Webinar 2020

Pragmatic Activities for Uplifting ESL Learners’ Pronunciation Skills

Presenter: Wed AlHarbi & Hayat Kashmiri

Abstract

Pragmatic competence, or the ability to use language appropriately in a variety of contexts, is a critical skill for communication in a second language (L2). Thus, teaching that focuses on developing students’ abilities to communicate effectively in an L2 must also include a focus on developing students’ pronunciation as the four skills. By the end of this session trainees will: recognize the importance of pronunciation skill discuss the common mistakes and challenges committed by EFL learners. Introduced to a set of activities that enhance pronunciation skills practice these methods and how they could be applied on a textbook.

Bio
Mrs. Hayat Kashmiri is a CELTA certified, Master of TESOL, and English language instructor since 2019. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She is interested in self-development in teaching and learning English. She had an administrative experience.

Mrs. Wed Al Harbi has MA in TESOL from Taif University, she secured the 1^st position in the programme, she is a certified teacher trainer, she obtained her CELTA certificate, additionally, she has a diploma in teaching IELTS, and Fellowship, recently she published a paper titled the role of social media in enhancing EFL listening comprehension skill at Arab World English Journal.

Sparking the Learner Agency in the Virtual Environment

Presenter: Alaa Albishri

Abstract

Learner agency is a hot buzzword in online classes of higher education these days, but what does it mean? How can we achieve it as English teachers in our online courses? Is it applicable in TUELC context? This session will tackle these questions by discussing different areas of learner agency, such as the core principles of learner agency and the matrix of how it could develop. It proposes some teaching principles that increase learner agency for teachers designing lessons online. Besides, it will highlight some technology outlets that support the learner agency virtually.

Bio
Alaa Albishri is CELTA certified English language instructor at TUELC since 2015. She’s got her M.A in TESOL and Applied Linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2015. She’s a Cambridge certified trainer from CUP. She’s a certified trainer from the MOE of Saudi Arabia. She’s an accredited academic coaching from the GATD Academy UK. She’s highly interested in digital literacy in second language acquisition. She is a tech-savvy teacher who promotes using technology tools in classroom dynamics to foster student-centred learning.

Strategies for Helping Students Study Well

Presenter: Ghadeer Alotaibi

Abstract

Faced with poor student performance on tests and assignments, we as teachers often recognize that the root of the problem lies not in the material or in how it is taught, but in how students choose to study it. So, it turns out that studying can be taught.

Here we’re going to introduce some strategies to help our students to study. If we can work these methods into our instruction and teach students how to use them on their own, our students stand a much better chance of remembering our material.

Bio
Ghadeer Alotaibi is an English language instructor at TUELC. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She is interested in supporting student’s’ learning and using technology for learning.

Pronunciation Instruction

Presenter: Najla Alkhoushi

Abstract

Teaching English as a second language needs to focus on different skills to help learners to master the language. One of these skills is pronunciation which is the “the act or result of producing sounds of speech, including articulation, stress, and intonation, often with some standard of reference to correctness or acceptability.” This skill is a major problem for a lot of the students around the world. Teachers need to make an extra effort to teach this skill. In this session, the trainer will discuss the reason behind this problem with the pronunciation skill and how to give effective pronunciation instructions to promote the process of acquiring the language.

Bio
Najla Alkhoushi is Instructor at Taif University- English Language Center. She has 5 years of experience in teaching English Language. She’s gained her master’s degree in applied Linguistics from California State University, Fullerton. In addition, she’s a Cambridge certified trainer. She has participated in various professional development workshops. She is interested in applied Linguistics and sociolinguistics.

Creativity in ELT; Thinking outside the Book!

Presenter: Hadeel AlKamli

Abstract

Creativity is one of the most popular concepts in ELT. In classrooms, the achievement of creativity is mainly dependent on teachers’ creative practices and abilities. However, teachers’ efforts to be creative should focus not only on novelty but also on efficiency. The workshop aims to introduce teachers to the idea and the related concepts guiding creativity in English language teaching. The trainer will tackle why we need creativity as language teachers and how teachers can be efficiently creative. The trainer will also introduce some practical, innovative ideas to teach different skills.

Bio
Mrs. Hadeel AlKamli is a CELTA certified English language instructor. She has been working at Taif University since 2015. She has obtained her MA in Linguistics from Taif University in 2018. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer. Her main research interests include teachers’ competencies and teachers’ training and development.

Exploring the Essential Aspects of an Effective Reading Lesson

Presenter: Collet Tasaranago

Abstract

Reading and listening are the crucial receptive skills in language learning which essentially influence the productive skills of writing and speaking. If teachers are successful in teaching receptive skills, the production skills will also be learnt quite easily. For example, building reading skills can contribute to the development of writing. While available teaching materials provide a structure for teaching reading, there is a need to delve into the essential components in terms of the planning and execution of a reading lesson. This session will explore the essential aspects of a reading lesson.

Bio
Collet Tasaranago is an English language instructor certified teacher trainer He is keen on helping language instructors to be successful in ESL teaching and has conducted many workshops on language teaching. His academic interests are in communication, curriculum development and assessment and moderation in higher and tertiary education.

Effective writing instructions

Presenter: Duha Alsuwat & Yusra Aziz

Abstract

Majority of students fail to achieve their teachers’ expectations when accomplishing their writing assignments. Teachers feel frustrated when grading them and noticing the huge gap between what the students have accomplished, and the writing assignment tasks. This leads us to the importance of how we form effective instructions for writing assignments for online classes to make sure that students understand how they can achieve their teachers’ expectations. I will also discuss the principles of effective writing instructions to help teachers develop their expectations in writing assignments. I will present some techniques that teachers can do to ensure students’ high performance.

