-qisas), collecting and distributing zakat, maintaining security, organizing the judiciary, and providing basic services such as education and assistance. This is based on the principle of consultation. Because, according to Muslim thinkers, the Islamic state embodied a legal and civil need to protect both religion and secular life.
For Islamic thinkers, the basic principles of the state are justice and equality, which is the basis of governance in the Islamic state, rejecting injustice and corruption, ensuring the implementation of rights for all. In addition to building bridges of cooperation with others, rejecting tribalism and protecting human dignity, the state is also responsible for spreading knowledge, educating people and observing religious duties.
At this stage, the state was not only a political entity, but also a religious and civil necessity aimed at ensuring the establishment of religion, organizing the life of the nation, embodying the values of justice and consultation, and providing education and livelihood. This is why Islamic political thinkers paid attention to the state and its duties during this period.
The main purpose of this study is to show how the state is run by Islamic scholars and the methods of state administration. The purpose of this study is also to highlight the duties of the state towards society and its subjects.

This study, entitled “The Association of Turkmen Tribes with the Safavid Order (1453–1488 CE)”, examines the leadership of Sheikh Junayd and Sheikh Haydar, with particular emphasis on their roles and charismatic authority in mobilizing followers. The analysis highlights the extent to which each leader was able to consolidate support, despite the dominance of the Aq Qoyunlu and Qara Qoyunlu confederations as two powerful political forces in Azerbaijan, alongside the presence of formidable regional neighbors such as the Ottomans and the Uzbeks. Furthermore, the research investigates the relationship between the diverse Turkmen tribes of Central Asia and the Safavid movement, considering both their receptivity to the Safavid religious call and their efforts to politicize this affiliation by forming a unified military force composed of Turkmen disciples and adherents.
Ultimately, the study underscores how the leadership of Sheikh Junayd and Sheikh Haydar transformed the Safavid order from a local religious community centered in the Ardabil monastery into the nucleus of an emerging political entity with broader regional aspirations.

The Dizaiy tribe has a long and distinguished history in the Erbil Plain. Although opinions vary regarding the exact time of their arrival in the region, there is a general consensus that their presence dates back to ancient times. Initially, their population was small, but over time, they grew in number and accumulated significant property and influence. This growth positioned them as key decision-makers, including in political affairs.
Culturally, the Dizaiy tribe shared similarities with the local inhabitants in customs and dress due to their active social engagement. Nevertheless, they preserved their distinct identity, maintaining a strong sense of internal cohesion. Marriage was traditionally confined within the tribe, as they preferred not to intermarry with outsiders—a practice that strengthened their unity. At the same time, the Dizaiy were known for their resilience and courage, often standing firmly against oppression and refusing to submit to unjust authority.

The Sumerian flood myth is one of the most ancient narratives recounting the decline and salvation of humanity. It unfolds through several phases, including creation, punishment, destruction, redemption, regeneration, and immortality. In this myth, Ziusudra is the central figure, and a group of deities—such as An, Enlil, Ninhursag, Nintud, Enki, and Inanna—play prominent and influential roles in the development of the narrative. The structure of the story is built upon five key stages: The pre-flood tranquility, The decree of destruction, Revelation and divine warning, The flood and cosmic silence, Salvation and renewal This study selects the oldest recorded Sumerian version of the flood myth as its core text. Through a mythological-analytical approach, it aims to examine and reconstruct all phases and underlying themes of the text, thereby offering a reinterpretation of the narrative’s foundational structure and internal coherence.

Mental imagery plays an important role in enhancing learning outcomes by supporting memory, comprehension, and problem-solving processes. Drawing on intellectual theories such as Paivio’s binary coding theory and Badley’s working memory model, this paper explores how the creation and use of mental images can improve information encoding and retrieval. A review of empirical research shows that learners who actively visualize concepts have stronger recall and deeper conceptual understanding than those who rely solely on lexical instruction. This paper also examines the implications of mental imagery for training design, demonstrating its effectiveness in areas such as science, mathematics, and language learning. Findings indicate that integrating image-directed strategies into educational practice can foster higher-order mindfulness, long-term retention, and learner engagement.

