Shaping the Future of Language Education: Insights from the 4th Annual Forum on Modern Methods in ESL Teaching
On December 8, 2018, the 4th Annual Forum, titled "Modern Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language," was successfully convened in collaboration with Oxford University Press at Saudi German Hospital. The Faculty of Languages and Translation Dean, Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, and Dr. Mowafiq Al-Momani spearheaded the event.
The forum was centered around fostering awareness of contemporary concepts in English language teaching. Dr. Al-Melhi initiated the event with a welcoming speech, during which he articulated the potential of such forums in refining teaching methods and stimulating the exchange of inventive pedagogical ideas. He advocated for the increased utilization of such gatherings, emphasizing their essential role in the continual enhancement of world-class language education, a central goal of our institution. The forum welcomed participation from both male and female faculty members affiliated with King Khalid University.
Mr. Zaid Ben Hamad from Oxford University Press kick-started the morning session with a presentation on "Teaching ESP," emphasizing practical teaching strategies for English for Specific Purposes. He illuminated how to construct a warm-up task, underscored the importance of having sound knowledge of the specialism before designing an ESP course, and demonstrated how to create a fact-sheet. The session was interspersed with activities and queries that actively engaged the participants.
In the afternoon session, six presentations were delivered.
Dr. Eman Alzaanin's presentation, titled "EFL Writing Instruction from a Cognitive Ecological Perspective," delved into L2 writing classroom pedagogy and L2 writing teacher cognition, spotlighting the cognitive-ecological model's contributions to understanding cognition networks, types of knowledge, and teacher cognition's context and stimulus. She concluded by emphasizing the importance of understanding the ecological impact in EFL writing instruction.
Dr. Munassir Alhamami's discussion on "Digital Presentations in EFL Classrooms" highlighted various ways to utilize digital presentations effectively, underscoring the importance of choosing appropriate materials, understanding copyright issues, and the transformative role such presentations play in simplifying complex ideas and fostering a friendly classroom environment.
Mr. Chris Harris discussed "Classroom Management" within the Saudi Arabian context, focusing on establishing a rapport with students, addressing common issues like disruption, lateness, and unpreparedness, and avoiding culturally sensitive topics.
Mr. Stephen Sampliner presented on the vital role of instructions in successful teaching days, advocating for the use of visual demonstrations and concise, direct instructions.
Mr. Michael Maschmeier's presentation on "Writing in the Classroom" stressed the significance of engaging students in writing complete pieces rather than mere language-related tasks.
Dr. Sara Sevinj Huseynova elaborated on the "Key Concepts in Language Assessment," focusing on different types of assessment, assessment principles, and the importance of delivering unbiased and non-judgmental feedback to learners.
The forum concluded with a speech from Dean Abdullah Al-Melhi, during which he expressed gratitude to all participants, attendees, and organizers, reiterating the faculty's commitment to continual improvement in language education and professional development in teaching. He pledged that the dean, vice dean, and chairman remain committed to hosting such insightful forums. The event was well-attended and highly beneficial to all participants.