Bio
Duha Alsuwat holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language from Taif university and a master’s degree in Business Management from NUCB. She started teaching English language at Taif university in 2014. In 2019, She became a certified teacher-trainer from Cambridge. She’s looking forward to developing her teaching and training skills.

Yusra Aziz has been an ESL instructor for over 7 years. She holds a bachelor degree in English and Education. She been working for TUELC since 2014. She’s a Cambridge certified trainer and a CELTA holder. She teaches English for general and specific purposes. Beside her teaching duties, she’s also a coordinator for over 4 years.

If They’re Laughing, They’re Learning; Strategies for a Fun Humorous Class

Presenter: Bushra Mutlq

Abstract

Using humor in the classroom can have many benefits, just think on a day-to-day basis how many times did you laugh? How did it make you feel? I believe students also deserve a laugh or two to get them through the day and some fun to help engage them in the lesson more and therefore maximize the learning experience and outcomes of the learning process.

The workshop aims to introduce teachers to the varied humorous and fun strategies and techniques that can be used in teaching to promote student engagement and enjoyment of learning English language which leads to effective learning. The trainer will highlight the benefits of using humor and fun activities. The trainer will also introduce some practical, innovative ideas to include fun activities and humor in the classroom.

Bio
Bushra Mutlq Is an English language instructor and member of the professional development unit at TUELC. She has received her BA in English Language from TU. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She won best teacher trainer in 2020 and became a CELTA certified teacher. She has presented many workshops since then, the most recent is a workshop at the TUELC’s 4th symposium. She loves thinking outside the box and coming up with creative ways to make lessons more interesting and fun.

Developing learners’ Critical Thinking Skills: Activities and Techniques

Presenter: Hanouf Alshareef

Abstract

Creative thinking is one of the most important skills students need for a better learning experience. Some activities stimulate the learners’ critical thinking, it helps them to analyze a limited data set. This training session aims at providing activities for improving learners’ critical thinking skills. Therefore, by the end of this session teachers will be able to apply two critical thinking activities for developing learners’ critical thinking skills. They will also have the opportunity to evaluate two critical thinking activities for developing learners’ critical thinking skills.

Bio
Hanouf AL-Shareef Is a language instructor at Taif University. She has been teaching at Taif university since 2013. She graduated from Taif university with a bachelor’s degree in the English language. She’s interested in self-development skills and autonomous learning.

Teaching English to Large Classes Online

Presenter: Abdulaziz Alyami

Abstract

Teaching a large class poses many challenges, both in and out of the classroom. In the classroom, large groups can sometimes raise student disengagement. How does a teacher best manage their online groups?

This session discusses the advantages and disadvantages and how to overcome the challenges of large classes. It also shows strategies and activities that could help teachers manage their classrooms in our context.

Bio
Abdulaziz Alyami Is an English language instructor at Taif University (ELC) and a Qualified Cambridge teacher trainer. He has MA in TESOL, and BA in English language. He was awarded best teacher trainer in SIG4 2020. He enjoys teaching and programming.

The Teacher Psychologist

Presenter: Reem AlJoudi – Wa’ad Al-Malki

Abstract

Psychology in the classroom has always been an important part of education. The teachers should be good psychologists before they play the role of teacher. Because a successful teaching and learning process is connected to psychological principles, such as student’s motivation, social and environmental context, their learning history, and their strengths and weaknesses. Teachers’ awareness of these key principles will help them choose effective teaching methods. Therefore, in this session, the trainers will highlight the role of psychology in TEFL and discuss how it affects students’ learning. Moreover, they will tackle how to implement such principles in the classroom.

Bio
Reem Al Joudi Is an English language instructor at Taif University English Language Center and a Cambridge certified trainer. She graduated from UQU with a BA in English language and a minor degree in Education with an overall Excellent grade with first honors. She’s interested in language teaching, personal development and life skills.

Wa’ad Al Malki Is an English language instructor at Taif university, fellow of Higher Education Academy (UK), certified Cambridge Teacher Trainer, certified TOT, MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) with first honors, volunteering member of English mastery initiative. She also has introduced many online talks/posts for English language learners.

Self-Care for Educators

Presenter: Omaima Haroun

Abstract

Teaching is among the most stressful careers you can do. Many teachers are high achievers as well as caring a lot about their students, neglecting their own needs but this can be a recipe for burnout if they don’t stop and start watching their own needs. Some teachers may worry that taking care of themselves can lead to self-absorption and distract them from their students. However, taking care of yourself is the best gift you can give yourself as an educator. Therefore, by the end of this session trainees will assess their current intellectual and social wellness, define the term of self-care, and understand some characteristics and some effective strategies for radical self-care and wellness.

Bio
Omaima Haroun is an English language instructor at TUELC. She has got her bachelor’s degree in English language from Taif University. She has got CELTA certificate in 2019. She believes in never ending development to develop herself into a better teacher. Her goal is to become a professional teacher who helps students in their needs.

The Effective Use of L1 in EFL Classrooms

Presenter: Abdullah Idris

Abstract

Many EFL teachers wonder if the learners’ native language (L1) utilization is recommended in ELT. Conversely, others solely believe in implementing the “English only” rule.

Experts (Levine, 2003; Mitchell, 1988; Widdowson, 2003) believe that learners naturally use their native language to facilitate English learning. If teachers attempt to ban L1, learners will keep using it secretly and shamefully to learn English anyway. Furthermore, mandating English all the time can be overwhelming for struggling learners, so using L1, effectively, helps them feel less anxious about learning English.In our session, teachers will discuss both views, and will be provided with practical implications to effective utilization of L1 in an English classroom.

Bio
Abdullah Idris is an English instructor in TUELC. He earned BA in English in 2009 from TU. He pursued MA in English Studies from SEMO USA. He joined TUELC in 2014. He flourished with the TUELC development programs. In 2020, he became a certified Cambridge teacher trainer and presented several practical, developmental sessions based on TUELC teachers’ needs.