This research, titled "Metrical Alteration in the Poetry of Abid Siraj al-Din," is an attempt to identify and verify the two types of Metrical Alteration (Metrical Elision): Consonant-compatible Metrical Alteration and Incompatible Metrical Alteration. The purpose of the Metrical Alteration (Metrical Elision) is what is stated in the rules and adhered to by the poet until the end of the poem. While the non-adhering rhyme (Incompatible Metrical Alteration) is the type that the poet does not consistently follow; if it appears in one verse, it is not necessarily used in the following verses.
In addition to the introduction, the research is divided into two main sections. The first section is dedicated to theoretical aspects, where the terms of rhyme are analyzed, the concept of Metrical Alteration 'Zihaf' is presented in its simple and compound forms, and then each type is defined. As for the second section, it is dedicated to categorizing types of Metrical Alteration. This section is divided into nine main topics, each dedicated to a particular type of Metrical Alteration. After identifying the Metrical Alteration, they are presented in specific chart.

The exclusion of foreign words from other languages, natural and biological appearance results from the relationship and mixture of culture, technology, history and so on. The main objective of this research is to study the influence of foreign languages, especially neighboring languages such as Persian, Turkish, Arabic and international languages such as English in Kurdish entitled (Types of Foreign Words Objection in Narrative (Dawlat u Dil) by Narrator (Mohammed Salim Suwari). We used Microsoft Excel for statistical calculation Words. One of the main consequences of using foreign words in the narrative is that the Arabic and English words are the main ones, and others The equation is of the most common type and there is some contradiction in the equation.

This paper is entitled The Consequences of War in (The Curse of Newbaharan) from the Perspective of Ecofeminism Criticism. After the modernism period, particularly in the 1970s, literary criticism developed significantly in the world, along with various theories, methods and new movements emerged as well. Ecocriticism, including ecofeminism, draws on insights from both environmental critics and feminists. This study likely focuses on environmentalism and the negative and destructive consequences of war on the environment, nature and humans, more specifically on women. Additionally, in this study, the concepts, terms and definitions of war, environment, environmental criticism, and ecofeminism have been examined from numerous viewpoints. Importantly to us, is knowing how Kurdish novelists have perceived the dangers of war to environment and particularly how feminist-environmental is reflected in their texts. This study can be promoting environmental awareness and fostering responsibility among individuals in preventing the destruction of nature and ecosystem’s environment. Since, human survival is related to the health of environment, particularly the quality of earth, water and air. Simultaneously, respecting and preserving these elements is crucial for a beautiful, healthy and sustainable environment which directly leads to reducing its threats as well.

This study was sought to examine the efficacy of the Polya strategy in enhancing conceptual comprehension within the Teaching Methods course among third-year students enrolled in the College of Education. To achieve this objective, a cognitive test was administered to both experimental and control groups. The findings revealed a significant advantage in favor of the experimental group, indicating that the Polya strategy substantially outperforms traditional instructional methods in fostering deeper conceptual understanding. These results underscore the strategic value of structured problem-solving approaches in promoting meaningful learning outcomes across pedagogical contexts. Moreover, the Polya strategy was found to play a pivotal role in cultivating higher- order thinking skills-including analysis, synthesis, and evaluation—alongside critical and creative thinking competencies. As learners engage with complex problems, they are required to deconstruct them into fundamental components, discern interrelationships, evaluate potential solutions, and select the most effective course of action. Such cognitive engagement fosters not only a profound grasp of abstract concepts but also the capacity to apply them flexibly in diverse educational scenarios.

