Webinar

On December 21, 2022, King Khalid University's Faculty of Languages and Translation hosted a webinar featuring Dr. Shadma Iffat Rahmatullah. Her presentation, entitled "Catalyzing Change: Preparing Students for the Real World," emphasized the importance of equipping students with skills that transcend the traditional academic environment and adequately prepare them for future challenges. Drawing upon her extensive classroom experience and observation, Dr. Rahmatullah challenged the status quo of pedagogical practices. She prompted educators to question if merely covering the syllabus and helping students achieve high grades truly prepares them for their future endeavors. Her poignant questions unveiled the often-overlooked truth about prevalent teaching methods. Dr. Rahmatullah urged educators to prioritize teaching that is closely aligned with real-world applications, rather than focusing solely on academic success. She stressed that the ultimate goal should be to impart skills that will help students succeed in life, well beyond their school years. Clarifying the concept of real-world learning, Dr. Rahmatullah defined it as authentic learning that goes beyond grades and exam performance. According to her, pragmatic and practical learning can answer the frequently asked student question, "Why are we learning this?" This question, she suggests, signifies students' growing awareness of the practical implications of their studies and their desire to understand the real-world relevance of their coursework. She provided a comprehensive explanation of what it means to be "world-ready." A world-ready student, she posited, should have the skills to navigate life independently, be equipped to face any challenges, and be prepared for life's unpredictability. In her conclusion, Dr. Rahmatullah emphasized the importance of integrating real-world examples into teaching practices to prepare students for the future. She also highlighted the need for students to gain knowledge about significant global issues. The webinar proved to be an engaging event, fostering critical discussions and achieving significant success. Date: 12/25/2022 Source: Mohammad Adil Siddique

On December 21, 2022, King Khalid University's Faculty of Languages and Translation hosted a webinar featuring Dr. Shadma Iffat Rahmatullah. Her presentation, entitled "Catalyzing Change: Preparing Students for the Real World," emphasized the importance of equipping students with skills that transcend the traditional academic environment and adequately prepare them for future challenges. Drawing upon her extensive classroom experience and observation, Dr. Rahmatullah challenged the status quo of pedagogical practices. She prompted educators to question if merely covering the syllabus and helping students achieve high grades truly prepares them for their future endeavors. Her poignant questions unveiled the often-overlooked truth about prevalent teaching methods. Dr. Rahmatullah urged educators to prioritize teaching that is closely aligned with real-world applications, rather than focusing solely on academic success. She stressed that the ultimate goal should be to impart skills that will help students succeed in life, well beyond their school years. Clarifying the concept of real-world learning, Dr. Rahmatullah defined it as authentic learning that goes beyond grades and exam performance. According to her, pragmatic and practical learning can answer the frequently asked student question, "Why are we learning this?" This question, she suggests, signifies students' growing awareness of the practical implications of their studies and their desire to understand the real-world relevance of their coursework. She provided a comprehensive explanation of what it means to be "world-ready." A world-ready student, she posited, should have the skills to navigate life independently, be equipped to face any challenges, and be prepared for life's unpredictability. In her conclusion, Dr. Rahmatullah emphasized the importance of integrating real-world examples into teaching practices to prepare students for the future. She also highlighted the need for students to gain knowledge about significant global issues. The webinar proved to be an engaging event, fostering critical discussions and achieving significant success. Date: 12/25/2022 Source: Mohammad Adil Siddique

  The Alumni Unit of the Faculty of Languages and Translation hosted a webinar on a new virtual internship-based learning project on October 25, 2022, with the goal of integrating employability into all undergraduate and graduate programs. The objective is for all undergraduate and graduate students to acquire employability skills that are aligned with learning outcomes and help them prepare for a competitive job market.   In response to the increased demand for digital skills programs post-Covid-19, the Faculty of Languages and Translation worked to find innovative and expedient means for our students to acquire essential employability skills. After an initial agreement with Forage to become a university partner in July 2022 and further correspondence to officially integrate the Faculty of Languages and Translation platform onto Forage, it became clear that our goals were the same: to let students access online virtual internships from anywhere, at any time, with no restrictions.   Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Development, kicked off the webinar moderated by Mohsin Reza Khan by introducing the Forage and explaining that students will be able to develop their skills and try out different roles and industries by working through self-paced modules, noting that students and alumni will gain a better understanding of the diverse and exciting career paths available. He emphasized the importance of students and alumni having the skills and confidence necessary for success as they transition from the classroom to the professional world. Following after, Hassan Costello continued to provide additional background information on the Forage. He emphasized that companies on Forage believe talent is more important than connections and mentioned that it is a great way to demonstrate an initial interest or passion for a specific organization and the type of work they do, which will be advantageous in any future recruitment process. He explained that after completing a program, students and alumni would receive a personalized certificate and a digital certificate that serves as evidence of acquired skills. He then highlighted that those who complete an online internship program could update their LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV under the "Certifications" section with their new skills to boost their credentials and kickstart their career growth. "Employers are twice as likely to interview a Forage candidate and four times as likely to offer them a position," he concluded.   Abdussalam Tahir Abdulmajid, a senior, described his experience completing virtual internships on the Forage, emphasizing that signing up is user-friendly and the courses are self-paced. He highlighted that one program requires five to six hours to complete and that you can complete as many as you like. With over 190+ courses to choose from, Abdussalam encouraged his fellow students to sample what real-life work at leading companies would be like and to fully explore their interests.   The webinar participants were then able to pose questions directly to Abdussalam and Dr. Almosa during a lively Q&A session. Date: 10/26/2022 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  The Alumni Unit of the Faculty of Languages and Translation hosted a webinar on a new virtual internship-based learning project on October 25, 2022, with the goal of integrating employability into all undergraduate and graduate programs. The objective is for all undergraduate and graduate students to acquire employability skills that are aligned with learning outcomes and help them prepare for a competitive job market.   In response to the increased demand for digital skills programs post-Covid-19, the Faculty of Languages and Translation worked to find innovative and expedient means for our students to acquire essential employability skills. After an initial agreement with Forage to become a university partner in July 2022 and further correspondence to officially integrate the Faculty of Languages and Translation platform onto Forage, it became clear that our goals were the same: to let students access online virtual internships from anywhere, at any time, with no restrictions.   Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Development, kicked off the webinar moderated by Mohsin Reza Khan by introducing the Forage and explaining that students will be able to develop their skills and try out different roles and industries by working through self-paced modules, noting that students and alumni will gain a better understanding of the diverse and exciting career paths available. He emphasized the importance of students and alumni having the skills and confidence necessary for success as they transition from the classroom to the professional world. Following after, Hassan Costello continued to provide additional background information on the Forage. He emphasized that companies on Forage believe talent is more important than connections and mentioned that it is a great way to demonstrate an initial interest or passion for a specific organization and the type of work they do, which will be advantageous in any future recruitment process. He explained that after completing a program, students and alumni would receive a personalized certificate and a digital certificate that serves as evidence of acquired skills. He then highlighted that those who complete an online internship program could update their LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV under the "Certifications" section with their new skills to boost their credentials and kickstart their career growth. "Employers are twice as likely to interview a Forage candidate and four times as likely to offer them a position," he concluded.   Abdussalam Tahir Abdulmajid, a senior, described his experience completing virtual internships on the Forage, emphasizing that signing up is user-friendly and the courses are self-paced. He highlighted that one program requires five to six hours to complete and that you can complete as many as you like. With over 190+ courses to choose from, Abdussalam encouraged his fellow students to sample what real-life work at leading companies would be like and to fully explore their interests.   The webinar participants were then able to pose questions directly to Abdussalam and Dr. Almosa during a lively Q&A session. Date: 10/26/2022 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 17 May 2022, the Translation Unit invited Mr. Ahmad Assiri, a Ph.D. candidate in Translation Studies at Macquarie University, to deliver a special translation webinar available to all King Khalid University students. The webinar, entitled "Translation in a Clear & Correct Arabic Language", stressed key aspects of the Arabic Language that translators/interpreters should consider in order to produce a clear Arabic translation/interpretation when conveying English texts to Arabic, including stylistic, grammatic, orthographic aspects. The webinar also highlighted a number of issues that help translators post-edit their work.   "It was a pleasure speaking to KKU’s students during this amazing webinar organized by the Translation Unit. The number of attendees, as well as their interactive engagement with the content, reflects an outstanding understanding of the key concepts presented," said Mr. Ahmad Assiri.   