Engaging Online Large Classes

Presenter: Dr Ghadah Albarqi

Abstract
Engaging large classes is a challenging task in higher education institutions. Students’ engagement is their interaction with the presented materials. It is typical in online lectures, to find few active students while the rest of class is silent. In a face-to-face classroom, the existence of a lecturer in front of students promotes their participation. As such, there is a need to employ different strategies in the online setting. To accommodate this need, the training session will introduce varied strategies and techniques that can be used in teaching large groups. A combination of strategies used in a face-to-face classroom and innovative interactive techniques will be presented.

Bio
Ghadah Albarqi is an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics. She got her PhD from the University of Reading. She is a Fellow of Higher Education Academy. Ghadah’s main areas of interest are second language (L2) processing, production, and task-based language teaching (TBLT). She is also interested in academic writing practices.

Embedding Critical Thinking in English Language Classes

Presenter: Claire Ross

Abstract

Critical thinking is an essential skill that our learners need to be successful in their studies, at work and in navigating the world in the 21st century. In this talk we will examine the value of critical thinking to language learning and how it helps learners to develop other life competencies. You will see practical examples of how critical thinking skills can be incorporated into any English language lesson, using examples from Unlock and Evolve Special Edition Embedding critical thinking in English language classes.

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Bio
Claire Ross is a language teacher and teacher trainer whose interests include online engagement, multilingualism, and inclusion of refugee learners.

Claire develops and delivers face-to-face and online training for English language teachers and trainers. She has been working in teacher education since 2005, with schools, universities, and Ministries of Education in MENA and beyond. Claire supports and mentors teachers and teacher educators to help them to make learning English a better experience for the children and adults in their classes.

Supporting Learners Online: Strategies for Maximizing Learning in the 21st Century

Presenter: Stephanie Dimond

Abstract
Driven by the global pandemic, our teaching context has recently changed beyond recognition. Teachers have rapidly risen to the challenge and worked hard to deliver effective online lessons, shifting from their familiar, physical classrooms to a new virtual reality. The need for students to progress hasn’t changed but the forums for learning are fundamentally different. So, when working with our students, which strategies can we use to support them? What should we prioritize in our online lessons? How can we keep students engaged and develop their language and life skills best?
In this session we will share ideas and suggest some possible strategies for encouraging progress. We will look at the challenges of teaching online and how to select and focus on materials to gain the best results when time is limited. We will use examples from Unlock and explore practical ideas for use in classes online but also face to face. I look forward to meeting you there!

Bio
Stephanie Dimond-Bayir is an experienced materials writer and teacher/teacher trainer. She has written many publications for teachers, students and young learners including Unlock Speaking and Listening A2 (CUP), the online components for A1, A2 and B1+ Empower (CUP), Ruby Rei, Power Up and Fun Skills. Stephanie works as a consultant for Cambridge University Press and Assessment, private colleges and Ministries of Education internationally. She uses her many years of teaching and designing materials for her own classes to help her craft materials for publication. Stephanie is the Director of the Language Centre at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge where she also lectures on degree programmes and runs teacher training courses whilst continuing to write materials for fellow educators.

Storytelling is Teaching: The Value of Narratives

Presenter: Scott Thornbury

Abstract
Stories have always played an important role in language teaching, although traditionally they were used mainly as vehicles for grammar practice or written compositions. In this talk I want to review these uses of narrative, while suggesting that stories can serve other key purposes as well, such as personalizing the content of the lesson and creating opportunities for genuine communication. I’ll share some of my favourite storytelling activities. I’ll also make the point that the stories we tell about teaching provide valuable material for teacher development, for, as Oliver Sachs said, ‘each of us is a biography, a story’.

Bio
Scott Thornbury has taught and trained in Egypt, UK, Spain, and in his native New Zealand. Until recently he taught an online MA TESOL program for The New School in New York. His writing credits include several award-winning books for teachers on language and methodology. He is also the series editor for the Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers, and a trustee of the Hands Up Project, which promotes drama activities in English for children in under-resourced regions of the Arab world. At present, he is working for the Mosaik Foundation, training teachers of refugees in the Middle East in how to integrate communicative activities into their online classes.

Assessment: Forming our Teaching and Learning

Abstract
Michael Connell says that formative assessment is the single most powerful tool available to teachers to help every student succeed to their full potential (Using Formative Assessment, Michael Connell, CAST Professional Publishing). In this talk we will consider teachers’ and learners’ views of assessment and traditional testing, and then consider the benefits of formative assessment, or assessment for learning (AfL). We will discuss ways in which we can identify evidence of learning, and then look at four key AfL strategies.

Bio
Peter Lucantoni has had a long career in English language teaching, teacher training and management, in Europe and the Middle East, and is now based in Cyprus. He is the author and co-author of a range of popular coursebooks for students, including Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language, and Introduction to English as a Second Language, both published by Cambridge University Press. He is currently authoring From Teacher to Trainer with Matt Ellman. Peter is Professional Learning and Development Manager for Cambridge University Press, and regularly speaks at ELT conferences and trains teachers internationally in both the public and private sectors. His main interests are in teacher education and transitioning teachers into trainer roles.

Promoting Global Citizenship in English Language Education: Towards Identifying EFL Learners’ Identity!

Presenter: Dr. Mansoor S. Almalki

Abstract
Citizenship stands indispensable for the educated segment of any nation to guarantee its progress in the times to come. Other than making efforts towards cutting-edge technologies, it is also pertinent for professionals to move forward towards the pedestal by means of solving problems through making smart decisions. To do so for a better future, the nation’s youth can be trained on being part of their different global communities, enabling them to keep a vigilant eye on the changing national and international scenarios and take along the national psyche towards further maturity. Through such national and global citizenship perspectives, we can turn our learners into not only fully prepared, but also enlightened individuals, who are not mere spectators and imitators of the ever-changing world, but who also contribute to it by critically evaluating its attractions. In the capacity of English language educators, our role, as well as our domain, expands a great deal. We are entrusted with not only teaching the English language but also training our students on ways to develop our learners’ ability to express themselves and identify their identities. In this presentation, I will look at how language educators can better promote citizenship in their practices to maximize and unlock our students’ potentials.

