King Khalid University

Creating Richer, More Robust, Student-Centered Course Learning Outcomes

  Vice Dean of Academic Development and Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, sponsored a training seminar for the Bachelor of Arts in English program titled 'Creating and Assessing Learning Outcomes' on Saturday, February 8, 2020. The event was co-sponsored by the Deanship of Academic Development and Quality. In attendance were nearly 50 course coordinators from numerous campuses. It is worth noting that both male and female team members attended the event at Saudi German Hospital.   Dr. Abdul Wahed Al Zumor began the event by presenting on the purposes and requirements of developing course learning outcomes and the relevance of this move to the educational aspirations of the Kingdom, as stated in Vision 2030. He stressed the need to shift the focus from content-based education to outcome-based education. When comparing both forms of education, Dr. Al-Zumor explained that content-based learning is dependent mainly upon mastery of course material content. In contrast, outcomes-based education goes beyond mastery of content and into constructing knowledge and skills by the students themselves with guidance from instructors. "Outcomes-based education is part and parcel to the SAQF Level 7 Descriptors and the three domains in which they are in," he said. There was a call to action at the conclusion of his presentation to align course learning outcomes and the program learning outcomes with the SAQF framework.   Dr. Eman Alzaanin, Supervisor of the Academic Development and Quality Unit, expounded upon the fundamentals of outcomes-based education. Dr. Alzaanin emphasized the need to create an aligned curriculum where the intended learning outcomes, the learning activities and resources, and the assessment tasks and criteria are all aligned to enhance students' attainment of the intended learning outcomes at the course and programme level. She walked the participants through an exercise designed to activate the ability to spot the extent of alignment between course intended learning outcomes and written assessment tasks. "We do not want students just to learn what they think they will be tested on. By ensuring that assessment tasks mirror intended learning outcomes, the curriculum will be accurately reflected," she noted. Dr. Alzaanin also introduced a checklist to evaluate and ensure the quality of assessment in three phases: designing of the assessment, marking and verification, and review and recommendations. "This will ensure that the teaching activities of the instructor and learning activities of the student are heading in the same direction," she concluded. The end of Dr. Alzaanin's session was quite active, with a proposal put forward towards modifying the assessment structure in use.   The FLT is grateful to the Deanship of Academic Development and Quality for its co-sponsorship of the event and Quality Consultant, Dr. Ahmed Farid, for his brief explanation of benchmarking and measuring course learning outcomes along with assessments. "Thank you all for giving up part of your weekend to attend this most important event. We will begin the process of revising course learning outcomes in the near future," said Dr. Almosa.   The Faculty of Languages and Translation is dedicated to providing excellence in all aspects of its educational offerings.   Date: 2/8/2020 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation
English

Translating Songs and Poems

  Dr. Adel Bahameed spoke on the subject of Translating Songs and Poems at a seminar organized by the Language Research Center for the Bachelor of Arts in English program on January 29, 2020. The presentation centered on the challenges involved in translating songs and poems.   The main objective of his research, Dr. Bahameed says, was to refresh translation studies with regard to the possibility of translating songs and poems.   Dr. Bahameed, based on his research, describes 'translating songs and poems' as a challenging task. "There has been a long controversy over whether songs and poems can be really translated or not", states Dr. Bahameed. He mentions a famous Arab singer Abu Bakr Salem and a famous Arab poet Hussein Al-Mihdar and how their works have been translated. While translating a song, he adds, the translator must pay attention to rhythm, rhyme, prosody, music and the culture. Some translators, while translating, only focus on forms, and some, on the other hand, give priority to content over form. He states that the translator should preferably be a poet so that he/she can appreciate the poetic text in hand.   Dr. Adel Bahameed concluded that Arabic poems are translatable, but the translation process is complicated. However, Arabic songs are untranslatable because of the extra dimension of music, which is beyond the translator's control.   The seminar was very interactive, engaging, and a great success. It is worth mentioning that King Abdullah Road Campus also attended the seminar. Date: 1/30/2020 Source: Mohammad Adil Siddique
English

