March, 2018
- Victoria Tuzlukova, Saleh Al Busaidi, Samantha Burns, Galina Bugon titled published a new article titled "Exploring Teachers' Perceptions of 21 Century Skills in Teaching and Learning in English Language Classrooms in Oman's Higher Education Institutions" in the Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes.
- On March 3 research team members, Dr. Saleh Al Busaidi and Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova, participated in an online professional development event titled "EFL Talks Middle East". During this webinar, they shared with the educational professionals and language teachers their views, experiences and ideas related to motivating students and enhancing their skills and abilities.
February, 2018
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January, 2018
- The project team conducted a number of visits to higher education institutions in Dhofar, Sharqiya and Batinah North for data collection and preliminary project results dissemination. Many of our colleagues there did their best to support the study while recognizing the amount of time and effort done by the team to put the project together. According to Mr. Faical Ben Khalifa, FP Director and QA Chair, at Foundation Program of Dhofar University, who collaborated with the team, the study is invaluable.
December, 2017
- On December 10, 2017 Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova and Dr. Saleh Al Busaidi participated in the Fourth Annual Research Forum 2017 organized by TRC. Their research poster summarized core information about the second year of the project to help publicize it and generate discussion.
November, 2017
- On November 26, 2017, Dr. Saleh Al Busaidi and Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova organized a colloqium "Understanding and integrating the 21st century skills in the EFL classroom". The colloquium was facilitated by Is'haq Al Naibi, Nawal Al Aamri and Amal Al Qasmi, post graduate students of the College of Education at Sultan Qaboos University. This interactive colloquium targeted skills of critical learning and innovative skills in the English language classroom. Find materials from the colloquium here.
September, 2017
- Many governmental and private companies in Oman strive to provide their employees at all levels with access to training and educational resources to enhance their skills. One of such initiatives is on Job training. According to Business Dictionary (2017), "on job training is an employee training at the place of work while he or she is doing the actual job. Usually a professional trainer (or sometimes an experienced employee) serves as the course instructor using hands-on training often supported by formal classroom training". The research team members met and spoke to a number of employees who are at the beginning of the professional career. Quite recently we met Ali Al Bulushi, a graduate from Higher College of Technology in Muscat and a current trainee at Oman Post. Ali believes that problem solving and communication skills are critical for his job, and he is of the opinion that he will develop and improve these skills under the supervision of Juma Suwaid, an experienced Oman Post employee and his trainer.
July, 2017
- A course book "Postgraduate Skills Training Program" has been published by the research team members in collaboration with SQU faculty.
- A book "Community-based Projects in Oman: Inspirations for 21st Century Skills Teaching and Learning" has been published by the research team members in collaboration with SQU faculty.
June, 2017
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova, Dr Saleh Al-Busaidi and Samantha Burns published a new article "Critical thinking in the Language Classroom: Teacher Beliefs and Methods " in PERTANIKA Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities.
May, 2017
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova and Saud Al Rashdi published an article '21st Century Skills Describe as Employable Criteria" in SQU Horizon.
April, 2017
March 31, 2017
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova, Dr Saleh Al-Busaidi and Samantha Burns published a new article "Implications of practice-based learning for Omani students' skill development" in the Asian Journal of Management Sciences & Education.
March 31, 2017
- An article about the project was published in Oman Daily Observer. Read more
December, 2016
- Research assistants Saud Al Rahsdi and Bushra Al Sabei are entering data and analyzing questionnaires.
October 5, 2016
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova participated in the Annual Research Forum, organized by TRC where she had an opportunity to give a poster presentation based on the most recent project accomplishments and results.
September 29, 2016
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova conducted an interactive workshop "Critical Thinking Skills Formation in the Language Classroom" for the English language teachers from secondary and tertiary education institutions in Oman. The workshop was organized by the British Council and ELT Professional Network on the premises of Oman Tourism College. This interactive workshop addressed critical thinking in the English language classroom and looked closely at such pedagogical setups of skill formation, as teachers’ internal assumptions and external factors/ circumstances in relation to students’ academic studies and job readiness. Drawing attention of the participants to the importance of critical thinking also referred to as the skill of responsible thinking (Vaughn, 2005), the presenter involved them in activities that helped them better understand how the English language classroom can be facilitated and suitably adapted to equip students with competencies related to such core critical thinking skills, as analysis, inference, explanation, interpretation, evaluation and self-regulation.