Bio
Dr. Mansoor S. Almalki is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, a former Dean of Supportive Studies, and a former Director of the English Language Centre at Taif University, and he currently serves as an Educational Consultant for a number of academic institutions in Saudi Arabia. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne (2014) in Applied Linguistics and Language Assessment & MA in TESOL from Curtin University (2009). He also holds the Cambridge Train the Trainer & CELTA certificates and has taught English for several years in Saudi Arabia and Australia. His main research interests include language assessment, teacher identity, professional development, blended approaches in language education, life competencies in ELT, and qualitative research methods in applied linguistics.

A Template for Successful Training Sessions

Abstract
Novice teachers are often given ‘lesson shapes’ such as Presentation-Practice-Production or Test-Teach-Test to support their lesson planning in the early part of their careers. But novice teacher trainers don’t have these kinds of templates to work from, and the result is often training sessions that lack impact. In this session, we’ll introduce a model for planning successful teacher training workshops, based on our work with trainee trainers, and show how you can apply it to your own training sessions, or use it to support colleagues taking their first steps into teacher training.

Bio
Peter Lucantoni has had a long career in English language teaching, teacher training and management, in Europe and the Middle East, and is now based in Cyprus. He is the author and co-author of a range of popular coursebooks for students, including Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language, and Introduction to English as a Second Language, both published by Cambridge University Press. He is currently authoring From Teacher to Trainer with Matt Ellman. Peter is Professional Learning and Development Manager for Cambridge University Press, and regularly speaks at ELT conferences and trains teachers internationally in both the public and private sectors. His main interests are in teacher education and transitioning teachers into trainer roles.

A Template for Successful Training Sessions

Abstract
Novice teachers are often given ‘lesson shapes’ such as Presentation-Practice-Production or Test-Teach-Test to support their lesson planning in the early part of their careers. But novice teacher trainers don’t have these kinds of templates to work from, and the result is often training sessions that lack impact. In this session, we’ll introduce a model for planning successful teacher training workshops, based on our work with trainee trainers, and show how you can apply it to your own training sessions, or use it to support colleagues taking their first steps into teacher training.

Bio
Matthew Ellman works as Professional Learning and Development Manager at Cambridge University Press, designing and delivering training for teachers, institutions and Ministries of Education around the world. He has worked as a teacher, trainer and training manager in the UK, Spain and Malaysia, and has delivered workshops and talks to teachers in a further 25 countries. He is the author, with Peter Lucantoni, of From Teacher to Trainer, to be published by Cambridge University Press in 2022, and his research into teacher education practices won the British Council’s ELT Masters Dissertation Award at the 2018 ELTons.. Find him on Twitter at @MatthewEllman

Strategies for Maximizing STT and Minimizing TTT in EFL Classrooms

Presenter: Wed Al Harbi

Abstract
As teachers, we should be able to maximize students’ opportunities to talk in class to help them develop their speaking skills in English. The goal of reducing teacher talking time can be achieved by creating as many opportunities as possible for students where roles are switched. They need not only to be present physically, but their minds are to be active as well. Students need to become active, talkative, cooperative, and inventive while the teacher can pull back and observe, listen and elicit more speaking.

Bio
Wed Al Harbi is a CELTA certified English language instructor at Taif University. She is Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Linguistics from Umm-Al-Qura University, and an MA in TESOL from Taif University with the first rank. Recently, she got the fellowship FHEA in teaching and learning support in higher education, UK. Additionally, she has a Diploma in teaching IELTS. Lately, Wed has published a research titled The Role of Social Media on Enhancing EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension Skill. She is interested in CPD and SLA and she is an avid reader, specifically about topics like self-development, translation, human relationships, and the favorite discipline SLA.

Increasing Students' Engagement with Digital Tools

Presenter: Jawharah Alsharif

Abstract
Technology in the classroom or outside the classroom allows students to gain a deeper understanding of topics that interest them and collaborate and direct their learning. This session will shed light on the benefits of using technology for increasing student engagement through the digital tools and, in particular, the benefits of using the website Bookwidgets. This session aims at exploring Bookwidgets for teachers who are looking for a quick and simple way to create online activities or quizzes, explaining its widgets, and providing the teachers with new exercises for increasing student engagement. It is a helpful tool for the teachers and a fun tool for the students.

Bio
Jawharah Alsharief is an English language instructor in the English Language Centre at Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. She holds a Master’s degree in Curricula and Methods of Teaching English from Ain Shams University in Egypt. She is interested in facilitating learning through using technology. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer and she earned Cambridge CELTA certificate.

Differentiation in Online ELT

Presenter: Samiha Siddiqui

Abstract
Students learn in individual styles, manners and patterns. In the age of digital classrooms, when students are struggling to keep up with learning, it is important to differentiate lessons and custom-design them for maximum learning to take place to target learners of different styles, backgrounds and abilities. In this session, we will talk about what differentiated learning is, and how it can be applied in ELT to maximize the learning process.

Bio
Samiha Siddiqui is a veteran EFL instructor with over 20 years of experience. She has a BA in English Language and Literature, a TEFL, a TESOL and a CELTA. Samiha is a certified Cambridge trainer who holds certificates for training IELTS from LTTC and IDP. She has conducted various workshops at TUELC and outside. Samiha is the winner of ‘Best Teacher of the Year’ award in 2015 at TUELC.

