ELC (283)

The Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) conducted a training Workshop entitled: “Using Moodle”, held on Thursday 26 Oct., 2023. The presenter was Mr Said Al Manthari, ETC staff member (admin of Moodle). The session mainly focused on the theoretical aspect of Moodle. He highlighted different uses of Moodle such as creating courses, enrolling students, uploading course materials, assignments, documents, etc. Moreover, he also explained how Moodle can be used effectively for assessment such as creating quizzes, scheduling them, marking them, giving feedback, etc. The presenter stressed upon the importance of the Moodle platform for teaching and learning. He encouraged the participants to learn its practical utilization in their classrooms. In future, Moodle could replace other platforms such as MS Teams. The practical sessions of the Moodle training will be organized in the coming days so that the staff could master the use of Moodle for their classroom teaching and learning. The session was received well with positive feedback from the participants.

The Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS) conducted a training session for CAS Teachers’ Induction on Smartboard, Web Portal and Moodle on Wednesday 6th September 2023. The Presenters were from ETC, __Mr. Roderick Oandasan, Mr. Musabah Al- Bloushi, and Mr. Said Al-Manthari. The focus of the presentation was on how to use Smartboard effectively for teaching and learning purposes. The presenters also briefed the audience about the use of Moodle for assessment purposes. Moreover, the teachers who shifted from CAS campus were familiarized with the use of web portal for printing, booking of various services, leave procedure, etc. The session was received well with positive feedback from the participants.

Faisal Al Shamali, the Head of Staff Professional Development Committee at Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) conducted a training session entitled “MS Teams Features and Apps” on Thursday, 5 October 2023. The session mainly focused on Use of MS teams features and apps like: Classwork, Assignment and Grading, etc. in enhancing English language skills. The collaborative session introduced MS teams features and their effective implementation to Level 2 lecturers in ESL classrooms. It also highlighted the varied use of features available in MS teams in online classroom activities. The session also shared the activities and authentic samples from previous semesters that were used through MS teams to facilitate and aid the lecturers. The session was received well with a positive feedback from the participants.

Continuing UTAS-Ibri’s mission to engage with the local community, the PSC Management embraced the initiative to provide a Basic English Crash Course for continuing students. The course ran from September 3 to September 7, 2023. The week-long course reintroduced the most basic concepts in English and provided ample time for the students to practice. Five participants, all from Level 3, attended the course. The course gave these students the chance to reset to English and academic mode without the pressure of a formal classroom.
The participants practiced common phrases, basic numbers, free-time activities, daily routines, and places around town. The course provided a rare opportunity for teachers and students to meet in a no-stress atmosphere. Many thanks to PSC staff, Mr. Abdullah Al Balushi, Mr. Muhammad Aslam, Mr. Muhammad Amir Abbass, Mr. Tatha Rao Mukiri, Mr. Jabez Syam, and Mr. Humaid Rashid Al Mamari

The Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) of UTAS-Ibri hosted a series of transformative IELTS courses for IELTS test-takers and the general community in Ibri in August 2023. The classes were aimed at empowering students and professionals with the skills and confidence needed to conquer this essential test. To attend to the specific IELTS needs of the students who were taking the IELTS test on the 25 of August, the in-person classes were from August 21 to August 24, while the online classes were held on the 23 and 24 of August, respectively. The online classes held from August 27 to August 31 catered to students aspiring to study abroad and professionals aiming to enhance their career prospects.
A needs analysis was done to find out the specific needs of the IELTS students before the start of the classes. This approach allowed participants to focus on areas where they needed improvement, be it in reading, writing, speaking, or listening skills. This also enabled teachers to prepare suitable IELTS exercises and make the session interactive and engaging.
The course had experienced instructors with a good understanding of the IELTS exam format and assessment criteria. They brought a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, ensuring that participants received high-quality instruction. We thank Mr Dennis Corbita, Mr Michael Cassidy, Mr T.Rao, Ms Zumrut Cassidy, Ms Adeebah Al Sawafi, Mr Jabez Konatham, Ms Heba Qureshi, and Dr Mohsin Amiri for their hard work.
We are thankful to the PSC Management Team, Dr Abdusalam Al Manthari, Dr Maryam Al Ghafri and Dr Sultan Al Ghafri for their guidance and encouragement to the Community Engagement Committee and all the teachers who volunteered to take the free IELTS classes.
There were more than 80 students who attended both the in-person and online sessions and let us know through their feedback that they wanted more such sessions. This is a testament to UTASIbri's commitment to nurturing its students and helping them achieve their aspirations

Continuing UTAS-Ibri’s mission to engage with the local community, the ELC Management embraced the initiative to provide a Turkish Culture and Language course in June 2023. The week-long course introduced Turkish culture in terms of well-known places, traditional drinks and food and taught some basic language. Seventeen participants attended the course with professions ranging from students, teachers, architects, and business people. The popularity of the course stemmed from the students’ enthusiasm for Turkey and its culture acquired from frequent visits to the country.
The participants practiced common daily phrases, basic numbers, and the names of popular food and drink through highly interactive activities led by Ms Zumrut and Mr. Michael Cassidy. It was a fantastic experience for both the teachers and the students. Many of the students picked up the language quickly. Their passion for learning made the lessons more fun, fruitful and productive.

One of UTAS-Ibri’s missions and goals is to serve the community. The ELC management of the University decided to provide an English Proficiency Course for Entrepreneurs. This course was advertised on Social Media platforms. This course is designed for entrepreneurs who need to communicate effectively in English and improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in entrepreneurial contexts. Twenty-five candidates appeared for the course and they were inducted by Dr. Maryam Al-Ghafri. The placement test was conducted via online mode and students were also provided with reading transcripts for the reading part. Ms. Heba Qureshi and Ms. Adeebah Al-Sawafi invigilated the placement test. The results were later on shared with the teachers by Dr. Maryam, and as per the result all learners were placed in the beginner level. The teachers who taught the course were Ms. Heba Qureshi, Ms. Samyia Al Ghafri and Mr. Humaid Al Mamari.
The material was created and compiled based on students’ needs. The course ran from June 11 to June 22, 2023) The classes were packed with highly interactive student-centred activities focused on Grammar, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Unquestionably, the English Proficiency Course for Entrepreneurs was a great success as there was evidence of enjoyment and cheerfulness on the faces of the students and the fact that they were asking for an extension for the course.

The English Language Center of UTAS-Ibri conducted a two-day workshop for level two students on 17th and 18th May 2023. The workshop was organized by the Level Two coordinator Mr Khalid Humaid Masoud Al Gharibi, and was a great initiative to instil self-confidence, leadership quality, gamification, team nature, and interperonsal and intra peronsal skills in level two students, and finally motivate them to prepare for upcoming LEE examinations. The resource persons are: Ms Anwar Abdullah Al Majrafi, Ms Jumana Khalaf Salim Al Shamli, and Ms Bayan Fahad Salim Al Maqrashi, were trainees from Sohar University, Oman.