Dean Al-Melhi and Dr. Bader Eddin Participate in Sports Governance Forum

  Under the auspices of Asir Gov. Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz, the Sports Governance Forum was held on Jan. 20, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Abha Palace Hotel. The main purpose of the two-session forum, hosted by Abha Sports Club, was to gather key stakeholders from around the Kingdom and from abroad to learn the unique challenges of sports governance, drive new initiatives, and implement coordinated solutions. Faculty of Languages and Translation Dean, Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, and Dr. Eyhab Bader Eddin, MITI, were provided with a special invitation. Dr. Bader Eddin was tasked with providing simultaneous interpreting in the two language combination, i.e. English and Arabic. He translated for the Arab guests what was said by the 2 English guest speakers who in turn got the English translation of what speakers said in Arabic, all done simultaneously. At the end of the Forum, Dean Al-Melhi provided consecutive interpreting for the questions posed to the English speakers before the lens of a TV channel.   Dr. Bader Eddin first provided simultaneous interpretation for Director of Risk and Governance at Everton FC, Paul McNicholas. Mr. McNicholas generated a lot of interest with his vast background in the Premier League, the top tier of English Football. Specifically, he manages all of the processes in place to protect Everton FC, a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. Mr. McNicholas's presentation was titled 'The English Experience in the Governance of Sports Clubs'. After, interpretation was provided for Real World Academies Managing Director, James Tucker. Mr. Tucker emphasized the importance of governance in education and sports clubs, citing examples from different academies from different parts of the world like Spain, etc. His presentation was titled 'The Importance of Governance in Education and Training in Sports Clubs'.   The event included a notable selection of speakers that included: Advisory (Shura) Council member Dr. Muhammad Al-Abbas; Dr. Marea Al-Habbash from King Khalid University; Dr Ahmed Al-Hadithi, President of Abha Sports Club; Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of the General Authority for Sports, Abdulaziz Al-Masaad; Director of the Internal Audit Office at Dubai Sports Council, Khaled Al-Shezawi; Dr Muqbel bin Jdei, Professor of Sports Marketing and Development; Lawyer Fahad Muhammed.   Dean Al-Melhi recognized Dr. Badder Eddin for his community service commitment and asserted that the Faculty of Languages and Translation was honored to receive the task to interpret to a live audience and national broadcast for the guest speakers. It is worth mentioning that simultaneous interpreting is considered a type of interpreting that tops the list of other modes or types of interpreting in terms of difficulty. This is so because the simultaneous interpreter has to master the faculty of splitting senses in that he listens, understands, analyzes and then encodes the source text message in the other language, all in real-time. Simultaneous interpreting is seen as very hard because it involves 3 layers of problems: A) speed with which an interpreter must make decisions regarding lexical choice, grammar usage, etc, B) enormous tension and pressure to keep up with the rapid flow of spoken language, and C) the background knowledge necessary for instant recall, Dr. Bader Eddin mentioned. Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that Dr. Bader Eddin has provided and continues to provide simultaneous interpreting at high-profile events for high-profile dignitaries in Syria, European Union, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Bader Eddin is technically called 'FREE Simultaneous Interpreter' in that he has NO access to the text or speaker's notes, and the interpretation he provided was performed with NO look-ahead, under severe time pressure and with no safety net. The difficulty of the interpreting mode stems from the fact that the interpreter has little or no chance to look things up or go back on what he has said: the first pass is final. The interpreter has to tune in to the speaker's train of thought, expressing it precisely and as naturally as possible. Although the listeners do not need to know how this process works, they still expect clear and faithful running speech. All in all, the simultaneous interpreter's job is demanding, high-pressure and high-risk. Date: 1/24/2020 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation
English

Dr Bader Eddin Earns Rigorous ITI Qualified Member Status

  On September 1, 2019, we reported that Dr Eyhab Abdulrazak Bader Eddin was named a Qualified Member (Translator) by the United Kingdom's Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) in the English to Arabic combination. ITI aims to enhance and continually develop the translating and interpreting profession between government, industry and commerce, the media and the general public. It was founded in 1986 and has grown to 3,000 members and is considered a resource in the industry.   Dr. Bader Eddin is one of only 28 holders of the MITI designation worldwide in the English to Arabic language combination. Considered Sui Generis in his field, Dr Bader Eddin reached new heights by adding a highly coveted ITI qualified combination status. On November 25, 2019, Dr Badder Eddin entered an elite Arabic to English class after his magnum opus portfolio assessment. Of noteworthy mention, there are only three holders worldwide who are certified by ITI in the Arabic to English combination.   For more information on ITI or details published in our story on September 1, 2019, please click the link below.   https://flt.page.link/Institute-of-Translation-and-Interpreting Date: 1/22/2020 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation
English

