PSC lecturer holds workshop at UTAS- Al Musanna

Preparatory Studies Center (PSC) lecturer Dr. Zahra Zargaran conducted a workshop entitled ‘How to Change Passive Learners into Active Speakers’ on 24th February 2024, at UTAS- Al Musanna Campus. She highlighted the role of Speaking skill as an integral, but one of the controversial parts of English language teaching in UTAS. Although speaking has been highlighted in teaching materials and testing system of UTAS, test results are the evidence of learners’ low ability in the said skill. She also emphasized that one of the main reasons for not receiving positive feedback from teaching speaking can be teachers’ pedagogical look at this skill. To increase the level of learning outcome, teachers may need to grow a different perspective toward teaching and practicing speaking. In this case, teachers are advised to integrate the elements of active learning into speaking sessions. The workshop aimed to make teachers aware of how to enhance students’ engagement in speaking activities with the focus on UTAS speaking rubrics, action plan and available materials. To do so, teachers were familiarized with the essence of active learning, and gained insights into how to integrate active learning into teaching speaking. Said workshop was organized by the Professional Development Committee of PSC- UTAS- Al Musanna.