Teaching and Learning in the Arab World

In the Arab States, globalization and economic development have had a significant effect on education. Serious concerns have been expressed over the state of education in the Arab world. Even in the oil-rich Gulf States, with over 200 higher education institutions, education is problematic with a notable lack of emphasis on specialized science and innovative learning. The Gulf States are in a race to become 'knowledge economies' and, as a result, they are promoting educational reforms such as the application of bilingual education models and curricula adopted from the West. This book provides a collection of studies on the state of education in Arab countries with a special focus on the Arabian Gulf, where currently there is increased activity and investment in education. The book is composed of three major sections. The first section is a collection of nine papers on current practices and challenges in education in the Arab world. The second major section is devoted to the educational reforms that are being implemented in the Arabian Gulf. The third and final section is a collection of papers describing new approaches to teaching and learning in the Arab world.

Autorentext

Christina Gitsaki is the UNESCO Chair in Applied Research in Education at the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology. Part of her role as UNESCO Chair is the dissemination of innovative teaching practices through professional development programs delivered to educators across the UAE. Gitsaki is also involved in research related to the educational reforms currently sweeping the Arabian Gulf.

Inhalt

Contents: Abbad Alabbad/Christina Gitsaki: Attitudes toward Learning English: A Case Study of University Students in Saudi Arabia Michael Fields: Learner Motivation and Strategy Use among University Students in the United Arab Emirates Georgia Daleure: Factors Affecting Persistence in Post-Secondary Education: A Case Study of Emirati Males Rana Raddawi: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills to Arab University Students Lauren Stephenson/Barbara Harold: Emergent Leadership Development through Undergraduate Research in UAE Classrooms Khawlah Ahmed: Casting Arabic Culture as the `Other : Cultural Issues in the English Curriculum Keith Kennetz/Melanie Van Den Hoven/Scott Parkman: Arab Student Attitudes towards Varieties of English Ahmad Al-Issa/Aida Abou Eissa: Teachers Attitudes and Practices toward Providing Feedback on Arab EFL Students Writing Jonathan Aubrey/Christine Coombe: An Investigation of Occupational Stressors and Coping Strategies Among EFL Teachers in the United Arab Emirates Robin Dada: Teacher Leadership in the Arab Gulf: Expatriates and Arab Educators Mentor Each Other Nettie Boivin: The Rush to Educate: A Discussion of the Elephant in the Room Stephanie L. Knight/Atmane Ikhlef/Dawn Parker/Malatesha Joshi/Zohreh R. Eslami/Hissa M. Sadiq/Mubarka Al-Ahraf/Ahmad Al Saai: An Investigation of Math and Science Teaching and Learning in Qatari Independent Elementary Schools Iqtidar Ali Shah/Neeta Baporikar: The Suitability of Imported Curricula for Learning in the Gulf States: An Oman Perspective Mary Ellis/Anitha Devi Pillai/Ali Al Rabäi: Bilingual Academic Discourse Skills: A Pre-Service Teacher Training Program in Bahrain Hala Al-Yamani: Drama as a Pedagogy in Arab Teacher Education Programs: Developing Constructivist Approaches to Teaching Rida Blaik Hourani/Ibrahima Diallo/Aleya Said: Teaching in the Arabian Gulf: Arguments for the Deconstruction of the Current Educational Model Mick King: Implementing Problem-Based Learning in the Gulf: A Case Study of Arab Students Sabina Ostrowska: The Effect of Course Content on Student Motivation: A UAE Study Melanie Gobert: Cultivating Phonological and Orthographic Awareness in Arab Learners of English Katherine L. Hall: Teaching Composition and Rhetoric to Arab EFL Learners Josephine O Brien: Teaching English to Arab Learners: A Case for a Pedagogical Grammar.