First Annual Forum: Teaching English in the 21st Century
On April 15, 2017, Saudi German Hospital in Abha, Saudi Arabia played host to the inaugural Annual Forum on the English Language. Themed "Teaching English in the 21st Century," the forum was orchestrated under the oversight of Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, Dean, in a collaborative effort with Quality Education Holding Company and Oxford University Press. The forum’s focus centered on honing the professional development of language teachers, enhancing their competence in classroom management, activities, and overall language instruction. Among the forum's attendees were both male and female faculty members from King Khalid University.
The event commenced with a resonant welcome speech by Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, who underlined the transformative potential of such forums on the landscape of English Language Teaching (ELT). He advocated for more regular assemblies in the future to propel professional development and promote innovative teaching concepts.
Terrie Craddock from Oxford University Press took the reins for two interactive training sessions. The first, titled "Motivating Students," spurred a lively discussion on the various strategies for engaging language learners, while her second session delved into the intricacies of "Differentiated Teaching and Learning."
Following this, Mohammad Adil shared his insights on the "Exploitation and Adaptation in EFL Teaching," a presentation stemming from a case study on the efficacy of course materials used in skills and language courses.
Next, Dr. Eyhab Bader Eddin took the attendees on a journey through the "Theoretical Approaches to Second Language Acquisition" with his engaging talk underscored by humorous movie clips illustrating the challenges of language learning.
The spotlight then fell on Dr. Abdul Wahed Al Zumor, whose research-based presentation shed light on the hurdles posed by English Medium Instruction (EMI) at King Khalid University.
Concluding the seminar, Mohammad Sirajul Islam unveiled a study investigating students' attitudes towards e-learning, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive e-learning training for teachers.
The event wrapped up with closing remarks by Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, who commended the organizing committee for their work in ensuring the forum's success.
The commendable efforts of the organizing committee - Dr. Mwafaq Momani, Mr. Javed Ahmed, Mr. Mohsin Raza Khan, Mr. MD Sirajul Islam, Mr. Saleh Hokash, Mr. Naser Alhawamdeh, and Mr. Mazharul Islam - warrant acknowledgment for their contributions to this event's success.
