The English Language Centre of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) – Ibra, conducted the Second National Symposium on English Language Teaching: From Reflection to Action Research on the 4th of May 2023, with the aim to create a platform for teachers of English to reflect on their experiences and solutions to the problems that they encountered in English Language Teaching.
The symposium was spearheaded by Dr. Salim Saeed Bani Orabah, HoC-ELC, and convened by Dr. Kodhandaraman Chinnathambi, the symposium convener. Dr. Azzah Ahmed Said Al-Maskari, Dean (UTAS-Ibra), and Dr. Fatma Nasser Maso'ud Al-Harthy, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (UTAS-Ibra) honoured the Keynote Speaker, Guest Speaker, presenters, and the symposium organizing team in the award ceremony.
The symposium began with the keynote address by Dr. Maryam Alhinai from Sultan Qaboos University. The keynote speech was on “Critical Participatory Action Research: Empowering ELT Educators for a knowledge-based economy”. Following this, Dr. Mustafa Fahmi (Dean of Oman College of Health Sciences) delivered his speech on “International Trends Shaping the Future of Education”.
After a short break, Mr. Hisham Bakhit (UTAS-Salalah), Mr. Saif Said (UTAS-Shinas), Mr. Eyhab Abdulrazak ((University of Nizwa), Ms. Noha Sadek Ibrahim (University of Nizwa), Dr. Aisha Bhatti (Bahria University, Pakistan) and 15 lecturers in English from UTAS-Ibra, presented their research papers in the concurrent sessions related to language acquisition, integrating technology in teaching, critical thinking, online games, research and post-pandemic practices in language teaching, etc. About 85 lecturers from ELC and the members of the College Council of UTAS-Ibra, participated in the Symposium. In addition, the event was on live stream (YouTube). English Lecturers from other UTAS branches across Oman took part in the event via YouTube and got benefitted.
The event was officially closed by Dr. Salim Bani Orabah in a closing ceremony where the involvement of the speakers, participants, and facilitators was appreciated and acknowledged.