Using Flipgrid and Quill to Enhance Language Skills

Presenter: Abdulaziz Alyami

Abstract
The goal of this session is to recommend Flipgrid and Quill to teachers to enhance student’s skills in English language classrooms. These recommendations highlight using online teaching as a means of improving classroom engagement as well as giving students meaningful exposure to the English language outside their classrooms. This session aims at introducing Flipgrid and Quill and how they are beneficial to Language instructors and learners. The importance of this session lies in allowing teachers to use Flipgrid and Quill to help them teach and observe their students in an engaging and interactive environment.

Bio
Abdulaziz Alyami is an English language instructor and a certified Cambridge teacher trainer. He holds an MA in TESOL and a BA in the English language. Abdulaziz is a programmer and a digital artist.

Critical Thinking in the Language Classroom

Presenter: Mrs. Hayat Kishmiri

Abstract
The term ‘Critical Thinking’ increasingly appears in the world of education and language teaching. It is considered to be one of the key skills for any 21^st century learner. So, what is it? Why do we need it? And how do we integrate it into the classroom? The aim of this session is to help you answer those questions and to develop different strategies to integrate critical thinking into your language teaching.

Bio
Mrs. Hayat Kishmiri is a CELTA certified English language instructor since 2019 with an MA in TESOL. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She is interested in self-development and English language teaching and learning. Mrs. Hayat is also interested in exploring new topics as a teacher trainer.

Using Feedback as a Motivation Tool in the Classroom

Presenter: Sarah Alghamdi

Abstract
The topic (Using Feedback as a Motivation Tool in the Classroom) is of high significance to most teachers, to refresh and improve their skills in using feedback effectively. In this session, the trainer is going to clarify what feedback is, why teachers give feedback, what helpful strategies to use when giving feedback, and the different types of feedback.

Bio
Sarah Alghamdi is a CELTA certified English language instructor at Taif University with a BA in English language. She is a Cambridge certified Teacher Trainer, and she is interested in second language acquisition, linguistics and professional development.

Effective Strategies to Engage and Motivate Students to Speak in Virtual Classroom

Presenter: Wa’ad Almalki

Abstract
Effective strategies to promote English speaking skill is critical to foster language learning. Engagement and motivation of the students’ speaking skills improve pronunciation, reading, writing and memorization of keywords and enhances subject performance. Efficient and effective strategies to meet the student needs in a virtual classroom is a major role of the instructor. Therefore, this session aims at providing English language teachers with effective strategies to engage and motivate the students’ speaking skills in a virtual classroom. By the end of the session, teachers will be able to use and apply different teaching strategies to engage and motivate their students’ speaking skills, enhance their English performance and effectiveness among communities.

Bio
Wa’ad Almalki is an English language instructor at Taif University, a fellow of Higher Education Academy (UK), a certified Cambridge Teacher Trainer, and a certified TOT. She holds an MA in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with first honors. Wa’ad is a volunteering member of the English Mastery initiative. She introduced many online talks/posts for English language learners. She is interested in professional development, English language teaching and learning methodologies, second language acquisition and technology-based English language teaching and learning.

Using Technology in EFL Classroom: Take Your Classes to the Next Level!

Presenter: Alhanouf Aljeaid & Alanoud Aljeaid

Abstract
For many teachers, shifting to online classes only means changing to virtual classes and the practices are still the same. To reach the maximum level in your online classes’ activities design, and the highest level in students’ engagement, does not only mean you should use different digital tools. In fact, you should simply follow the appropriate model for using technology in your classes. Therefore, this session aims at developing an understanding of the PICRAT model, which is a model developed for effective technology integration. The session also aims at enabling teachers to identify where their practices are in the PICRAT model, and finally using the model to improve designing activities.

Bio

Alhanouf Aljeaid is an English language instructor at TUELC. She holds a master’s degree in Linguistics from Taif University. She is CELTA certified teacher and Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She was a presenter at TESOL Arabia, 2020. Her research interests include teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), mobile assisted language learning and self-centered learning.

Alanoud Aljeaid is an English language instructor at TUELC, a member of the Professional Development Unit and the SIGs Project coordinator. She has an MA in English literature from KAU. Alanoud is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer, and she became a CELTA certified teacher in 2020. She is interested in TEFL, experimenting with teaching digital tools, learning and applying new language strategies.

Spelling – The Neglected Skill

Presenter: Saad Althobaiti

Abstract
Spelling is considered to be a daunting task for both native speakers and learners of English as it affects not only the quality of writing but also reading. Therefore, this session aims at providing participants with a general background about spelling and the importance of teaching spelling to students in early stages. It also presents the reasons behind poor spelling and how to deal with these issues. By the end of this session, participants will have been familiarized with different approaches and techniques of teaching spelling, and when and how to interfere.

Bio
Saad Althobaiti is an English language instructor at the Taif University’s English Language Centre. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language, diploma in Education, diploma in Philosophy and Research Methods, and a master’s degree in TESOL. His main research interests are spelling, language testing, and assessment.

Using Films and Shows in EFL Classrooms for Effective Learning

Presenter: Bushra Mutlq Alsohaibi

Abstract
Perhaps EFL teachers may think about how and if they can use movies in the classroom. Movies provide a wonderful source of language input for students. They can provide valuable exposure to language and also to culture, as well as being an excellent source of new vocabulary along with slang and idioms. They can be used to help students work on many language skills including listening, speaking, and pronunciation. In this session the trainer will introduce the benefits of using movies and shows in lessons, as well as explain how using films and shows can help students work on many language skills. The trainer will also share some engaging creative ways of using movies and shows as a tool in EFL classrooms.

Bio
Bushra Mutlq Alsohaibi is an English language instructor and a member of the Professional Development Unit at Taif University’s English Language Center (TUELC). She received her BA in English Language from TU. She is Cambridge certified teacher trainer and CELTA certified teacher. Bushra won the TUELC Best Teacher Trainer award in 2020. She loves thinking outside the box and coming up with creative ways to make lessons more interesting.