This study aims to examine the role of lean marketing in achieving marketing excellence through an analytical study of the opinions of managers in several mineral water factories in Erbil Governorate. The importance of the research lies in the fact that lean marketing is considered one of the modern trends in marketing thought, as it seeks to enable organizations to reduce waste, enhance operational efficiency, achieve customer satisfaction, and retain customers. The research problem is framed by the following main question: What is the role of lean marketing in achieving marketing excellence in mineral water factories in Erbil Governorate?
The study adopted the descriptive-analytical method, and data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to managers in these factories. A total of 150 valid questionnaires were retrieved out of 180 distributed. The results of the statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation and impact between the dimensions of lean marketing (reducing defective products, minimizing excess inventory, eliminating unnecessary activities, reducing waiting time, minimizing unnecessary transportation, and continuous improvement) and marketing excellence. The findings also indicated that the application of lean marketing effectively contributes to enhancing the competitive capabilities of factories and achieving superior marketing performance in the market. The study concluded with several recommendations, the most important of which is ensuring top management commitment to adopting lean marketing and providing adequate financial and human resources for its effective implementation.

The present research aims to introduce organizational ethnography as one of the key approaches to studying organizations and to explore its impact on shaping and enhancing organizational ideology—an inclusive framework that encompasses all the values, practices, and ideas guiding individual, organizational, and societal behavior. The study was conducted in the Parliament of Kurdistan, Iraq to clarify how ethnographic practices reflect on building a more coherent and effective organizational intellectual system. To achieve the research objectives and obtain the intended results, a questionnaire was designed to collect field data based on the descriptive-analytical method. It was distributed to all members of parliament using the census method, and a total of 102 valid questionnaires were returned for analysis. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS (V.27) and AMOS (V.25), with several statistical indicators calculated to form the basis for presenting and discussing the field results. The research concluded that organizational ethnography, measured through its individual and combined dimensions, has a significant effect on organizational ideology. Based on these findings, several recommendations were proposed to support parliamentary decision-makers in building a comprehensive intellectual framework for a strong and coherent organizational ideology that embodies the parliament’s overall vision, represents the will of the people in all its components, and meets their future aspirations. In addition, the study proposed several future research directions that serve the organizational field under investigation and open new horizons for exploring the relationship between ethnography and organizational ideology.

Al-Marwati presents highly distinctive texts that combine linguistic experimentation with psychological depth. He establishes a language of his own that challenges the familiar and creates its significations from the heart of strangeness. He uses his language in a deviant and displaced manner from its primary purpose. With a unique ability, using a single word from one or more linguistic roots, he generates structures in which the musicality of their words is consistent while their meanings are varied.
The study is based on uncovering the unfamiliar strangeness in a selection of his titles and texts. It clarifies how) Al-Marwati (employed innovative and unconventional writing styles, with a focus on analyzing the deep meanings and significations that result from this stylistic uniqueness, which is out of the ordinary in narration. Furthermore, it demonstrates how his precise lexical choices contribute to the formation and construction of his own world, defining its unique atmospheres and features, in order to reveal the profound implications in his choices. The study sample consisted of some of his book titles and the peculiar words and structures within his narrative texts.

This research aims to study the role of employing the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) system in enhancing the efficiency of accounting work and its impact on the quality of financial information. To achieve the study's objective and test the hypotheses, the researchers developed a questionnaire and distributed it to a sample of respondents specializing in accounting, comprising academics and professionals in the city of Erbil. The statistical software (SPSS) was used for (150) distributed questionnaires to analyze the data and extract the results. The study concluded that employing the Robotic Process Automation system contributes to improving the quality of accounting work as it affects the mediator and dependent variables by (78.40%), and the results of the mediator variable indicate its impact percentage (81.14%). This suggests that the efficiency of accounting work is a pivotal element in linking the use of automation technologies and achieving the quality of financial information. The results of the dependent variable indicate that its impact rate is (81.60%), which suggests that the basic and enhancing characteristics are the main axis in raising the quality of financial information. The study recommended the necessity of economic units adopting the (RPA) technology to enhance their accounting work and raise the quality of their financial information.

