TESOL ARABIA DUBAI CHAPTER &

YOUNG LEARNERS’ SIG JOINT EVENT Unlocking Inspiration: Engaging Learners across the Curriculum

DATE

6th October 2012 (Saturday)

VENUE

Emirates Aviation College – B

Opposite the Dubai Tennis Stadium/Irish Village/Jumeirah Creek

Hotel in Garhoud

LOCATION MAP

http://goo.gl/maps/sudrW (Point B on the map)

TIME

0900-1230

FOR INFORMATION &

PRE REGISTRATION

Dubai Chapter: nazihaali2005@yahoo.co.uk

050 6461788

Young Learners’ SIG: kathygardner007@googlemail.com

0501513613

FEE

Free for TESOL Arabia members

AED 40 for non-members

USEFUL LINKS

TESOL Arabia Online http://www.tesolarabia.org | TESOL ARABIA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tesolarabia | TESOL Arabia on Twitter @tesolarabia

1

SCHEDULING & PRESENTER ABSTRACTS

0900-0930 Participant registration

0930-1030 Concurrent sessions A

Peter Davidson: The Future is Now – What tomorrow’s schools will look like. Education is going through major, rapid changes like never before. These changes are being fuelled by technology, economics, globalization, research, changing expectations and greater accountability. This talk explores what tomorrow’s classrooms will look like. As teachers, we need to not only be aware of the changing face of education, but we need to embrace this change and help shape it. Presenter bio: Peter Davidson currently teaches at Zayed University in Dubai, having previously taught in New Zealand, Japan, the UK and Turkey. He recently co-edited The Fundamentals of Language Assessment (2009), and The Cambridge Guide to Second Language Assessment (2012). He is particularly interested in vocabulary teaching and learning, English language testing, and faculty evaluation.

Rehab Rajab: iPads in the classroom! Now what? Excitement is in the air with iPads in the hands of thousands of students in the UAE! Everyone is happy to have this new tool in the calssroom, but we educators know that this is going to be a learning curve for all. Bring your mobile device and let's share some ideas on iPad integration in the classroom as well as the challenges and lessons learned so far.

Presenter bio: Rehab Rajab is an advocate of technology in the classroom who is passionate about sharing innovative teaching ideas and considers herself a lifelong learner. Rehab has been working in IAT since 2006, first as an English teacher and currently as the Technology Integration Senior Coordinator. She graduated in 2010 with a Masters degree in Educational Technology from Michigan State University and she holds a Bachelor degree of Arts in Education, a CELTA and an IADCS. Rehab is an active teacher who has initiated and participated in many teacher-training activities in the UAE as the Chair of the Dubai Chapter of TESOL Arabia Organization since 2008. Currently is the Vice/President elect of the organization and the moderator of the organization's page on FaceBook.

1030-1100 Coffee break & TESOL Arabia Q & A

1100-1200 Concurrent session B

2

Melanie Gobert: Classroom Games for Learning Are you tired of seeing classy-eyed students in your classroom? Are the students texting too much underneath their desks? This workshop will introduce teachers to two easy to download and use software applications which they can use to create their own stimulating learning environment right inside the classroom. All you need is a pc and digital projector and voila! Blockbusters is an exciting and famous British television game show that you can easily recreate in the classroom to construct an exciting learning environment where students answer content, reading, grammar, vocabulary, or any other types of questions. Fling the Teacher is a multiple choice or true/false question game generator that you can use to have students answer questions on readings, vocabulary, grammar, writing, or any other topic area. While playing Blockbusters and Fling the Teacher, students also practice speaking and listening, and best of all, both also promote critical thinking. Come join the fun Presenter bio: Dr Melanie Gobert is on the faculty of Abu Dhabi Men’s College at the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates where she has served as a course team leader and academic coordinator. She has presented and published in the region on reading, vocabulary learning, assessment, independent learning, and online learning. She was the recipient of an Emirates Foundation Grant in 2009 for studying the effects of reading Emirati literature on national identity. She has a BA in English Composition, an MA in Applied Linguistics/TESOL, and an EdD in Educational Leadership. She is currently the editor of Perspectives, the TESOL Arabia peer-reviewed journal.

Sandra Zaher: 21st Century Literacy: Young Learners, Teachers & IT possibilities Want to see what IT can do in your classroom? Then join this session and work your way through what is and isn’t possible in your classroom…Did I say ‘isn’t’…Ummmhh…that is up to you isn’t? When children and technology and an innovative creative teacher are involved…literally…anything can be created, explored, developed, and become part of a solid knowledge base that is filled with critical thinking skills…want to come ‘play’ in my session? Presenter bio: Sandra Zaher is the Supervisor, Special Projects at Academic Central Service Abu Dhabi, for the Higher Colleges of Technology System. She holds certification as: K-12 Generalist, K-12 ESL, K-12 Special Needs, K-12 Gifted and Talented, K-12 Adapted Behavior Specialist, 6-12 English, K-12 Class Teacher, K-12 Texas Mid-Management Principal, and CELTA. She on the Editorial Board for BMENA IRA, member of Texas Association for Teachers and Principals, and currently the Co-Chair of the ESP SIG of TESOL Arabia. She is an advocate for empowering students and teachers through interactive education.

1200-1230 Closing & Raffle draw