Language Research Center

Nadia Mohammed Aloraij, an MA student, delivered a presentation titled The Hegemony of English in the Linguistic Landscape of Abha at a seminar organized by the Language Research Center of King Khalid University held on October 04, 2017. The seminar took place at the King Abdullah Road campus. In her presentation, she focused on how English has influenced Arabic in Abha in various sectors. The primary objectives of her study were to examine the use of English side-by-side with Arabic and to investigate social and psychological attitudes towards the spread of English in commercial signs and identify the policy of using English on commercial signs in the KSA. Nadia, while talking about the significance of her study, mentioned her concerns about the influence of English that severely affects the mother tongue. For her research method, she chose shop signs on three main streets of Abha. After her quantitative analysis, she concluded that Arabic is still the predominant language.     The seminar was very interactive, engaging and overall successful. It is worth noting that Graigor campus also participated in the seminar through video conferencing. Date: 10-4-2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: MD Sirajul Islam

On Monday, March 13, 2017, Dr. Sheila Simpkins talked about the importance of Bloom’s Taxonomy in a seminar organized by the Language Research Centre held at the Al Samer Campus. Her Presentation was titled Bloom’s Taxonomy: An Effective Tool for Language Teaching. Dr. Simpkins' presentation was centered on the revised version of Bloom’s Taxonomy. She emphasized the proper application of Bloom’s taxonomy in pedagogy and designing lessons. She related that learning objectives should be student-centered, concrete and measurable. Appropriate use of process verbs could make learning objectives concrete, she added. She also allowed the participants to discuss freely how Bloom’s taxonomy could be incorporated into teaching and lesson planning. She, while talking about the proper application of Bloom’s Taxonomy, pinpointed some major issues associated with education; one of which was excessive teacher talk time (TTT). She asserted excessive TTT as a primary indicator of a teacher-centered classroom where learners play a passive role most of the time. She put emphasis on learner-centered teaching where students are fully involved in the learning process. The presenter concluded that proper application of Bloom’s Taxonomy helps to create effective lessons that make students retain information longer, enhances critical thinking and engages students successfully in the learning process. It is worth mentioning that Gregor campus also participated in the seminar through video conferencing. The presentation was worthwhile and raised awareness in regards to lesson effectiveness among faculty members. Date: 03-17-2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: MD Sirajul Islam

On Monday, March 13, 2017, Dr. Sheila Simpkins talked about the importance of Bloom’s Taxonomy in a seminar organized by the Language Research Centre held at the Al Samer Campus. Her Presentation was titled Bloom’s Taxonomy: An Effective Tool for Language Teaching. Dr. Simpkins' presentation was centered on the revised version of Bloom’s Taxonomy. She emphasized the proper application of Bloom’s taxonomy in pedagogy and designing lessons. She related that learning objectives should be student-centered, concrete and measurable. Appropriate use of process verbs could make learning objectives concrete, she added. She also allowed the participants to discuss freely how Bloom’s taxonomy could be incorporated into teaching and lesson planning. She, while talking about the proper application of Bloom’s Taxonomy, pinpointed some major issues associated with education; one of which was excessive teacher talk time (TTT). She asserted excessive TTT as a primary indicator of a teacher-centered classroom where learners play a passive role most of the time. She put emphasis on learner-centered teaching where students are fully involved in the learning process. The presenter concluded that proper application of Bloom’s Taxonomy helps to create effective lessons that make students retain information longer, enhances critical thinking and engages students successfully in the learning process. It is worth mentioning that Gregor campus also participated in the seminar through video conferencing. The presentation was worthwhile and raised awareness in regards to lesson effectiveness among faculty members. Date: 03-17-2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: MD Sirajul Islam