This study presents a stylistic reading of the phenomenon of phonetic variations in Sayyid Qutb's In the Shade of the Qur'an (In the Shade of the Qur'an), describing them as rhythmic mechanisms that operate semantically and are not understood as verbal ornamentation. The study reorganizes Qutb's references into a procedural classification of rhythmic patterns (general rhythm, interval rhythm, rhythmic coherence, successive waves, etc.) and links them to observable indicators such as interval length, rhyme closure, degrees of parallelism and repetition, and letter characteristics. Textual comparisons demonstrate that the shift in subject and scene within the surah is accompanied by a calculated change in rhythmic meter and interval formulation, deepening the surah's artistic unity and controlling its emotional impact. The results contribute to transforming scattered observations into an applicable and comparable model, and paving the way for integration with performance studies and computational analysis of rhythm.

The Ankawa dialect is one of the Neo-Aramaic dialects in which the verb system has not previously been the subject of scholarly study. For this reason, the present research examines the Consonantal verb (biliteral, triliteral, and quadriliteral) in this dialect. The study adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology to achieve its objectives, whereby verbs were extracted from audio recordings conducted with native speakers of the dialect. The article analyzes the conjugations of five key forms, namely: the active participle, the perfect, the passive participle, the imperative, and the infinitive, within the three verbal patterns. (pʿal ܦܥܲܠ, paʿʿel ܦܲܥܸܠ,apʿel ܐܲܦܥܸܠ ) The research arrives at several conclusions, including, for example, the presence of all three patterns in this dialect, as well as the availability of examples representing each of the five conjugational forms.
In addition to its academic and scientific value, the importance of this study lies in its documentation of the speech of elderly men and women who are native speakers of this endangered dialect.

This study explores intercultural competence from the perspective of learners in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq at public and private universities. The main goal was to identify students’ perceptions and the challenges in an educational field in both universities, with a focus on diverse cultural contexts. The research further highlights the importance of intercultural competence in enhancing EFL professional development. Seventy sophomores from the public university and thirty-three students of the same level from the private university participated in the study. A descriptive research design employing both quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted. Questionnaire and classroom observations served as the primary tools for the secondary source data collection. Descriptive analysis, including an independent t-test, was used to compare findings between the two types of universities. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied as a narrative process to interpret the collected data. The results indicated that students at the public university obtained a mean score of 3.47 demonstrating a higher level than the private university’s estimated score of 3.36, having a slightly lower percentage. Thus, the results for both universities were below p<0.05, and there were no statistical differences between them on the tested variable; nevertheless, the findings are significant. Generally, the results revealed positive perceptions from students towards intercultural competence, although they faced challenges in the learning process based on the analysis of classroom observations.

Migration narratives predominantly focus on male experience, likewise critics and scholars have often directed their attention to male protagonists. Yet, this paper aims to spotlight on female migratory experience as displayed through the character of Ashima in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake (2003). The research claims that Ashima’s experience is overlooked by critics and researchers in favor of Gogol, the male protagonist in the novel. Through Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Intersectional theory, this research investigates Ashima’s migratory journey, highlighting the intersectional complications facing her as she navigates her journey in the United States. The study maintains that her experience is not shaped by a single factor, rather by the overlapping factors of gender, race, class, and migratory status. Concludingly, the analysis emphasizes that Ashima’s traditional gender roles are not only means of oppression but also foundations for her transformation. Thus, female migrants may have the ability to successfully overcome intersectional oppression and take advantage from them for asserting their agency.