A virtual Round Table for Acquiring Collaboration Remotely

Presenter: Alaa Albishri

Abstract
It is noticeable that the online classes have highlighted the passivity of the students’ attitudes towards learning throughout the last year. One of the stubborn difficulties for teachers is how to make students collaborate in online classes. It is admittedly challenging. However, this session will highlight the core principles of teaching the collaboration concept remotely and how to construct group members to make students accountable for their work to present their agencies. It will catch up with numerous techniques of obtaining collaboration through online classes. This session will provide some tools that are alternatives to in-person group work to foster and equip students with a valuable skill that inevitably assists them in their future learning.

Bio
Alaa Albishri is a CELTA certified English language instructor at TUELC since 2015. She got her MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2015. Alaa is a Cambridge certified trainer by CUP, a certified trainer by the MOE in Saudi Arabia, a certified academic coach from the GATD Academy UK. She is highly interested in digital literacy in second language acquisition. She is a tech-savvy teacher who promotes using technology tools in classroom dynamics to foster student-centered learning.

Flipped Learning: Pathways to Change

Presenter: Claire Ross

Abstract

The idea of the flipped classroom has been around for some time, as an alternative approach to learning where parts of the learning process are shifted outside the space of the classroom. We will investigate how these ideas are relevant to English language teaching today, particularly as part of the shift to online learning that we have witnessed over the last year.

You’ll consider how flipping learning involves a change in teacher role and learner mindset, and what the benefits can be. Practical ways to flip English language learning activities will be presented and evaluated, along with strategies to gradually introduce the approach into your classes for a more integrated cycle of learning between synchronous class time. Finally, we’ll also look at some of the challenges of flipping learning and suggest ways to overcome these.

Bio
Claire Ross is a language teacher and teacher trainer whose interests include online engagement, multilingualism, and inclusion of refugee learners.

Claire develops and delivers face-to-face and online training for English language teachers and trainers. She has been working in teacher education since 2005, with schools, universities, and Ministries of Education in MENA and beyond. Claire supports and mentors teachers and teacher educators to help them to make learning English a better experience for the children and adults in their classes.

Fake Engagement

Presenter: Ali H. Al-Hoorie

Abstract
In order for students to learn a language, they need to engage with it. Sometimes, however, students are reluctant to engage seriously in these activities. At other times, they may even feign task engagement such as to please the teacher. These learners may disengage cognitively, emotionally, or behaviorally. This presentation will discuss how to address fake engagement and promote authentic learner engagement.

Bio
Ali H. Al-Hoorie is an applied linguist from Saudi Arabia. He completed his PhD in Applied Linguistics at the University of Nottingham under the supervision of Professors Zoltán Dörnyei and Norbert Schmitt. His research interests include motivation theory, research methodology, and complexity. His publications have appeared in various journals including Language Learning, Modern Language Journal, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, ELT Journal, Language Teaching Research, and Learning and Individual Differences. His books include Research Methods for Complexity in Applied Linguistics (Multilingual Matters, 2020, with Phil Hiver) and Student Engagement in the Language Classroom (Multilingual Matters, 2021, coedited with Phil Hiver and Sarah Mercer), and Contemporary Language Motivation Theory: 60 Years Since Gardner and Lambert (1959) (Multilingual Matters, 2020, coedited with Peter MacIntyre). The latter book is the winner of the Jake Harwood Outstanding Book Award.

10 Rules for Encouraging Engagement in the Language Classroom

Presenter: Hayo Reinders

Abstract
Student motivation (Dornyei 2017), engagement (Mercer 2018) and willingness to communicate (WTC; Reinders & Nuttakritta 2018) are major predictors of success in acquiring a foreign language, but it is not always clear to practitioners how to adapt classroom practices that lead to greater student involvement. In this workshop we will look at ways of enhancing motivation, engagement and WTC by focusing on strategies for increasing participation, both within and outside the classroom. Specifically, we will focus on techniques for giving learners a stronger voice and greater agency in their learning through the use of educational technologies such as backchannelling (Reinders 2014) and digital storytelling (Reinders 2011, Nakamura 2018). During the workshop, participants will learn about the importance of increasing learner autonomy and agency and learn about ways of encouraging student interaction beyond traditional classroom patterns. Participants will work on a possible activity to implement in their classrooms, as well as on an outline for a possible action research project on the implementation of the innovation.

Bio
Hayo Reinders (www.innovationinteaching.org) is TESOL Professor and Director of Research at Anaheim University, USA, and Professor of Applied Linguistics at KMUTT in Thailand. He is founder of the global Institute for Teacher Leadership and editor of Innovation in Language Learning & Teaching. His interests are in out-of-class learning, technology and language teacher leadership.

Enhancing Students' Engagement through a Flipped Classroom

Presenter: Dalia Alzhrani

Abstract
The training session will highlight how to enhance students’ engagement by applying a flipped-classroom approach. A flipped classroom is an instructional strategy, and a kind of blended learning focused on learners’ engagement and active learning. The session will start by clarifying the topic. Then the trainees will identify the meaning of flipped classrooms and how this technique can help students to be engaged and active in the class easily. After that, the trainer will elaborate on applying a flipped classroom to get the most advantage of it. At the end of the session, the trainer will elicit some advantages of using this technique in the classroom. By the end of the session, CPs can define the flipped classroom technique and can identify the advantages of using a flipped classroom.

Bio
Dalia Alzahrani is an English instructor at Taif University. She got her Master’s degree in applied linguistics from Taif University. She is a certified trainer from Cambridge University Press. She is interested in integrating technology with the learning and teaching process and finding different techniques to enhance students learning.