The Language Research Center at the Faculty of Languages and Translation organized a seminar on February 27, 2017, which included a presentation by Dr. Basim Kanan, titled The Effect of Expansion of Vision Span on Reading Speed. This presentation was based on a research study conducted by Dr. Basim Kanan, Salahud Din Abdul-Rab and Ahlullah Siddiqui.    It primarily emphasized the enhancement of reading speed. He pointed out the fact that reading comprehension is an important process that enables a reader to recognize symbols and understand the message. It showed the relation between eyes pauses and reading speed. Dr. Basim explained the terms reading span or visual span and eye-span. He demonstrated how a language learner gradually improves his or her reading speed from letter level to sentence level.  The research study had also involved some training for KKU students to improve their reading speed. It had shown noticeable improvement in reading speed among the learners after training. He concluded that the average reading speed of KKU EFL undergraduate students is 75 wpm with approximately 70% comprehension. The session was very interactive and informative. It is worth mentioning that Al Samer campus also joined the seminar through video conferencing.  Date: 2/27/2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: Sayed Karim

The Language Research Center at the Faculty of Languages and Translation organized a seminar on February 27, 2017, which included a presentation by Dr. Basim Kanan, titled The Effect of Expansion of Vision Span on Reading Speed. This presentation was based on a research study conducted by Dr. Basim Kanan, Salahud Din Abdul-Rab and Ahlullah Siddiqui.    It primarily emphasized the enhancement of reading speed. He pointed out the fact that reading comprehension is an important process that enables a reader to recognize symbols and understand the message. It showed the relation between eyes pauses and reading speed. Dr. Basim explained the terms reading span or visual span and eye-span. He demonstrated how a language learner gradually improves his or her reading speed from letter level to sentence level.  The research study had also involved some training for KKU students to improve their reading speed. It had shown noticeable improvement in reading speed among the learners after training. He concluded that the average reading speed of KKU EFL undergraduate students is 75 wpm with approximately 70% comprehension. The session was very interactive and informative. It is worth mentioning that Al Samer campus also joined the seminar through video conferencing.  Date: 2/27/2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: Sayed Karim

On Monday, February 13, 2017, Hassan Costello and Professor Habib Abdesslem held a seminar titled, "Introductions in Locally Published Research Articles in Linguistics: Towards a Syntagmatics of Moves," organized by the Language Research Center of the Faculty of Languages and Translation. The presentation drew an analogy between the histories of traditional grammars and Swales’ rhetorical model for Research Papers Introductions. It argued that though core grammar rules for the sentence and core rhetorical patterns for the Introduction have originated from description and have risen to the status of prescription, the study of language use in different contexts can consolidate the core grammar rules and the core rhetorical patterns without undermining variation and change. The presentation applied Swales’ Create-a-Research-Space-Model (CARS) to describe the rhetorical patterns of Research Articles Introductions in linguistics published by two University journals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It offered representations of the sequencing of Moves in core and extended Move patterns. It was recommended that writers realize the three Moves in the order Swales presents them. The Q&A session (King Abdullah Road Campus joined via teleconferencing) was vivacious, offering participants every opportunity to question the presenters and develop ideas. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al Qahtani, Vice Dean of Higher Studies, provided insightful input and recommendations for further study based on his astute Doctoral Dissertation at Oklahoma State University. The presenters of this seminar would like to express their profound gratitude to Dr. Abdullah Al Melhi, Dean, and Dr. Ismail Al Refaai, Director of the Language Research Center & MA Programs Coordinator, for their continuous support and encouragement. Please direct any correspondence concerning this particular seminar to habdessalem@kku.edu.sa or hscostello@kku.edu.sa. This study will be published in the Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics (AJAL) shortly and will be available on eprints.kku.edu.sa for further review at that time.  Date: 2/13/2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: Sayed Karim