Of noteworthy mention, attendance at the webinar was high, with nearly 100 participants actively participating in practical training exercises related to the aspects discussed throughout the session. Thank you to everyone who participated live. If you were unable to attend, you can view a recording of the webinar here: https://youtu.be/AVOH20MhNdA Date: 5/20/2022 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 17 May 2022, the Translation Unit invited Mr. Ahmad Assiri, a Ph.D. candidate in Translation Studies at Macquarie University, to deliver a special translation webinar available to all King Khalid University students. The webinar, entitled "Translation in a Clear & Correct Arabic Language", stressed key aspects of the Arabic Language that translators/interpreters should consider in order to produce a clear Arabic translation/interpretation when conveying English texts to Arabic, including stylistic, grammatic, orthographic aspects. The webinar also highlighted a number of issues that help translators post-edit their work.   "It was a pleasure speaking to KKU’s students during this amazing webinar organized by the Translation Unit. The number of attendees, as well as their interactive engagement with the content, reflects an outstanding understanding of the key concepts presented," said Mr. Ahmad Assiri.   Of noteworthy mention, attendance at the webinar was high, with nearly 100 participants actively participating in practical training exercises related to the aspects discussed throughout the session. Thank you to everyone who participated live. If you were unable to attend, you can view a recording of the webinar here: https://youtu.be/AVOH20MhNdA Date: 5/20/2022 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 15 November 2021, Dr. Eisa Al-Eisa Asiri, who recently returned from Macquarie University in Australia, delivered a webinar to 107 participants organized by the Alumni Unit of the Faculty of Languages and Translation under the coordination of Mohsin Raza Khan. The webinar — titled "The transition from a classroom to a workplace: professional skills for translation students" — introduced participants to the most important professional skills in translation (henceforth TRN) and interpreting (henceforth INT). The webinar was developed to provide students and alumni with additional activities for their professional development, consistent with the intended learning outcomes and labor market developments.   Dr. Asiri began by inquiring of the student participants how to gain advanced TRN and INT knowledge. There was a wide variety of interesting responses. One student said that the best way is to study for a degree in TRN or INT. Dr. Asiri agreed but explained that one must be an avid consumer of source text and target text materials. He emphasized that one must be a good writer and have in-depth cultural knowledge.   Dr. Asiri highlighted several practical terms as a starting point, explaining that translation memory is parts of or complete sentences that have been translated before that can be consulted while translating. In addition, tapping into one's translation memory is helpful when using technological tools for translators and interpreters. He related that most professional translators work with computer-assisted translation tools, and they test as many programs as they can.   Then, Dr. Asiri admonished the students to have an entrepreneurial spirit while showing the pros and cons of working with agencies, working with direct clients, and using portals. He noted that resumes should be ready and updated regularly. He concluded that networking and attending events, conferences, and expos, whether related to the translation industry or not, can play a significant role in finding clients and continuing one's professional development.   At the end of the webinar, Dr. Asiri thanked all alumni, undergrads, and grads who participated, noting that learning doesn't stop on graduation day. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Date: 11/16/2021 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 15 November 2021, Dr. Eisa Al-Eisa Asiri, who recently returned from Macquarie University in Australia, delivered a webinar to 107 participants organized by the Alumni Unit of the Faculty of Languages and Translation under the coordination of Mohsin Raza Khan. The webinar — titled "The transition from a classroom to a workplace: professional skills for translation students" — introduced participants to the most important professional skills in translation (henceforth TRN) and interpreting (henceforth INT). The webinar was developed to provide students and alumni with additional activities for their professional development, consistent with the intended learning outcomes and labor market developments.   Dr. Asiri began by inquiring of the student participants how to gain advanced TRN and INT knowledge. There was a wide variety of interesting responses. One student said that the best way is to study for a degree in TRN or INT. Dr. Asiri agreed but explained that one must be an avid consumer of source text and target text materials. He emphasized that one must be a good writer and have in-depth cultural knowledge.   Dr. Asiri highlighted several practical terms as a starting point, explaining that translation memory is parts of or complete sentences that have been translated before that can be consulted while translating. In addition, tapping into one's translation memory is helpful when using technological tools for translators and interpreters. He related that most professional translators work with computer-assisted translation tools, and they test as many programs as they can.   