Strategies for Individualizing Feedback to a Meaningful Online Teaching

Presenter: Reem Al Joudi

Abstract
The idea of “the individual” is increasing in today’s interaction. Personalization is now a part of modern life aspect, including education. Students are individuals with different learning styles, strengths, weaknesses, needs, and interests. Understanding these and adjusting feedback to suit these differences is an effective way of enabling students to learn and perform at their very best. In the absence of face-to-face classes, online teachers can strengthen their relationship with their students and communicate a sense of caring about their progress by providing individualized feedback on their work. This session aims to assist teachers with three strategies to facilitate their online individualized feedback. It also demonstrates the benefits learners get from personalized feedback.

Session’s requirements:

Download Mote Chrome Extension
Download Screencastify Chrome Extension
Prepare a student’s written assignment.

Bio
Reem Al Joudi is an English language instructor at Taif University English Language Center for almost five years. She is a Cambridge certified trainer. She graduated from UQU with a BA in English language and a minor degree in Education with an overall grade as ‘Excellent’ with first honors. She is interested in personal development and life skills.

Building Growth Mindsets – A Skill for Language Teachers

Presenter: Mona Alsalmi

Abstract
Professional development programs invite us to view teachers’ activities and their multiple teaching methods, a range of approaches and blended learning. However, some of the English language students believe that their qualities are carved in stone. With this fixed mindset, it is impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training. That rests on the need for changing their beliefs and building a growth mindset. To fully enhance modern teachers’ performance. For this, we must first understand students’ mindsets and raise teachers’ awareness of concrete practices for building a growth mindset.
In this workshop, the characteristics of both fixed and growth mindsets will be elaborately classified, suggesting 4 different practices for building mindsets and enhancing teachers’ awareness of her/ his students’ mindset by providing scenarios that a teacher may face inside the classroom.

Bio
Mona Alsalmi is a language instructor, certified trainer, and certified IELTS instructor at TUELC. She has got her BA in English language with an honors degree with a diploma in General Education Program. She got a diploma in TESOL in 2016.

Flipped Online Classroom in Light of Bloom’s Taxonomy

Presenter: Amani Althomali

Abstract
Distance education continues to increase over the last 10 years, but there is dissatisfaction of having poor interaction in this system. Consequently, it becomes the responsibility of the online instructor to provide opportunities to students for active participation. Flipped classroom design supports the active participation and success of students. To guide the creation of such activity-based learning in the online environment, Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive processes is recommended. This session will present various flipping practices that use innovative technology to tap these domains, using active learning practices supported through Bloom’s taxonomy coupled with technology guides for students to learn in deeper and more meaningful ways.
Some of the tools used are: Screencast-O-Matic, Proprofs, Piktochart & Powtoon.

Bio
Amani Althomali is a lecturer and a certified trainer at TUELC. She graduated from Taif University with an MA degree in Curricula and Methods of Teaching English. She has experience teaching a range of levels and courses. She has worked at Umm AlQura University in Makkah too. She was a coordinator for medical, IT, and engineering colleges from 2012-2017. She presented many training workshops at Taif University, TESOL Arabia, Dubai, and 7th ICLMC, Japan. She has a genuine interest in blended learning, learning technology, assessment, teacher training, and development.

Critical Thinkers Cheat!!

Presenter: Hadeel Al Kamli

Abstract
It seems logical to prevent students from cheating during exams. Still, letting your students use a cheat sheet or other resources in weekly quizzes may prove to be an effective strategy. Such a strategy aims to improve students’ critical thinking by training them on what, why, and how to use the linguistic knowledge they receive in the classroom. It has been noticed that students sometimes fail to retrieve information in quizzes and exams, not because they cannot recall grammar or vocabulary; instead, they cannot identify which information is useful. During the session, trainees will be introduced to the rationale behind using such a strategy and some activities that can be used, especially for grammar, vocabulary, and writing.

Bio
Hadeel Al Kamli is a CELTA certified English language instructor and has been working at Taif University since 2015. She obtained her MA in Applied Linguistics from Taif University in 2018. She is a certified teacher trainer from CUP. This is her third year as the Professional Development Unit Supervisor at the English Language Center, Taif University. She is interested in second language teaching and teacher development.

To Use or Not to Use … L1 in EFL Class

Presenter: Samiha Siddiqui

Abstract
In this session, we will navigate the controversial topic of using the learners’ native language in the class. Is it okay for the teachers to use L1, and if it is, when is it acceptable and when it should not be used. We will also dive into the good, the bad, and ugly aspects of using L1 in EFL classes and discuss how it can be used to support the learning process.

Bio
Samiha Siddiqui is a veteran EFL instructor with over 20 years of experience. She holds a degree in English Lang. & Lit., a TEFL, a TESOL, and a CELTA. She is a certified Cambridge trainer and holds a certificate for training IELTS from LTTC & IDP. She has conducted various workshops at TUELC and outside. She is the winner of the ‘Best Teacher of the Year’ award in 2015 at TUELC.
She is passionate about BFLA (Bilingual First Language Acquisition), code-switching, and code mixing.

Topic: TTT- A Teacher's Malady

Presenter: Collet Tasaranago

Abstract
There is never a time when student engagement has been more crucial than now when classes are conducted online. While teachers remain an important source of information, it would be less beneficial if they “dominated lessons to the exclusion of participation of many learners” (Scrivener, 2005, 58). Teachers must remain models of the language but, at the same time, keep students engaged and captivated throughout their lesson. This session explores ways of reducing TTT (Teacher Talk Time) through task setting, ICQs, CCQs, varying interaction patterns, and feedback. The successful application of these techniques can promote student engagement in online classes and, ultimately, student learning.

Bio
Collet Tasaranago is an English language instructor and a qualified Train the Trainer at Taif University. He is keen on conducting research and helping language instructors to be successful in ESL teaching; his academic interests are in communication, curriculum development and assessment, and moderation in higher and tertiary education.

