Department of English Language Education and Applied Linguistics

The field of Foreign Language Education—more specifically, what specialists in the discipline commonly refer to as Applied Linguistics, with particular emphasis on English Language Teaching (ELT) across diverse domains of the humanities, social sciences, and clinical sciences—has long been committed to advancing educational excellence through a nuanced understanding of the nature and functions of the English language. This discipline engages in systematic scholarly inquiry into a broad spectrum of issues pertaining to language teaching and learning. Through its specialized academic and professional frameworks, it adopts a field-oriented and problem-centered approach to investigating the challenges and barriers associated with language education, while employing rigorous scientific, innovative, and creative methodologies to develop comprehensive and sustainable solutions.

From the perspective of the social sciences and humanities, language education is inherently interdisciplinary, integrating theoretical constructs and foundational principles derived from multiple academic domains. Indeed, it may be characterized as both interdisciplinary and, in certain respects, intradisciplinary in nature. Concepts and theories originating from fields such as psychology, sociology, language pedagogy, educational measurement and assessment, and curriculum studies converge within this discipline, all under the overarching focus of language education. Furthermore, a wide range of specialized areas—including psycholinguistics, speech and language disorders (including clinical perspectives), language assessment, discourse analysis, second language acquisition, and language policy and planning—constitute integral components of its scholarly and professional landscape.

The primary mission of the Department of English Language Education at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, is to transcend and optimize traditional paradigms of language teaching, learning, and assessment, with particular attention to the instruction of English for General Purposes (EGP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) among students in medical and allied health disciplines. The Department is dedicated to the critical examination of prevailing English language teaching models employed in English-speaking countries while emphasizing the localization and contextualization of pedagogical practices. It further seeks to promote transformative perspectives regarding the role of English language educators, deepen understanding of the cultural, political, and social dimensions of language and language learning, and harness contemporary educational technologies to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of English language education within Iran.

In pursuit of these objectives, the Department endeavors to establish a robust and contextually appropriate model for English language education across diverse educational settings, including schools, language institutes, and universities of medical sciences throughout Iran and the broader Middle East region. Moreover, through sustained scholarly commitment and academic perseverance, the Department strives to develop and produce instructional materials tailored to the fields of medicine and allied health sciences, drawing upon the expertise of its indigenous faculty members. In doing so, it seeks to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of comprehensive, rigorous, and globally relevant knowledge.

The Department of English Language Education at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences was established in 1986 (1365 Iranian calendar) under the leadership of Seyed Samad Sajjadi and Dr. Ahmadi.

At present, the Department is chaired by Dr. Maryam Heydarpour Meymeh, who oversees its academic, educational, and research activities.