APA Citation: Yazdfazeli, M. Motallebzadeh, K., Fatemi, M. A. (2015). Explicit back-channel strategy training and improvement of speaking skill: case of Iranian EFL learners. Doff (1990) and Harmer (1991), post-test oral proficiency test was administered for experimental and control groups. The findings of pretest and posttest oral exams revealed that EFL language learners' oral performance (speaking) in experimental groups improved. The result revealed that females employed back-channels more often than males when they were participating in a conversation. The type of back-channel both genders employed the most was short utterances, such as 'yes', and the most used function of back-channel was request for clarification. The results of this thesis will provide language teachers, EFL language learners, researchers, material developers, and readers, useful information about the types and functions of back channels that are needed to develop speaking ability appropriately through explicit teaching.

Abstract-The issues of job and entrepreneurship have been always the concerns of students as well as every academic environment in Iran and other countries. University degrees are no longer sure fire formulas for high profile employment. The current study tries to investigate the employment rate of two university majors, namely Persian Literature and English Literature as a comparative analysis. A questionnaire was employed to investigate the related factors. Due to unavailability of the graduates, they were contacted via phone and asked to give their response to questionnaire items. The results of the study showed a big contrast between the two groups. English graduates have a good place in the Iranian labor market, while Persian graduates have a hard time finding employment.