Topic: Teach the Way They Learn

Presenter: Ashwaq AlQurashi

Abstract
Everything around us is tailored to our individual needs, from social media timelines showing relevant and specific content to ads popping up on our phones. We experience a very personal service every day in our lives, and we expect nothing less, but why don’t we expect that in our education system? It has been suggested that our view of education is one-size-fits-all. It is low cost, serves the majority, and treats the students as numbers or blank slates. Sometimes it works but, as a result, creativity disappears. We need to make learning personal. Personalized learning is a shift away from the factory model of schooling to a system of learning that values the individual’s strengths, weaknesses, and desired outcomes of learning (Hanover Research, 2012).
In this session, teachers will understand the value of students having a voice in their own learning experience and the effect of this on motivation. They will have a clear understanding of not only the importance of personalization in teaching but how they can create a more personalized learning environment in their classrooms.

Bio
Ashwaq ALQurashi is an English language instructor. She earned her Bachelor of English degree from Umm Al-Qura University. She is a certified Cambridge Trainer. She is interested in languages, meaning, and linguistic universals.

Topic: Helping Students Connect the Dots

Presenter: Maraam Alutaybi

Abstract
Creative thinking is the ability to think differently, to see a problem or an issue from a new perspective. It is an invaluable skill for EFL students, which helps them be innovative and encourages them to learn new things. Creativity is enormously important in the development of English language skills. It allows the students to engage in divergent thinking in a subjective manner. The workshop aims at providing the English language teachers with some strategies to improve their students’ creative thinking skills, to help students think out of the box and generate ideas, and to make them curious and use their imagination creatively.

Bio
Maraam Alutaybi is an English language instructor and a Co-Supervisor of the Professional Development Unit at Taif University’s English Language Centre (TUELC). She earned her Master’s degree in curricula and methods of teaching English from Taif University. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer and a Certified Publons Academy Peer Reviewer. She has reviewed ELT papers in international research journals. Her fields of interest are Teaching English as a foreign language (EFL), language strategies, digital learning, and statistical data analysis.

Topic: Designing a Student-Centered Lesson for Online English Language Class

Presenter: Amani Alnefaie

Abstract
The session discusses student-centered learning that encompasses methods of teaching that shift the focus of instruction from teacher to student. It aims to develop learner autonomy and independence by putting the responsibility of the learning path in the hands of students by imparting learning skills. The learner plays an active role in the learning process. Also, the trainer will discuss the differences between teacher-centered and learner-centered learning, steps moving towards a student-centered classroom, and student-centered strategies and activities that enhance student role in learning.

Bio
Amani Alnefaie is an English language lecturer at the English Language Center, Taif University. She holds an MA degree in Curricula and Methods of Teaching English Language. She teaches English language courses to EFL learners. She is a Cambridge certified teacher trainer. She has conducted many training sessions. Her interests are technology in language learning, second language acquisition, and language assessment.

Topic: Find out about Your Students from Day One

Presenter: Shatha Alorabi

Abstract
Personalized learning is an instructional approach that facilities the students to learn by the method and at the pace that meet their needs and level. It accommodates both students’ academic strengths and weaknesses, their interests, experiences, and comprehension levels. The session aims to present the concept of personalized learning and two models for implementing personalized learning in the classroom: personalized learning ‘for the learner’ and ‘by the learner.’ In addition, the trainer will discuss the benefit of this type of learning and share some tips and practices for personalizing classroom activities.

Bio
Shatha Alorabi is an experienced instructor and has been working at Taif University since 2015. She obtained her MA in Applied Linguistics from Taif University in 2018. She is a certified trainer from CUP. She has conducted many workshops at Taif University and presented at TESOL Arabia conference in UAE. She was nominated as the most promising trainer from CUP in 2018 and one of the best trainers at TUELC in 2019. She is interested in teaching English and in finding new trends in teaching the language.

Topic: Lesson Planning for Online Classes

Presenter: Abrar A. Alqudsi

Abstract
This training session includes suggestions on how to plan online lessons by focusing on what influences e-learning. By the end of the session, teachers will be able to integrate their content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological knowledge to plan an effective lesson for their online classes. The session will move from theory (by discussing factors that influence an online lesson) to practice (by writing a lesson plan).

Bio
Abrar A. Alqudsi is an English language instructor working for the TUELC. She had her Master’s degree in Applied linguistics in 2018. She has more than 5 years of experience in teaching English. Besides teaching, she coordinates ESP courses. Abrar is especially interested in using technology for educational purposes

2 Invited Speakers

12 Interactive Sessions

A Panel Discussion

Special Events

Best SIG trainers

Website launch

Program

Welcome & Announcements

Welcome Best SIG Trainers Website Launch

Speakers:

Helping Students Become Great Collaborators

Speaker:

Session 1

Lesson Planning for Online Classes

Session 2

Find out about Your Students from Day One

Session 3

Designing a Student-Centered Lesson for Online English Language Class

Session 4

Helping Students Connect the Dots

Session 5

Teach the Way They Learn

Session 6

TTT- A Teacher’s Malady

No Time to Think? How to Keep Learning, and Focused, on Your Professional Development

Speaker:

Session 7

To Use or Not to Use … L1 in EFL Class

Session 8

Critical Thinkers Cheat!!

Session 9

Flipped Online Classroom in Light of Bloom’s Taxonomy

Session 10

Building Growth Mindsets – A Skill for Language Teachers

Session 11

Enhancing Students’ Engagement through a Flipped Classroom

Session 12

Strategies for Individualizing Feedback to a Meaningful Online Teaching

Panel Discussion

Going Online: Challenges & Strategies

Closing

Closing remarks

Welcome
Best SIG Trainers
Website Launch