Team Blue Takes It Home

  After overturning the agreement that last Wednesday would be the final match of the Fall 2019 Semester, an enthusiastic FC FLT of the Bachelor of Arts in English program once again thoroughly enjoyed an entertaining game last night on December 18, 2019. Despite having a hapless, Azaad Hayat, aptly labelled as "worse than the worst of the worst ...ever..goalkeepers" by an observant Dr. Mahmoud Radwan, Team Blue still managed to win quite comfortably. This win was largely due to the Blues having three previous " Man of the Match " titleholders in its team. Dr Yahya Asiri, Saqub Aftab, and Dr. Mahmoud Radwan sowed havoc among the clueless Orange team players, as they continually dazzled with brilliant, attacking football. Together with Dr. Abdelhamid Bessaid, Dr. Yahya Asiri, who recently returned from a football training camp in Egypt, was particularly adept at peppering the opposition's goals with accurate strikes. Although everyone on the field, except for the dodgy Blues goalkeeper, qualified for that coveted "Man of the Match" title, the judges were once again forced to disappoint. After carefully considering all relevant factors, it was decided that, despite being on the losing side, Dr. Omer Sultan and Dr. Dimitrios Michael would share the last "Man of the Match" title for this semester. These two lads have been super enthusiastic, and their ball skills have seen tremendous improvement. Date: 12/20/2019 Source: Azaad Hayat
English

Team Orange Clinches Nail Biting Overtime Victory Against Team Blue to End FC FLT Season

  In an energy-packed night which saw a perfectly full moon substituting for a number of fused floodlights, Team Blue and Team Orange of the Bachelor of Arts in English program faced off in the final match of the semester. Although the guys donning orange once again ran out narrow winners, there was very little difference between the strengths of the two sides. Because all of the players on the field tried their utmost to impress the judges, it is once again a travesty of justice to choose "The Man of the Match". But, after due consideration, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa and Dr. Mahmoud Radwan narrowly pipped their competitors, to share the coveted title, until next semester. Faisal Alfadhil is, undoubtedly, "The Man of the Year". We owe him much gratitude for his sterling work at King Khalid University. A Real Doer. Both students and staff are going to sorely miss the presence of this wonderful young man when he departs to pursue his PhD in Austalia in a few weeks time. May Allah grant him all the necessary blessings to speedily reach his goals, Inshallah. Date: 12/13/2019 Source: Azaad Hayat
English

The Score, a 16-16 Draw, Says It All

  The second game of FC FLT provided absolutely magical moments of shock and awe. After captains Azaad Hayat and Dr. Ahlullah Siddiqui selected players for their Orange and Blue teams, respectively, the two hour and twenty-one-minute game took off at an unbelievably, blistering pace. Even two bouts of heavy rains pouring down from the overcast, Abha sky, could not dampen the enthusiasm of the energized players.   Right from the opening whistle, the Blues went into what seemed like an unassailable lead. With their professional dribbling and striking skills, Dr. Abdelhamid Bessaid, Fareed Uddin, and Dr. Fadi Alkhasoneh managed to penetrate the valiant defense provided by Dr. Omer Sultan, Dr. Dimitrios Michael, and goalkeeper Dr. Karem Abdelatif Ahmed.   Despite the desperate efforts of newcomers, Khalid Al-Qasemi, Nasser Al-Hawamdeh, Vice Dean for Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mosa, and Dr. Basim Kanaan (a former professional Jordanian player), the Blues maintained their dominance. Just as Team Orange resigned themselves to their fate of having to succumb to their rampant opponents, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Yahya Asiri, made his dramatic appearance donning an orange vest.   All of a sudden, with the latter winding and weaving his way through his opponents, it was the Blues who found themselves desperately defending their comfortable lead. Even though Dr. Eyhab Abdulrazak Bader Eddin made more than a dozen spectacular, and in some cases miraculous saves, Team Orange managed to claw their way back to equalize at 8-8.   Thereafter the game developed into an exciting, to and fro spectacle of alternate teams finding itself in the lead. Newcomers Dr. Sayed Bilal Kadiri, Dr. Adil Bahameed, Dr. Muhsin Hassan Khan, and Dr. Mahmoud Radwan surprised with their seemingly unstoppable drive to win the game.   If there had been judges tasked with choosing the 'Man of the Match' title, theirs would have been an impossible task.   Nasser Al-Hawamdeh Dr. Abdelhamid Bessaid, Dr. Fadi Alkhasoneh, Dr. Basim Kanaan, and Dr. Omer Sultan would definitely have been on the shortlist. But, given the unfortunate reality that there can be only one 'Man of the Match', five of these gents will have to keep up their sterling performances to remain in the quest to become the titleholder. In the last game, Dr. Yahya Asiri narrowly beat Dr. Basim Kanaan to win this highly coveted title.   After a quick ballot was taken among players, it was decided that because of his flawless ball distribution in midfield, and his majestic display in stopping numerous scary blasters, the winner narrowly managed to pip his opponents to be the proud holder of the 'Man of the Match' title.   Congratulations Dr. Eyhab Abdulrazak Bader Eddin, on a truly stunning performance. You were AWESOME! ~Special Message from Dr. Bader Eddin~   Thank you all for the golden opportunity you all provided to me to be one of your team. Really got gobsmacked and humbled by the warm words, much more than I deserve. Brother Azaad tailored a literary narrative style that was so lucid and scrupulous that readers could watch the match again via words. Seeking permission to respond, I am dipping my quill into the sky-like azure ink to scribe a few thoughts that are being dictated by the thunderclap outside and the overcast sky, which was a witness to yesterday's thrilling match. It was Dr. Fadi's invitation that lured me to go to the match. It was the company I had with you that made the match take on an exquisite flavour, and retain memorable moments that would hardly escape mind. I congratulate all players who were all a canopy of stars whose luminosity shone remarkably. The players' high spirits didn't get dampened by the sprinkle we frequently had. The absolute harmony preserved throughout the match really makes one swell with pride. Lapping it up and relishing the match, some ineffable splendor crowned our match. Fierce competition it was, and a quiver of resistance ran through every player to perform marvelously. Left at the pitch, there is an inarticulate echo of longing for the next match to unfold further excitement. It was everyone's blithe spirits that made the match exceptional by all standards, including cross, quick and long balls, ball possession, a super refinement of tastes in heading and scoring into the net, etc. A curtain of opaque rain is bringing down the curtain on my message to be concluded just as it started: Thank you all. Date: 11/21/2019 Source: Azaad Hayat
English

