The Faculty of Social Sciences Air University, Islamabad in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission organized a seminar on ?Ç£Current trends: Negotiating Space in English?Ç¥ on 11 December, 2010 after successful completion of a two-day workshop on Systemic Functional Linguistics. The seminar held under the Air University English Language Linguistics Research Group (ELL) addressed the research demands and challenges that are faced by postgraduate Pakistani students enrolled in the discipline of English studies. It aimed to bring together scholars and experts on a forum, where they could voice their ambiguities, share research ideas, and seek guidance from their colleagues in the field of English language and literary studies.

The seminar began with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Prof Abida Hassan, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Air University welcomed the participants of the seminar. The key note speaker at the seminar was Professor Emeritus Mcquarie University, Sydeny, Dr Ruqaiyah Hasan. In her paper ?ÇÿThe anatomy of verbal art: thoughts on engaging with language in literature?ÇÖ, she drew insights from linguistics that could be applied to literature.

The plenary speaker Dr Riaz Hassan, Dean Quality Assurance at National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, in his paper ?ÇÿUnresolved language issues in Pakistan?ÇÖ traced a brief history of language planning in Pakistan. The speaker?ÇÖs first concern was higher education, which cannot be separated from the society it is supposed to serve. He pointed out that in the interests of internationalism, present approaches are outward rather than inward looking, but linguistically the nation is poorly prepared for it.  

The seminar gave an opportunity to the postgraduate scholars to present their research ideas and learn from the ideas of the eminent scholars like Dr Samina Qadir, Dr Mubina Talaat, Dr Safeer Awan and  Dr Hina Ashraf.  Prof Zakia Sarwar, Chief Executive SPELT, also conducted a two-hour workshop during the parallel session of the seminar on How to Teach Language through Literature.

Presenters and participants joined the seminar from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Multan, Swabi, Wah Cantt, Rawalpindi, Kohat, Muzaffarabad and Islamabad.  The Dean of Social Sciences Air University thanked the presenters for sharing their valuable ideas with the audience and also gave away certificates to the participants.

British Council Pakistan set up an information booth, and the American Information Research Council distributed informational material among the participants

For Seminar Schedule please click here

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Air University, Islamabad, organized a two-day workshop on ?Ç£New Concepts in English Linguistics and Literary Studies: Systemic Functional Grammar?Ç¥ in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, Learning Innovation Division on 9 and 10 December, 2010 at Air University.

The workshop began with an inaugural ceremony in which Dr Mubina Talaat, Chair Department of Humanities, Air University gave a brief introduction to the postgraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences, and of  resource persons for the workshop: Professor Emeritus, Sydney University Ruqaiyah Hasan and Prof Kazuhiro Teruya from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Speaking on the occasion Director General, Learning Innovation Division, Higher Education Commission Ms Noor Amna Malik, lauded the efforts of Air University in promoting the study of linguistics through such useful workshops and also running a successful postgraduate degree program in English in the field of linguistics and literature. She assured of HEC?ÇÖs full support for the initiatives of Air University for the professional development of teachers through the English Language Teaching Reforms Programme.

During his address, the Vice Chancellor, Air Cdr. (R) Dr Ijaz A. Malik, reiterated his commitment to providing the best quality education at Air University. He also thanked the distinguished guests Prof Emeritus Ruqiya Hasan, Ms Noor Amna Malik, Prof Prof Zakia Sarwar, Mr Anthony Capstick, Prof Dr Kazuhiro Teruya for their efforts. 

In collaboration between HEC and Air University a workshop with the certificate course title Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) was arranged to educate/train the teachers from different organizations. This was a 36-hour training course to develop teachers?ÇÖ skills in computer-assisted use of the teaching of English in the language classrooms at different levels. The workshop took place at the well-equipped language lab of Air University. The course started on 14 June and ended on 18th June by covering 3 modules daily.

Different teachers from well reputed institutions from Fazaia Inter College Jinnah Camp, Bilquis College of Education Chaklala Rwp, PAF College of Education, Lahore, Fazaia Inter College, Joint Staff Public School & College Chaklala, Fatima Jinnah Women University participated and learnt well with the new skills. The contents of the workshop included CALL objectives, premises and integration in the curriculum; pedagogical skills required for integrating CALL to the English curriculum, teacher development, CALL material design and projects that were later taken by the trainees to their institution.

HEC hired highly educated and skilled resource persons for the training of this workshop. Dr Hina Ashraf (Assistant Profesor/Chair Dept of Humanities) and Ms Irum Zulfiqar, a lecturer in the department devoted themselves whole-heartedly to the workshop to guide and train the participants.

At the end of the work shop Dr Ijaz A. Malik, Vice Chancellor, Air University, and the chief guest of the ceremony, distributed the certificates among the participants. Dr Ijaz A. Malik in his address congratulated the participants on their successful participation in the  36-hour CALL Certificate Course. Most of the teachers came from Air University affiliated colleges, and with the emphasis that Air University laid on integration of technology in teaching programs, the participants were lauded by the Vice Chancellor.

A trip to the National Language Authority has been arranged for the postgraduate students enrolled in the MS/MPhil Enlgish programme.

The trip intends to help students build up their understanding of the language planning process and how languages are standardized.

Transport will leave AU at 1000 on Wednesday 6 October 2010.

Seminar arranged by the Department of Humanities was scheduled for 27 March 2010

From theory to practice: Scope of research in English language and literature
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From theory to practice: "Scope of research in English language and literature". Ucomping seminar scheduled for 27 March 2010 on exploring possibilties of applying linguistic and literary theory to various areas of research in fields of interest for the MS/MPhil students and the Department of Humanities.

It is warmly annouced that Air University Portal launched. Please send us sign up request to join Air University ELL Portal. For queries please email at ell@mail.au.edu.pk