Sultan attends International Forum of Arabic Language Teachers in University City of Sharjah

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, attended on Saturday, the launch of the third International Forum of Arabic Language Teachers organised by the Sharjah Private Education Authority in collaboration with the Sharjah Education Academy at the academy headquarters in the University City.

The forum, which runs until Sunday, aims to showcase distinguished educational experiences in teaching the Arabic language and its subjects at both local and international levels, and to explore optimal ways of utilising technology tools and artificial intelligence techniques in language education through innovative and unique methods.

The opening ceremony began with verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Sultan had toured the student exhibition accompanying the forum before the opening ceremony, where he listened to the contributions of a number of creative students in the fields of theater, poetry, the biographies of scholars, and their illustrious history as part of the "Speaking in Arabic" programme. Additionally, Sheikh Sultan inspected several informative platforms within the exhibition, including the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence platform, the ALEF Platform for Education, the Sharjah Heritage Platform, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Heritage Platform, and the Dar Kalimat Publishing House.

Sheikh Sultan with students during the ceremony on Saturday. WAM

The activities of the Third International Forum for Arabic Language Teachers include a series of key events where experts and specialists discuss important topics, including efforts to preserve the Arabic language and enhance its status. Various sessions and training workshops will be held to enrich the experience of participants and attendees, providing them with the latest tools and methods in the field of Arabic language education.

There are six specialised workshops on using technology in education, innovative teaching strategies, and developing students' language skills. These workshops include topics such as "Utilising Artificial Intelligence in Arabic Language Education" and "Effective Strategies to Enhance Reading and Writing Skills," as well as a workshop on innovations in teaching grammar.

The forum also includes 8 panel discussions and roundtable sessions presented by experts specialising in Arabic language education, including: "The Future of Arabic Language Education in the Digital Age," "International Experiences in Arabic Language Education and Practical Applications," and "The Role of the Arabic Language in Enhancing Cultural Identity Among Youth."

Participants will explore how to leverage modern technological tools such as artificial intelligence and digital learning to enhance the effectiveness of education, as well as the latest trends in curriculum development that align with student needs and contemporary challenges. International and local experiences will be shared, presenting innovative educational solutions and successful practices that can be applied in various contexts.

Sheikh Sultan presents a shield to a teacher during the ceremony on Saturday. WAM

The forum will feature 33 hands-on workshops from private schools in Sharjah and international schools in 29 Gulf, Arab, and international countries. Cultural and literary sessions will include participation from writers, poets, authors, researchers, and scholars. The forum will also provide a linguistic laboratory for "experiments and simulations," alongside various student activities such as a student forum with 30 students from higher education stages in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, as well as members of the Sharjah Youth Shura Council, and a student exhibition called the "Student Museum."

The opening of the forum was attended by several officials, educational institution directors, experts, teachers, and specialists in education and the Arabic language.

Dr Muhadditha Al Hashemi, Chairperson of Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), and President of the Sharjah Education Academy, delivered a speech expressing gratitude and appreciation to the Ruler of Sharjah for honouring the opening ceremony of the forum, coinciding with World Teachers' Day, and for his limitless interest in the Arabic language and his support for programmes to develop its teaching and learning.

‘PASSION FOR ARABIC’

During her speech, she announced the launch of "Passion for Arabic," which is Sharjah's approach to teaching and learning Arabic for native speakers and non-native speakers. She explained that this name was derived from the passion of the educational community including mothers, fathers, teachers, and students for the Arabic language.

She stated, " The letter 'Sheen' signifies inclusivity in caring for and meeting the needs of Arabic language learners. The letter 'Ghayn' refers to instilling a sense of belonging, loyalty, and commitment to the values and traditions represented by the Arabic language. As for the letter 'Fa’,' it represents the diverse arts and contemporary tools with references from dictionaries and sources, deepened by research and scientific studies to sustain the love for the Arabic language."

The Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority highlighted in her speech a number of achievements made by the authority in the field of the Arabic language during the recent period. Among these achievements were the results of the standardised Arabic language proficiency tests "TALA" for native speakers, which assess progress in reading comprehension and writing skills. Students in Sharjah's private schools in the academic year 2023-2024 achieved levels above average in all educational stages.

Al Hashemi concluded her speech by announcing the launch of the digital Arabic language library initiative, as an extension of the "Read you are in Sharjah" campaign initiated by Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi. She also announced the authority's launch of an exceptional award named the "Arabic Language Gem" within the 29th edition of the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence. This award, competed for by all government and private schools in the country, aims to enhance the Arabic language and empower the entire educational community to possess Arabic language skills and apply them in the fields of science and life.

The Ruler of Sharjah and the attendees witnessed a visual presentation titled "Our Roots Will Remain" that highlighted the efforts of the authority in the fields of teaching and learning the Arabic language, along with excerpts from His Highness' words emphasising the importance of the Arabic language and the necessity of caring for it.

Dr Issa Saleh Al Hamadi, the Director of the Educational Centre for Gulf Arabic Language in Sharjah, delivered a speech in which he pointed out the importance of the forum's themes. He mentioned that the world is witnessing a massive technological revolution driven by artificial intelligence, so the teaching of Arabic cannot be isolated from this. Many challenges facing Arabic language education can be turned into opportunities to facilitate this education, such as improving reading and texts for both native and non-native speakers, enabling them to deal with poetic and prose texts for appreciation and study.

Dr Issa Al Hammadi further emphasised the importance of learning Arabic in the age of artificial intelligence, summarising that the continuous technological evolution relies on natural languages for interaction, with Arabic being foremost among them. It is a language of communication and understanding that aids in better comprehension and communication, as well as in the fields of translation and content. Learning Arabic will facilitate content translation and creation of new content, alongside professional development in the job market, as Arabic proficiency is a competitive advantage. This is because artificial intelligence requires multilingual content, with Arabic being the most precise and expressive language.

Dr Al Hammadi called for collaboration and concerted efforts among specialised entities and institutions to harness artificial intelligence in developing Arabic education. He explained that artificial intelligence can be utilised in Arabic language education applications, such as developing vocabulary, everyday expressions, and terminology, as well as enhancing performance speed and accuracy in learning Arabic.

Dr Al Hammadi concluded his speech by reviewing the key publications accomplished by the Gulf Arabic Education office and its departments in the field of artificial intelligence and its teaching. These include the book "Artificial Intelligence in Schools: A Guide for Teachers and Administrators" and "Ethics in the Digital World: Guiding Students through Major Social Issues," along with specialised teaching books such as "Teaching Artificial Intelligence," "Teaching Robotics in Schools," and "Teaching in the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

The opening ceremony featured a song titled "We Sing in Arabic" performed by students from the French school who are non-native Arabic speakers. The song addressed the love for the Arabic language, the importance of learning it, and its inclusion of meanings, literary eloquence, and linguistic richness that set it apart from other languages.

Engineer Tariq Al Hammadi, from the Sharjah Private Education Authority, announced a new initiative in the form of the "Stand Up for Teachers" card dedicated to male and female teachers. He noted that this initiative is a gesture of appreciation and honour for those who work in building the future of generations, stating, "Under the gracious patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the Authority launched the 'Stand Up for Teachers' initiative in February 2024, in recognition of their significant role. With generous support from His Highness, the Authority allocated Dhs9.2 million for the training and qualification of teachers.

The Authority is proud to introduce the 'Stand Up for Teachers' card as a pioneering new initiative added to a series of initiatives to appreciate teachers. The card offers eligible individuals in the educational sector various discounts and privileges on academic training, health insurance, travel, food items, communications, and government transaction facilitation."

Al Hammadi expressed gratitude to all sponsors who participated in supporting the initiative for the stability of the educational environment, teachers, and their support.

At the end of the opening ceremony, the Ruler of Sharjah honored Dr Diaa Al Kaabi from the University of Bahrain and Dr Reema Al Kurdi, an educational expert at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, for their efforts and participation in the forum.

WAM