Fall 2019 Student Activities Closing Ceremony: English Club Encourages Increased Participation

  Under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation, the English Club of the Bachelor of Arts in English program held a special closing award ceremony on November 19, 2019, at 11 a.m. in Auditorium 5. The ceremony marked the end of activities carried out during the first semester of the current academic year. The ceremony was attended by Vice Dean of Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Yahya Asiri, Department Chairman, Dr. Munassir Alhamami, Vice Dean for Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, and a number of the faculty members and students.   The ceremony was commenced with a stirring recitation of the Holy Quran by student Saeed Al-Qahtani, and was followed by a short speech, given by Dean Al-Melhi and English Club Director Faisal Alfadhil. A 5-minute video of the activities that the English Club had carried out was shown to the audience via big screen on the stage. A recitation of a poem was given by Ali Al-Jaser.   In his speech, Dean Al-Melhi praised the efforts exerted by the English Club members and the participants throughout the semester to make it a success. On behalf of the English Club, Saud Al-Shahrani delivered a speech, hailing the coordination efforts shown by all English Club members, including their meeting on weekends to arrange for the conducted activities.   Elegant memorial shields were handed over to Dean Al-Melhi, Vice Dean Asiri, and Chairman Alhamami as a token of gratitude for their keenness on providing all that is needed for facilities and encouragement to the English Club to help it achieve its goals.   A ceremony of handing over certificates of appreciation to the faculty members who had given presentations or workshops ensued. Dr. Eyhab Abdulrazak Bader Eddin received a certificate of appreciation for his workshop, titled 'Translation: A Broad Overview Weaving Its Threads Together'. Dr. Karem Abdelatif Ahmed received a certificate of appreciation for the workshop he gave on time management, while Dr. Ahlullah Siddiqui got a certificate of appreciation for his presentation on figurative language.   Many students were honored for their achievements in competitions at the level of the University, including Ali Al-Jaser (poetry), and Ahmed Al-Shehri (Karate). Abdulrahim Al-Qahtani (who came first), Abdulkarim Suleiman (who came second), and Mohamed Hamed (who came third) were all honored for mustering up the courage to stand on stage in previous competitions and for their outstanding performance. The ceremony was concluded by announcing the names of the unsung heroes who had been working assiduously behind the scenes to help the English Club achieve its goals. They are as follows:   Faisal Al-Dossari; Tamim Mohammed; Saud Al-Shahrani; Fawaz Al-Qahtani; Saeed Al-Qahtani; Abdulrahman Al-Amer; Abdulrahim Al-Qahtani; Ali Al-Jaser; Muhsari Al-Qahtani; Saad Al-Shahrani; Mohammed Al-Qahtani; Mohammed Al-Yami; Abdulkarim Al-Shahrani; Faisal Al-Shahrani. Date: 11/19/2019 Source: Dr. Eyhab Abdulrazak Bader Eddin
English

