Call for Papers

The Faculty of Letters & Human Sciences Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco

In collaboration with

Arab Society of English Language Studies &Arab World English Journal

Organize an international conference on:

The Status of the English Language in Higher Education in the Arab World: Challenges, Perspectives, and Opportunities

The Faculty of Letters & Human Sciences at Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco, in cooperation with the Arab Society of English language Studies and Arab World Language Journal is pleased to announce the Call For Papers for the International Conference, which will be held on 26-27 May 2016 in Rabat, Morocco

Themes and Objectives

The main theme of the conference will be the status of the English language in higher education in the Arab World. The motivation for such a focus stems from the controversies that have emerged as a result of a noticeable disparity between the rapidly-changing status of the English language in the MENA region and the continuous efforts on the part of policy-makers to respond to these changes. One main concern is to frame these efforts within a general curriculum development approach in order to make sense of the various reform efforts, their objectives, focus, and effectiveness. This has implications not only for English Studies, but also for two other areas namely English as part of the Language and Communication module and English as a teaching medium for content subjects in other departments and faculties.

The objective of the conference is to bring together researchers and practitioners in the field of English Language Teaching at the university level over discussions of various themes building upon their classroom experiences and field research tracking day to day challenges and possibilities. The conference will address a range of critically important themes relevant to the situation of English in higher education with a focus on methodological issues pertaining to emerging challenges of the 21st century. While the teaching of English, in particular, has benefitted from research in applied linguistics and TEFL to reform its methodologies, though controversial, the situation in other areas is quite unclear.

The conference will feature plenary speakers among some of the leading researchers in the field. We are inviting proposals for paper presentations in the fields of Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Cultural Studies, Translation, and Literature. The topic suggestions include, but are not limited to:

  • Curriculum Development: New Trends in Higher Education
  • Educational Reform(s): the State of the Art and Critical Evaluations
  • Teaching and Learning of English as a Foreign/Second Language
  • Methods for Teaching General English and English for Specific Purposes
  • Effective Teaching Methodologies in Literature CoursesField-specific Teaching Methodologies: English as an Instruction Medium for the Scientific and Technical Fields.
  • Interdisciplinarity in Language Teaching and Learning
  • Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age
  • Assessment Practices in Teaching
  • Role of Culture in English Language Teaching and Learning
  • Role of English in Globalised Contexts
  • Teaching English and Cultural Agenda: Relativism vs. Absolutism
  • Dialogic learning and teaching
  • Culture in the classroom: textbooks and cultural representation in GE and ESP.
  • Teaching English and cultural agenda: relativism Vs absolutism.
  • Culture and gender representation in higher education
  • Self and otherness: ethnocentrism Vs cosmopolitanism.
  • Oral history and translation: from pristine, oral accounts to elaborate plot composition.
  • Translation between mediation and appropriation: the translator as creator.
  • Translation “Teachability”
  • Culture between translatability and translation.
  • Culture and visual representation: still and moving images.
  • Western eyes on the Arab world: culture Vs acculturation.
  • The Arab World and Western hegemony: globalization and neo-imperialism
  • Virtues and virtual communication: cultural change Vs alienation

Proposals that extend beyond these main thematic areas will also be considered. All proposals will be blind-reviewed by the academic review committee based on relevance to conference theme, originality, quality, and contribution to the field.

Publication

Selected papers will be published as a special issue of the Arab World English in collaboration with the Faculty of Letters & Human Sciences. Paper proposals should follow the AWEJ submissions guidelines in the following link:

http://awej.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=142

Important dates

– February 15th, 2016: Deadline for submitting participation applications

– February 29th, 2016: Notification of acceptance

–  March 30th, 2016: Deadline for submitting papers ( EXTENDED till April 30th, 2016.)

– April 15th, 2016: Final notification of acceptance for conference presentation

– May 26-27th, 2016: Conference date

Venue:

Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco

Language of the conference: English.

Registration Fees:

800 DH (Local participants)

1600 DH (150 £) (International participants)

Useful information:

Conference fees will offer free access to all sessions, coffee breaks, and conference materials.

Submission

Abstracts and papers should be sent to both of the following addresses by the due date specified above:

Organizing Committee

Faculty Team:

  • Yamina El Kirat El Allam, FLHS, Mohammed V University, Rabat.
  • Adil Azhar, ENS, Mohammed V University, Rabat.
  • Hassan Belhiah, FLHS, Mohammed V University, Rabat.
  • Iqbal Zeddari, FLHS, Mohammed V University, Rabat.
  • Karima, Belghiti, FLHS-Dhar EL Mehraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes.

  • Hassan Zaid, FLSH, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Bnni Mellal.

AWEJ Team:

  • Khairi O. AL-Zubaidi

Participation Application

Full Name:

Email address:

Phone number:

Academic Title:

Major areas of research:

University affiliation:

Country:

Title of your paper:

Abstract: 150-250 Words
Keywords:5 keywords

Bio (maximum of 100 words in paragraph format)

Suggested Hotels:

HOTEL LA CAPITALE
7 Bis Rue Soussa – Hassan – Rabat
Tel : 05 37 73 73 07 / 08 – Fax : 05 37 73 73 09
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ROYAL HOTEL RABAT
Adresse: a:ngle Av. Allal Ben Abdellah et rue Aman, B.P. 175
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33 avenue moulay youssef Rabat – Maroc
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MAJLISS HOTEL
6, rue Zahla, Rabat, Maroc
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SOUNDOUS HOTEL
10 PLACE TALHA – RABAT (AGDAL) MAROC
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