Artificial intelligence tools are adaptive technological systems that personalize learning experiences through intelligent feedback mechanisms. Despite growing availability, AI tools are rarely used in EFL classrooms across the Kurdistan Region, where educators continue relying on traditional instruction methods. This approach limits student engagement and creates learning barriers, particularly for students struggling with elevated anxiety levels. This descriptive study examines the impact of AI tools on motivation and the reduction of learning anxiety among Kurdish high school students. The research employed a quantitative approach using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire distributed to 301 students from grades 10-11 across six English systematic schools during the 2024-2025 academic year. This study measured student perceptions of AI's impact rather than experimentally verified outcomes. Reliability testing confirmed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.865, with data analysis conducted using SPSS (Version 27). Findings show that AI tools substantially boost student motivation, as 74.1% agreed that AI makes English learning more enjoyable compared to traditional methods. Adaptive feedback, interactivity, and self-paced practice were features students reported as improving engagement. Some students had challenges with technical issues; however, many of them felt far more secure by rehearsing tough concepts privately. Furthermore, AI tools fostered psychologically safe learning environments that reduced both academic and social anxieties. Nevertheless, some students reported that unfamiliarity with AI technology initially heightened stress levels, suggesting that gradual implementation with proper support is essential. The research emphasizes the importance of careful AI integration and thoughtful instructional design. Properly implemented AI tools can effectively bridge traditional anxiety-inducing teaching methods with supportive, student-centered learning environments.

The paper explores Gharbi Mustafa’s novel, What Comes with the Dust (2018), which portrays the status of Kurdish Yezidis who were targeted as a religious minority. The text reflects on the social and political life in the disputed Kurdistani territories that have been previously Arabized let alone political attempts to separate them from the Kurds. They have faced many operations from the surrounding entities and were always treated as others; devalued and marginalized people. Their villages, and history were targeted in addition to denying their political, religious, and cultural rights. The suffering of the Yezidis, more specifically the female characters, is to a great degree a traumatic experience where they feel disvalued and marginalized. The novel showcases the regressive, radical, inhumane treatment the Yezidi female characters faced under ISIS and by people under ISIS. The Kurdish Yezidis, as a religious minority were left unprotected after the Iraqi army’s destruction in the disputed territories. This resulted in distrust and led to thousands of casualties, the enslavement of women and children, the mass murder of the males, and the destruction of their houses. The novel portrays characters that were stuck in a harsh reality as they were targeted due to their religious and ethnic identities in post-colonial Middle East. The novel will be analyzed through postcolonial otherness and trauma theories to find out how such experienced affected

Translation quality assessment models have been a central focus in the field of applied translation studies. They systematically assess translations by examining key aspects of translation quality, such as accuracy, fluency, terminology, style, and grammar. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of House’s (2015) model. The model, widely recognized as it is highly influential in translation quality assessment, has not been evaluated for its broader effectiveness and limitations. It was originally tested by House herself to a limited number of English-German text samples only. This lack of comprehensive evaluation leaves an important gap in understanding its applicability and workability in practice. The research methodology involved selecting six English translated into Arabic. These translated texts were assessed according to House’s (2015) model criteria, followed by an evaluation of the model through a structured questionnaire by professional evaluators. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted to analyze the data. The findings showed that House’s (2015) model was effective, reliable, and suitable for analyzing both literary and non-literary text types. It offered a comprehensive approach to assessing translation quality by taking into account linguistic, contextual, and functional elements, and provides a structured framework for evaluating various text types.

This study analyses long-term changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in the semi-mountainous region of Dohuk Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq during the period 2000-2023, utilising Landsat satellite imagery (Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI), and Machine Learning (ML) classification techniques. The terrain of the study area is characterised by an intertwined landscape, combining plateaus and agricultural plains. This creates spectral challenges in distinguishing between similar land categories and makes the area an ideal model for testing the effectiveness of ML algorithms in complex environments.
Using the ArcGIS 3.5 environment, supervised classification was performed employing a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. The results demonstrated clear changes in LULC patterns, with the planted/cultivated category increasing from 26.5% to 31.3%. The developed area also increased from 3.5% to 7.4%, while barren land decreased from 42.1% to 35%. Overall classification accuracies were 99.04% for 2000 and 97.10% for 2023, with Kappa values of 0.9868 and 0.9609, respectively, indicating high classification performance. Major LULC changes that occurred in the study are, including the conversion of large areas of barren to planted/cultivated and herbaceous categories, reflecting the effects of urban expansion and unsustainable land use in the study area.