Then, Dr. Asiri admonished the students to have an entrepreneurial spirit while showing the pros and cons of working with agencies, working with direct clients, and using portals. He noted that resumes should be ready and updated regularly. He concluded that networking and attending events, conferences, and expos, whether related to the translation industry or not, can play a significant role in finding clients and continuing one's professional development.   At the end of the webinar, Dr. Asiri thanked all alumni, undergrads, and grads who participated, noting that learning doesn't stop on graduation day. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Date: 11/16/2021 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 27 October 2021, Vice Dean for Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, delivered a webinar to 60 participants organized by the Alumni Unit of the Faculty of Languages and Translation under the coordination of Mohsin Raza Khan. The webinar — titled "Future Job Prospects for English Graduates" — addressed the importance of durable skills. The webinar was developed to provide Bachelor of Arts in English program students and alumni with additional activities for their professional development, consistent with the intended learning outcomes and labor market developments.   "There are ten major competencies also known as durable skills that will ensure a successful career. They are leadership, character, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, metacognition, mindfulness, growth mindset, and fortitude. A great way to build those durable skills is volunteering. Volunteering will introduce you to both private industry and non-profit organizations. For example, you can learn more about project management by organizing events, which will also develop your leadership abilities and sales skills because you will recruit other volunteers to help you," began Dr. Almosa. He then pointed out that the new economy is skills-based, highlighting that we have entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Although having strong technical skills will always help, Dr. Almosa continued to reinforce that soft skills mean a lot. "You will need to be able to solve problems and work in teams. Actually, you will have to solve problems that do not exist yet, and you need to be comfortable continually learning new skills to solve problems," he said.   "I want to draw your attention to the Aseer Region Development Strategy. The strategy was launched by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and aims to create the conditions necessary for sustainable growth. Our region will be an all-year-round world destination, and students from the Bachelor of Arts in English program will have many job opportunities," said Dr. Almosa.   Of noteworthy mention, Dr. Almosa is well-positioned to guide our students on how their skills match the region's workforce needs, as he was the recipient of an award in October 2021 from His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Aseer, for his outstanding contribution to the region's strategic planning.   The Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation is committed to communicating with its alumni and involving them in events and activities. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Date: 10/27/2021 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 27 October 2021, Vice Dean for Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, delivered a webinar to 60 participants organized by the Alumni Unit of the Faculty of Languages and Translation under the coordination of Mohsin Raza Khan. The webinar — titled "Future Job Prospects for English Graduates" — addressed the importance of durable skills. The webinar was developed to provide Bachelor of Arts in English program students and alumni with additional activities for their professional development, consistent with the intended learning outcomes and labor market developments.   "There are ten major competencies also known as durable skills that will ensure a successful career. They are leadership, character, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, metacognition, mindfulness, growth mindset, and fortitude. A great way to build those durable skills is volunteering. Volunteering will introduce you to both private industry and non-profit organizations. For example, you can learn more about project management by organizing events, which will also develop your leadership abilities and sales skills because you will recruit other volunteers to help you," began Dr. Almosa. He then pointed out that the new economy is skills-based, highlighting that we have entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Although having strong technical skills will always help, Dr. Almosa continued to reinforce that soft skills mean a lot. "You will need to be able to solve problems and work in teams. Actually, you will have to solve problems that do not exist yet, and you need to be comfortable continually learning new skills to solve problems," he said.   "I want to draw your attention to the Aseer Region Development Strategy. The strategy was launched by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and aims to create the conditions necessary for sustainable growth. Our region will be an all-year-round world destination, and students from the Bachelor of Arts in English program will have many job opportunities," said Dr. Almosa.   Of noteworthy mention, Dr. Almosa is well-positioned to guide our students on how their skills match the region's workforce needs, as he was the recipient of an award in October 2021 from His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Aseer, for his outstanding contribution to the region's strategic planning.   The Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation is committed to communicating with its alumni and involving them in events and activities. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Date: 10/27/2021 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation