HCT meet to focus on English teaching

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Education Department, is hosting a Bachelor of Education Conference on Teaching English to Young Learners (B.Ed TEYL) today at its Sharjah Women's College in the University City.

The national one-day conference has been organised by faculty and students from the HCT B.Ed TEYL programme and over 400 people will attend.

The participants include HCT student-teacher training programme representatives from all the six HCT Women's Colleges, government primary school English teachers, university and college lecturers and Ministry of Education and Youth officials.

Entitled Literacy for Life, the conference not only aims to explore ways educators can teach young learners foreign language reading and writing skills, but also instill a life-long love of learning through literature," said Dr Farid Ohan, director of the SWC.

The conference features two internationally known speakers in the field of English for Young Learners (EYL) literacy. Professor Ray Misson, from the University of Melbourne, talks about Globalisation and Literacy, while Debbie Candy, an EYL consultant, will be looking at Literacy Practices with Young Learners.

There will also be 15 morning and afternoon workshops, delivered by college faculty, students and guests. These will provide practical ideas on how to promote better reading and writing skills in the classroom, and will include such topics as the use of puppets and visual imagery, the internet, and project–based learning.

Dr Ohan said the HCT was looking forward to getting accreditation with the University of Melbourne.

"Discussions are in the final stages and we hope to get accreditation very soon. It will help HCT students continue their education and pursue higher studies in Australia. Similar arrangements are being made with the universities in the UK, the U.S. and Canada," he added.

Tony Revill, Supervisor for the Centre for Applied Studies in Education at the SWC, said: "This is the first national conference of its kind in the UAE and brings together teachers, students and administrators from all the education sectors working in the area of English for Young Learners.

"It's a great opportunity to share ideas about how we can best cultivate literacy teaching that is both relevant and enjoyable. This conference provides a chance for delegates to experience a global view on the enhancement of learning through literature and begins an important dialogue amongst practitioners and experts in the field."

The SWC yesterday also organised 'The Day of the Written Word' for college students. The objective is to encourage female students to develop their communication skills and learn the importance of reading and writing in English and Arabic, in addition to educating students about Islamic norms and Arab heritage.

Neil Kilah, organiser, said the event, being hosted at the college for the second year, is a celebration of the written word in Arabic and English and in its many forms.

"This year, the day is based on student-focused activities including staff and student literary events where students and staff read and sometimes act out favourite passages in English and Arabic from books and poems," he added.

A trade show and exhibition is also being held as part of the activities. Various publishers and bookshops from Sharjah and Dubai are taking part in the two-day show to display and sell books and other related material.

The exhibition also includes a display of artifacts from the Sharjah Islamic Museum highlighting the beauty and artistry of Islamic binding and the exquisite designs created using the traditional craft of water marbling.