Abstract
This research aims to investigate the impact of Microsoft Power BI affects financial performance analysis in industrial firms in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. As more businesses rely on big data and digital tools to make data-driven decisions, Power BI has become a popular business intelligence tool. The research addresses the lack of real evidence showing how Power BI helps with key financial areas including revenue, expenses, cash flow, profitability, financial health, and investment appraisal.
To investigate this, a quantitative approach was used with a structured questionnaire sent to 20 industrial companies in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok. Out of 87 surveys sent, 78 valid responses were collected. The data was analysis using correlation and regression to examine how Power BI’s features like cost reduction, productivity improvement, and competitive advantage relate to financial performance.
The results show that Power BI has a positive impact most financial areas, especially profitability, investment appraisal, and revenue. Among the features studied, competitive advantage had the strongest effect, while cost reduction had a smaller impact.
In conclusion, the study shows that using Power BI to analysis big data in financial processes facilitates better decision-making, faster reporting, and stronger financial control. This highlights the value of BI tools for industrial firms in developing regions and suggests that more companies should adopt digital solutions for financial management.

The effectiveness of the Lexical Approach in improving the writing skills of Kurdish EFL students at Salahaddin University in Erbil is examined in this study. Based on Lewis's (1993) theory that views language as "grammaticalised lexis," the study investigates whether teaching lexical chunks, collocations, and prefabricated expressions can improve general writing proficiency as well as the fundamental skills of complexity, accuracy, and fluency. With 100 second-year university students, a quasi-experimental design was adopted. The experimental group received lexical exercises aimed at improving CAF by extensive exposure to the Lexical Approach, whereas the control group received instruction using a conventional, non-lexical method. Although both groups improved their writing abilities, the experimental group performed noticeably better than the control group on tests of complexity, syntactic diversity, and the proper use of target lexical pieces in a variety of sentence constructions. Both alternative hypotheses were confirmed and relate to previous studies in similar EFL settings overseas, highlighting the didactic importance of teaching lexical phrases. However, statistical analysis using SPSS clearly showed significant improvements for the experimental group across all aspects of writing and facets of complexity, accuracy, and fluency, with a remarkably higher post-test average variation of 24.32 points between the two clusters (p < 0.001). According to the findings, the Lexical Approach is a successful and regionally appropriate method for advancing EFL writing proficiency in Kurdish colleges. Implications include improved student writing, better language learning results, and the possibility of raising the standard of English instruction in Kurdistan. Future research that replicates this work, however, would contribute to further confirming the effectiveness of this strategy in various educational settings.

The present study is an attempt to tackle the role of rhetorical devices in two selected short stories. The purpose of the study is to provide a semantic analysis of some rhetorical devices in these two stories “A Mother” by James Joyce and “The End of the Party” by Graham Greene. The rhetorical devices are a group of language elements used by authors for the enhancement of meaning in literary works for stylistic purposes. The study uses lexical semantics approach as a theoretical model to discuss five rhetorical devices semantically, namely simile, metaphor, personification, irony and metonymy. The researcher focused on a descriptive qualitative method to identify and investigate the meaning and use of each rhetorical device in various extracts of the fore-mentioned stories to demonstrate the impact of these devices upon the reader. The findings of the study indicate that the rhetorical devices play different roles in the literary texts, such as constructing meaning, emphasizing meaning and contradicting meaning. In addition to the esthetic role, rhetorical devices are known as “persuasive devices”, playing a seminal role in the philosophy of language for persuading readers of the notions provided by the authors in question.

Discourse coherence is crucial in simultaneous interpreting (SI), ensuring that the target audience understands the logical flow and purpose of the speaker’s message, not just the propositional meaning. Among the elements that maintain coherence, inferential discourse markers (IDMs) such as therefore, so, thus, and as a result are particularly essential as they express reasoning, cause-effect, and conclusions. However, there is limited research on these markers in English-Kurdish interpreting. This study fills this gap by exploring how IDMs are handled in English-Kurdish SI through the analysis of two speeches (legal and scientific), with 10 interpretations produced by five Kurdish professional simultaneous interpreters. For examining the data, qualitative coding was used to identify IDMs, and a comparative analysis was used to investigate the strategies applied by the interpreters for rendering IDMs. The findings reveal that the dominant strategy was direct equivalence (DE), particularly for frequent and recognized markers, while paraphrasing (PP) and substitution (SUB) were applied for markers without fixed direct equivalents. Omission was rare, with only two instances. The results highlight the importance of training interpreters to recognize the pragmatic functions of DMs and depend on appropriate strategies for rendering them, providing implications for interpreter training and discourse studies.

