1st TESOL conference concludes

To address the continually changing local and international scenario in English language teaching, Middle East College (MEC) organized the 1st MEC TESOL Conference on 29th March 2018, at the MEC Student Hub, under the theme: “English in Changing Local and International Contexts”. Over 21 educational institutions from Oman and other countries participated in the conference. The conference brought together English Language Teaching (ELT) professionals:  practitioners, researchers, and curriculum developers; to share best practices and project their vision for future developments in the changing English language teaching and learning environments.

Mr. Roby Varghese, Head of Department, Foundation Programme, Waljat College of Applied Sciences (WCAS), a participant at the conference, commented on the event, saying, “The key note speeches and other presentations were informative and at the same time thought provoking. Most of the sessions were interactive and the active participation of the audience added grandeur to the event.  As a participant, I was overwhelmed by the discipline and organizational skills showcased by the MEC community. Kudos to staff and students of MEC for organizing such an event in order to bring together academicians under one umbrella to manoeuver the latest teaching techniques to enhance the teaching and learning process.  The event was a great success and I feel elated and fortunate to be a part of this spectacular event”.

“The 1st MEC Conference was an unforgettable learning experience of a lifetime. Being a member of the conference organizing team, I got the opportunity to get in touch with members of the TESOL community. It also provided a platform for me and others to share experiences and best practices in the field. I am looking forward to the second version of the MEC TESOL Conference”, said Dr. Tareq Al Damen, Conference Secretary and Head of the Department, Centre for Foundation Studies, MEC.

It is worth mentioning that in 2017 also, the Centre for Foundation Studies and Centre for Academic Writing at MEC jointly had organized a TESOL symposium where more than 130 academics from different local schools, colleges and universities in Oman, participated. The college has always strived to enhance the teaching and learning experience in the Sultanate by regularly organizing various events, conferences and programmes, to provide a suitable platform for academia from different disciplines, to share their experiences with the teaching community and build up a better educational system, that meets the high educational expectations of the nation and are in line with international standards.