Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities

The Impacts of Watching Videos on Improving Tertiary-Level Students’ English Language Speaking Skill

Jamil Rahman Zayraey — 2025-01-28

In the current era of integrating innovative teaching and learning tools and methods, video-based learning has become a valuable strategy for language instructors and learners. Therefore, students utilize this effective strategy within their classroom activities and integrate it into their independent learning tasks outside their classroom environment. This research aims to explore the impacts of watching videos on improving tertiary-level students’ English language speaking skill, with a further focus on vocabulary, motivation, pronunciation, and associated sub-skills. This study employed a quantitative survey design for data collection to determine the extent of descriptive statistics related to the research topic. The participants consisted of 28 non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the sophomore class of the English Language and Literature Department, Faculty of Languages and Literature, Kandahar University. The findings of the current study revealed that students’ engagement with watching videos improved their speaking skill, including vocabulary, motivation, pronunciation, and other associated sub-skills. Among these, watching videos helped students improve their speaking skills, which helped them effectively incorporate these skills into their daily classroom speaking activities. The current study's findings will encourage English language instructors to include video-watching practices closely related to their daily classroom content.

Capital Structure and Firm Performance: Evidence from Turkish Manufacturing Firms

Ahsanullah Barakzai — 2025-01-28

One of a company's most crucial financial management decisions is its capital structure, which, when adopted correctly and successfully, can almost ensure its objectives are met. Capital structure affects the cost of capital and is important in enhancing a company's operational performance. The capital structure decision is a cornerstone of corporate financial management, influencing both short-term performance and long-term viability. To find the best debt-to-equity ratio for sustainable growth and shareholder value, businesses must carefully consider their industry dynamics, business climate, and financial objectives. Given the importance of this issue, this study's main goal is to look into how capital structure decisions affect the financial performance of Turkish firms in the food, textile, and fabricated metal subsectors between 2011 and 2020. In this study, short-term liability (STL) and long-term liability (LTL) are used as capital structure measures, return on Assets and return on equity are used as firm performance measures, and sales growth and company size are considered control variables. The findings of this study indicate a negative association between debt and the operating performance of these companies in all three sectors. This implies that companies in the aforementioned industries will have to forfeit some of their company's worth if they raise the amount of debt in their capital mix.

Government Expenditure and Economic Growth in Afghanistan

Fardin Ahmad Sediqi — 2025-01-28

Government expenditure is one of the key elements of aggregate demand and has a significant impact on economic growth, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of government expenditure on economic growth of Afghanistan. The secondary time series data for the years (2001 to 2020) has been obtained from World Bank, Trade Map, Trading Economics, and NSIA. To study the empirical relationship between government expenditure and economic growth, the ARDL model has been applied. The results show that in the long-run the Government Expenditure (GGE) and Official Development Assistance per capita (ODAPC) have positive and significant impact on economic growth, while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Trade Deficit (TRDDEFICIT) have negative and significant impact on economic growth. The results of short-run ECM indicates that the Government Expenditure (GGE) has a positive and significant impact on economic growth, while the other controlling variables like FDI and TRDDEFICIT have negative impacts, but the TRDDEFICIT coefficient is insignificant. The results of Pairwise Granger causality tests indicate that Government Expenditure does not cause the economic growth, and vice versa. The results of diagnostic tests show that there is no serial correlation among error terms and the model is stable.

Key Words: Economic Growth, Government Expenditure, Revenue, Tax, FDI, Trade Deficit

Analyzing the Relationship Between Inflation and Unemployment in Afghanistan (2003-2021)

Ehsanullah Saad — 2025-01-28

Inflation and unemployment are two key elements in any market economy, and their relationship significantly impacts socio-economic conditions. This study examines the connection between Afghanistan's unemployment and inflation, providing crucial information for macroeconomic policymakers. The study explores the applicability of the Phillips Curve in Afghanistan's specific economic context. This study employs the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method to analyze data gathered from 2003 to 2021, aiming to identify patterns and relationships that may guide economic policy decisions. The results indicate a positive relationship between inflation and unemployment. However, this relationship is statistically insignificant, and there is no proof to substantiate the presence of a Phillips Curve in Afghanistan. This lack of alignment with traditional economic models underscores the necessity for tailored economic policies to address the specific challenges faced by the Afghan economy. The study highlights the importance of understanding local economic dynamics and suggests that policymakers should explore alternative approaches to managing inflation and unemployment, ultimately fostering sustainable economic growth.

The Impact of Language Errors in Print Media on Linguistic Integrity and Effective Communication

Rahimullah Zirak — 2025-01-28

This study explored the presence and impact of language errors in print media on linguistic integrity and effective communication. Given the crucial role of print media as a primary means of communication in society, maintaining high standards of language usage is essential. The primary objective of this research was to identify the potential harm that language errors can inflict on language structure and understanding. Using a descriptive quantitative design, data was collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to a diverse sample of participants, including university professors from Kabul University, provincial universities, and media journalists. The analysis revealed that language errors disrupt proper language structure, undermine linguistic rules, create misunderstandings, diminish media credibility, and distort content meaning, leading to an artificial use of language. The findings aim to assist media professionals in recognizing the adverse effects of language errors and implementing strategies to promote standard linguistic practices. Ultimately, this study sought to enhance public understanding and ensure that media retains its value and credibility.

A Brief Study of Clitics in English Linguistics

Mohammad Hamid Asir — 2025-01-28

This research article comprehensively analyzes English clitics and the process of cliticization. The cliticization process explores clitics' linguistic significance and functional roles, which are linguistic elements that share characteristics with both words and affixes. Clitics rely on their hosts for pronunciation and meaning, distinguishing themselves as an essential yet often overlooked grammatical feature. While many learners recognize the concept of "contraction," a subcategory of clitics, a significant gap exists in understanding the broader linguistic aspects of clitics. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the types of clitics, their phonological and syntactic functions, and their relevance in English grammar. Clitics, classified as simple and special, exhibit unique features that require detailed exploration. This qualitative research leverages online academic resources, books, and peer-reviewed articles complemented by library research to ensure thorough analysis. The collected data was systematically organized based on relevant research questions. The findings provide detailed examples of clitics, their typologies, and the grammatical processes they entail, offering deeper insights into their structure, function, and application.

Gamification and Social Media: Transforming English Grammar Learning in EFL Classrooms

Abdullah Noori — 2025-01-28

This study investigated the impact of gamification and social media on enhancing English grammar learning in EFL classrooms. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, involving 65 male students from a private higher education institution. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group engaged in gamified activities and utilized social media platforms, while the control group followed traditional learning methods. After the experiment, a survey questionnaire was administered to the experimental group to gather their perceptions of the interventions. Pre- and post-test scores were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results demonstrated that gamification and social media significantly improved student engagement and grammar retention. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the grammar scores of the experimental group compared to the control group. Gamified activities, such as points, leaderboards, and rewards, enhanced motivation and created a more interactive learning environment. Similarly, social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp and Facebook groups, facilitated peer feedback, collaborative learning, and the practical application of grammar rules in authentic contexts. Participants in the experimental group reported greater confidence in using grammar structures correctly, with many highlighting reduced language learning anxiety and increased motivation due to gamification and social media use. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on technology-enhanced language learning, providing practical implications for EFL educators seeking to integrate these tools to improve language proficiency.