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The highly anticipated TESOL PALESTINE 2023 conference, a prestigious gathering of English language educators and professionals, recently took place at the Faculty of Law Hall in the New Campus of An-Najah National University on Sunday, May 28, 2023.


Renowned experts, researchers, and practitioners in the field of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education came together to explore the dynamic relationship between technology and pedagogy.

Hosted by An-Najah National University in conjunction with AMIDEAST, the conference provided a collaborative platform for English language teachers from diverse educational levels. It aimed to foster professional growth, exchange ideas, and share best practices, serving as an excellent networking opportunity for ESL teachers and researchers from across the West Bank.

The Opening Ceremony featured esteemed speakers including Dr. Ahmad Qabaha, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at An-Najah University, who delivered welcoming remarks, followed by verses from the Quran and the Palestinian National Anthem.

Dr. Qabaha emphasized the importance of teaching English as a foreign language, considering the challenges within the strategic plans of Palestinian educational institutions. He highlighted the need for effective teaching methods, especially in the context of the fifth industrial revolution, while also considering the specific cultural, political, social, and economic features of the region.

Dr. Abdulsalam Khayyat, President of the Conference and Vice President of Academic Affairs, expressed gratitude for the attendees' commitment to promoting English language education. He emphasized the power of English proficiency in opening opportunities and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Most importantly, Dr Abdulsalam noted ‘for Palestinians living under Occupation, specifically, English serves as a powerful tool of resistance and means of amplifying our voices.’ He also encouraged educators to embrace technological advancements like ChatGPT and wished for a fruitful event contributing to English language teaching in Palestine.

Maha Hasan, Amideast Country Director, highlighted the alignment between TESOL PALESTINE 2023 and AMIDEAST's mission of empowering individuals through quality English language education. She expressed pride in collaborating with An-Najah National University, providing English language teachers a platform to share expertise and enhance their teaching approaches. She also emphasized the importance of equipping learners with the necessary skills for success in an interconnected world through AMIDEAST's programs.

The Opening Ceremony culminated with a captivating keynote address by Dr. Saida Affouneh, Deputy President for Digitalization and eLearning and Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences. Dr. Affouneh delivered a thought-provoking speech on "Revolutionizing ESOL Education: Exploring the Dynamic Relationship Between Technology and Pedagogy."

The conference featured three concurrent sessions, delving into essential aspects of ESOL education and tailored to attendees' interests. The event also featured a range of interactive workshops that actively engaged educators and encouraged their participation in best practices to be implemented in their own classrooms.

One such workshop, titled "Reading the Word and Reading the World" and led by Hanan Audeh, fostered collaborative group work among educators to practice teaching reading strategies. An enthusiastic attendee expressed, "I walked away with valuable activities to enhance both literal and analytical comprehension. Additionally, I discovered three captivating books that I'm eager to read!"

Another example is Ms. Tasneem Salhi from An-Najah's Faculty of Educational Sciences who engaged the audience in an activity where they collaborated with partners to create scenarios using advanced expressions influenced by the ever-changing English language in the context of social media.

Lightning talks, with 10 to 15 minutes per presenter, enabled ESL educators to share their ideas and expertise on language teaching and learning.

Caroline Purcell, an English Language Fellow and one of the conference organizers, shared the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from numerous teachers. Many expressed their gratitude for the conference, emphasizing the tremendous opportunity it provided for networking, reconnecting with old colleagues—some of whom they had attended college with—and meeting new teachers while exploring innovative teaching approaches. 

The attendees appreciated the in-person nature of the conference and were particularly delighted that it was hosted in Nablus, showcasing the beauty of the city and An-Najah. They expressed hope for more conferences in Nablus and gratitude for the opportunity to network and explore innovative teaching approaches. The organizers aimed to provide Palestinian teachers the chance to learn from one another and further develop their expertise.

Noteworthy sessions included "Technology-Driven Writing: Innovations, Impacts, and Challenges" moderated by Basel Abdalrazeq, and "Palestinian Educational Institutions English Language Assessment Adoption Journey" moderated by Anita Bright. 

The sessions addressed topics such as the impact of technology on writing, the reasons behind Palestinian English learners' lack of intrinsic motivation, and innovative approaches to literature lectures.

Other sessions covered areas like English language assessment, innovative pedagogy, the influence of social media on ESL classrooms, and meeting the needs of English language learners in STEM fields.

For the full conference schedule and details, follow these links:


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