On Monday, February 13, 2017, Hassan Costello and Professor Habib Abdesslem held a seminar titled, "Introductions in Locally Published Research Articles in Linguistics: Towards a Syntagmatics of Moves," organized by the Language Research Center of the Faculty of Languages and Translation. The presentation drew an analogy between the histories of traditional grammars and Swales’ rhetorical model for Research Papers Introductions. It argued that though core grammar rules for the sentence and core rhetorical patterns for the Introduction have originated from description and have risen to the status of prescription, the study of language use in different contexts can consolidate the core grammar rules and the core rhetorical patterns without undermining variation and change. The presentation applied Swales’ Create-a-Research-Space-Model (CARS) to describe the rhetorical patterns of Research Articles Introductions in linguistics published by two University journals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It offered representations of the sequencing of Moves in core and extended Move patterns. It was recommended that writers realize the three Moves in the order Swales presents them. The Q&A session (King Abdullah Road Campus joined via teleconferencing) was vivacious, offering participants every opportunity to question the presenters and develop ideas. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al Qahtani, Vice Dean of Higher Studies, provided insightful input and recommendations for further study based on his astute Doctoral Dissertation at Oklahoma State University. The presenters of this seminar would like to express their profound gratitude to Dr. Abdullah Al Melhi, Dean, and Dr. Ismail Al Refaai, Director of the Language Research Center & MA Programs Coordinator, for their continuous support and encouragement. Please direct any correspondence concerning this particular seminar to habdessalem@kku.edu.sa or hscostello@kku.edu.sa. This study will be published in the Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics (AJAL) shortly and will be available on eprints.kku.edu.sa for further review at that time.  Date: 2/13/2017 Source: MD Adil Multimedia Contribution: Sayed Karim

Dear Colleagues It is our great pleasure to inform you that the Language Research Center, Faculty of Languages and Translation welcomes submission of abstracts (no more than 250 words) for the 12th Research Day to be held on Thursday, 23/07/1438 H (20/04/2017) Your paper should focus on the following areas: ü  Language teaching, learning, and acquisition in general ü  Technology-enhanced learning and teaching ü  Learner-centered teaching ü  Bilingualism, code-mixing and code-switching ü  Translation Studies ü  Literature in language teaching Please send your abstract to lrc.seminar.kku@gmail.com no later than 14/4/1438 (12 January 2017) We are eagerly looking forward to your response. Dr. Ismail AlRefaai Director, Language Research Center

Dear Colleagues It is our great pleasure to inform you that the Language Research Center, Faculty of Languages and Translation welcomes submission of abstracts (no more than 250 words) for the 12th Research Day to be held on Thursday, 23/07/1438 H (20/04/2017) Your paper should focus on the following areas: ü  Language teaching, learning, and acquisition in general ü  Technology-enhanced learning and teaching ü  Learner-centered teaching ü  Bilingualism, code-mixing and code-switching ü  Translation Studies ü  Literature in language teaching Please send your abstract to lrc.seminar.kku@gmail.com no later than 14/4/1438 (12 January 2017) We are eagerly looking forward to your response. Dr. Ismail AlRefaai Director, Language Research Center

Dr. Abdul Wahed Al Zumor spoke about the improvement of lecture comprehension in content courses in the English department curriculum at a seminar organized by the Language Research Center of King Khalid University held on November 28, 2016. In his presentation, which was titled A Metacognitive and Social Strategy to Improve Content Lecture Comprehension, he highlighted a recently completed research project he had conducted on how content lectures can be made more comprehensible to learners. He first showed the distinction between direct and indirect strategies, the latter of which involves metacognitive and social strategies. He, while pinpointing some fundamental issues related to learning and teaching at the Faculty of Languages and Translation that requires proper investigation, showed student grade statistics, problems associated with comprehending lectures, and challenges involved relating to students’ perspective.  Through his research study, he illustrated remarkable results that showed students’ attitude towards content lectures, problems with teachers and teaching, and learners’ lack of background knowledge. We are proud to announce that Dr. Al Zumor's research has been accepted for publication as a chapter in a book likely to be published soon by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. The session was followed by a very interactive question-answer session. Some of the participants also shared their views on effective lecture comprehension. The seminar was an overall great success.   Date: 11/28/2016 Source: MD Adil