Zeinab Azizi - Assistant Professor. Department of Teaching English and Linguistics, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ayatollah Borujerdi University, Borujerd City, Iran
Ehsan Namaziandost - PhD in Applied Linguistics (TEFL); Department of General Courses, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Though dynamic assessment (DA) has gained strong theoretical and empirical support over the last decades, second language (L۲) practitioners have blamed it for its applicability in large classes. To ameliorate this limitation, peer-dynamic assessment (peer-DA), rooted in the conceptualization of zone of proximal development (ZPD), can be introduced and practiced as an alternative approach. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of peer-DA on cultivating Iranian upper-intermediate EFL learners’ interlanguage pragmatic (ILP) competence. Additionally, it was to disclose how peer-DA leads to improving the learners’ ILP competence. To achieve these aims, a sample of ۸۴ upper-intermediate EFL learners, including females was selected through a convenience sampling method at Iran Language Institute in Borujerd City, Iran. Then, a total of ۳۷ EFL learners whose scores fell around the mean score were selected and randomly assigned to two groups, namely an experimental (n = ۱۹) and a control (n = ۱۸). Then, they went through a pre-test, interventions (lasting ۱۶ one-hour sessions held two times a week), and a post-test. The experimental group’s interactions were meticulously recorded. The collected data were analyzed through two independent samples t-tests, and the microgenetic development approach. Findings documented a statistically significant difference between the experimental group and control group concerning the gains of ILP competence on the post-test. Furthermore, the results of the microgenetic development analysis evidenced how the gradual, contingent prompts could lead to noticeable improvements in the learning of ILP features. These findings may have some pedagogical implications for different stakeholders.

Zone of Proximal Development, Interlanguage pragmatic competence, Peer-dynamic assessment, Microgenetic development approach, EFL learners