Listening remains central in EFL classrooms but is still under-studied, particularly for adolescents in low-resource settings. This study aimed to examine whether meaning-focused Comprehensible Input (CI) delivered in a blended format outperforms conventional accuracy-focused drills. Two intact eighth-grade classes (N = 44) at a K–8 school in Halabja, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, completed eight weeks of instruction. Listening was measured with parallel forms of the Cambridge A2 Key (KET) test, and baseline comparability was checked before analysis. An ANCOVA with pre-test as covariate showed a clear group effect favoring CI, F(1, 41) = 13.83, p < .001, partial η² = .252; adjusted means were 16.75 (SE = 0.30) for the experimental (CI) group and 15.16 (SE = 0.30) for the control group. A gain-score check pointed the same way (d = 1.05). Taken together, the findings suggest that abundant, level-matched input—supported by simple smartphone-based tools—can improve EFL listening for secondary learners. The study used class-level assignment (two clusters) and online engagement was not equated across groups; therefore, the results should be read with caution. To strengthen the evidence and aid classroom adoption, future work should use more classes with cluster randomization, include fidelity checks, and add follow-up testing to see whether gains last.

This study investigates the impact of a student-centered approach (SCA) on Kurdish EFL university students’ academic speaking skills. This topic is significant because there are theoretical and empirical gaps in the existing literature. While prior research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has focused on general English (EGP), little has addressed English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and academic speaking skills in particular. In fact, no studies have provided a practical and replicable step by step SCA framework. Furthermore, existing research has failed to accurately and systematically measure both objective performance through tests and subjective learner perceptions through questionnaires. Using a quantitative research design, this study employed a 12-week intervention with 45 students from the University of Sulaimani, College of Dentistry, Department of Basic Sciences, split into an experimental group (SCA) and a control group (TCA). The findings show that the SCA was more effective numerically than the traditional TCA across all measured components. But the fluency and coherence component was the only component with a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group. This study fills a critical gap by providing a tailored, five-step SCA model to give teachers clearly defined classroom practices. This work also reveals a warning: while the SCA is highly effective, it may foster overestimation or overconfidence without actual competence. Ultimately, this paper provides an evidence-based pedagogical background for enhancing academic speaking proficiency in the KRI context.

Writing is considered one of the most essential skills that EFL students need for communication in academia and their future professions. However, it is deemed challenging by various scholars in the field of teaching and learning. The current study aims to find out the effect of utilizing the handwriting (re-writing) technique on developing Kurdish EFL students’ descriptive paragraph writing. The sample of the study consists of 66 students who are divided into two groups of 33 students each. One group is assigned as a control group that is taught conventionally, while the second group is assigned as an experimental group in which, along with the module content, participants are required to handwrite extra supplemental materials such as reading comprehension passages and short stories as weekly homework. A mixed-methods approach has been utilized to gather the required data namely pre- and post-tests and a focus group interview. Moreover, descriptive and inferential statistics were used via utilizing Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze the data gathered from the pre- and post-tests. In addition, the focus group interview results have been analyzed thematically. The results of the post-tests clearly show that by the end of the semester, the experimental group students outperformed their counterparts in the control group in writing descriptive paragraphs (p. value .000). Along this, the focus group interview results support the post-tests results’ findings and confirm the positive impact of handwriting integration on enhancing the Kurdish EFL students’ descriptive paragraph writing performance. Furthermore, the focus group interview results further indicate that handwriting integration enhanced the Kurdish EFL students’ autonomy and self-reliance in writing.