FLT Reflects on Alumni Standardized Test Performance

  Vice Rector of Academic Development and Quality, Dr. Merzin Al-Shahrani, sponsored a learning session entitled "Improving the Outcomes of the Bachelor of Arts in English Program at King Khalid University in the National Center for Assessment (QIYAS)" on Monday, November 18, 2019. The event was co-sponsored by the Deanship of Academic Development and Quality, and hosted by the Faculty of Languages & Translation's senior leadership. In attendance were nearly all faculty members at the main campus and the King Abdullah Road campus via teleconference.   Vice Rector Al-Shahrani began the event by explaining how the Ministry of Education has endeavored to improve the quality of program outcomes in all Saudi universities. Furthermore, he mentioned that educational outcomes are a key focus area of His Excellency, Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Shaikh. The Vice Rector also noted that while institutional accreditation and university ranking are important, outcomes are paramount. The National Center for Assessment has refocused learning outcomes (LOs) under a similar model to the Bologna Process in Europe, which places all emphasis on LOs. By drawing from the Bologna Process key domain areas: Cognitive achievement (essential knowledge), behavior (skills and abilities) and affectivity (attitudes, values or beliefs), LOs will be greatly enhanced. Vice Rector Al-Shahrani then covered the main components and sub-components of the LOs that should be integral to our undergraduate program. The national standardized examination for English teachers reflects these LOs. Alumni performance on this exam is extremely important for career opportunities with the Ministry of Education. The test score parameters are:   Linguistics (15%); Applied Linguistics (12%); Translation (9%); Literature (20%); Language Skills (42%); Research Methods (2%).   Vice Rector Al-Shahrani then turned to the audience and reiterated the importance of adhering to the main components of the LOs. He stressed that our students deserve better learning outcomes that lead to enhanced employment opportunities. He then went through graphs and charts on how the 677 FLT graduates performed on the exam in the year 1440. Although the results were not as favorable as expected, there are promising indicators for potential improvement.   The Vice Rector presented a 'road map' based on teacher actions to improve test scores. Shortly thereafter, a detailed question and answer session began in which Dean Abdullah Al-Melhi expressed his concern for the results and his optimism in the plan for improvement. Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Yahya Asiri, and Vice Dean for Academic Development and Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, stated that they are also confident in the Bacehlor of Arts in English program's ability to resolve the issue, noting that sub-committees are already being formed to address each deficiency in the program.   There were many tough questions during the Q&A session. For example, the existing basis for the undergraduate program and the required LOs are set forth in the Saudi Arabia Qualifications Framework (SAQF). Vice Rector Al-Shahrani concurred, but he stated that both sets of requirements apply to the undergraduate program. The Vice Rector said that our curriculum must be modified to reflect the current requirements set forth by His Excellency, Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Shaikh. The King Abdullah Road Campus participants made mention of the significant obstacles to overcome in making these changes.   The Bachelor of Arts in English program (BAEP) at the Faculty of Languages and Translation (FLT) is dedicated to providing excellence in all aspects of its education. BAEP, the FLT, its students, and alumni deserve national recognition for the quality of the degree program. The department is determined to reform its curriculum to ensure optimal learning outcomes and better results on standardized national exams. Date: 11/19/2019 Source: Faculty of Languages & Translation
English

English Club Sponsors E-Reading Workshop

  On November 18, 2019, E-Learning Unit Supervisor Mohsin Khan held a workshop on 'E-Reading'. The workshop, organized by E-Learning Unit of the Bachelor of Arts in English program in collaboration with English Club at the Faculty of Languages and Translation, was for all English language majors. The purpose was to help students improve their understanding of ‘E-Reading’ using a variety of free services available on the internet.   The focus was on reading strategy, and Mr. Khan guided participants through iPad-based interactive exercises. The exercises, composed of e-worksheets, targeted knowledge of reading strategies. More than 20 students ranging from incoming freshmen to juniors participated, and this enabled them to collaborate and enhance their understanding of the topics learned during the presentation.   This workshop was important for all of those majoring in English. Unquestionably, reading is one of the best ways students can increase their vocabulary and consolidate their understanding of grammar. It expedites the normal language learning process, turning passive comprehension into active knowledge. Also, many studies have shown that reading strengthens cognitive abilities. These are some of the reasons that reading is one of the most valuable language skills.   "E-Reading can turn receptive lessons into interactive lessons. With interactive tasks, built-in dictionaries, and audio, students can develop their critical reading skills more effectively," said Mr. Khan. Date: 11/18/2019 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation
English