AUS English faculty members create participation record at 24th International TESOL Arabia Conference

Faculty members from the Department of English at American University of Sharjah (AUS) created a participation record at the 24th International TESOL Arabia Conference held recently at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dubai by delivering a total of eight sessions. Dr. Alessandro Benati, Professor and Head of the Department of English; Dr. Maher Bahloul, Associate Professor of English; and Dr. Tammy Gregersen, Professor of English, presented two plenary speeches, two special sessions, two Professional Development Courses (PDC), as well as a Round Table Discussion and a presentation at the three-day event.

From children stories and short film production to issues of teachers’ motivation, instruction and assessment, to finally delving into Instructed Second Language Acquisition and the teaching of grammar, the faculty members captivated the interest of the participating teachers who not only expressed their tremendous appreciation but also expressed a keen desire in pursuing a potential PhD program in the field when offered at AUS.

The sessions delivered by the faculty members included the following:

Dr. Tammy Gregersen

• Teaching content through the medium of English
• Because we matter: Language teachers in pursuit of heightened motivation
• Let’s re-assess assessment: Creating a seamless transition from instruction to assessment
• Old and new questions about language anxiety: What has been settled and where do we go next?

Dr. Alessandro Benati

• Key components of instructed second language acquisition
• Rethinking grammar instruction: the case for processing instruction

Dr. Maher Bahloul

• Children Stories, short films, and language learning
• Language learning through storyboarding and short film production

Speaking about the PLD courses offered by AUS faculty at the conference, Nelsen Toledo, a workshop participant, said:

“I personally believe that I have attended one of the most engaging Professional Development Courses in my ELT career and that goes to the mentorship of Dr. Maher Bahloul of the American University of Sharjah who has shown us how animation and film making can enhance creative thinking and imagination in the ELT teaching.”