May, 2016
- On May 12 Dr Victoria Tuzlukova conducted a workshop "Conceptual and practical critical thinking skills: Focus on English language classroom" at the Military Technological College, Muscat.
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova in co-authorship with Dr. Marine Arakelyan & James Scully published an article "Meeting Professional Development Needs of the Faculty" in SQU Horizon.
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova published an article "Journal Issue Focuses on ESP and Technology in Oman" in SQU Horizon.
April 2016
- A special issue of the peer-reviewed international Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes called 'ESP and Technology in Oman' was published in print and online versions by the University of Niš, Serbia. This issue has been prepared and edited by Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova and Dr. Saleh Al Busaidi in collaboration with Dr. Christine Coombe (Dubai Men’s College, UAE) and Dr. Nadezda Stojkovic, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal.
- On April 29, 2016, Dr Victoria Tuzlukova conducted a workshop "Critical thinking skills formation in the English language classroom " at Nizwa College of Applied Sciences, Nizwa.
March 7-9, 2016
- Dr Victoria Tuzlukova and Saud AL-Rashdi took part in the SQU Career and Training Opportunities Fair 2016. They met with employers, SQU alumni and career advisors from the SQU Center for Career Guidance and representatives from job related training programs.
February 18, 2016
- Discussion of instrument piloting, data entry and problem-solving course.
November 12-13, 2015
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova and Galina Bugon presented the project at the 2nd National ELT Symposium 2015 held by Rustaq College of Applied Sciences. The title of their presentation was "A practice-based perspective on teaching written communication and critical thinking skills".
October 8, 2015
- Discussion of research instruments by the project team.
October 3, 2015
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova and Samantha Burns presented the project at the 2nd TESOL Arabia SIG Conference 2015. The title of their presentation was "Critical Thinking in the Language Classroom: Teacher Beliefs and Methods ".
September 2, 2015
- Our research assistants presented a talk at the project meeting on critical thinking approaches, techniques and activities related to the ELT classroom.
May 2015
- Dr. Saleh Al-Busaidi gave an interview about our project. The interview was arranged by the Research Council. It took place at the Authority of the Oman Radio and TV. It aimed at shedding light on the goals and scope of the research project. The interviewer asked questions about the significance of the study to the local context and the expected outcomes. The interview will be broadcast on Omani radio channel.
- Samantha Burns conducted a field trip to Sohar to network and to meet with people in the field of education and thereby establish contacts in relation to the project (17-19 May 2015). Samantha also participated in the workshop “The Role of Learner Autonomy in Empowering Learners” at Sohar College of Applied Sciences (18 May 2015) and presented a paper titled "Promoting critical thinking within autonomous language learning" (prepared with Victoria Tuzlukova). According to Samantha: “By linking the concept of the research project to an interest group, initial contact could be established and the general aims of the project could be presented to a wider audience”.
- Victoria Tuzlukova presented the project at Middle East College (Muscat), Higher College of Technology (Muscat), Sohar University and Nizwa University.
- Victoria Tuzlukova presented the project at the Language Centre Open Day (3 May 2015) . The title of her presentation was “Enhancing critical thinking and problem solving skills training in the context of ELT in Oman”.
- Lawrence Metzger conducted a field trip to Al-Bureimi to meet with people in the field of education and thereby establish contacts in relation to the project. Lawrence also participated in BUC 2nd International Multidisciplinary Conference: English Language, Literature, and Information Technology BUC-IMC2015 (Date: 2-3 May 2015; Venue: Al Buraimi University College Campus) and presented a paper: “ELT and critical thinking skills development in Oman: Focus on teachers’ beliefs and methodologies” (in co-authorship with Victoria Tuzlukova, Saleh Al-Busaidi & Samantha Burns)
April 2015
- Victoria Tuzlukova in collaboration with the Language Center faculty Anne Gilhooly conducted a workshop titled “Engaging students in community-based projects: Focus on critical thinking, problem-solving and language skills”. The workshop was organized by the ELT Professionals Network (ELTPN) British Council and was held at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, on April 30, 2015. This interactive workshop aimed at building a case for community-based projects as learning activities that can have a positive impact on the development of students’ problem-solving, critical thinking and language skills. Some practical recommendations for constructing community-based learning projects for language learners in Oman were given (150 copies).
- An online communication group was created on Wiggio for establishing a virtual platform for on and off line communication and project administration and management; documents and data sharing and discussion.
- Participated and registered for participation in inaugural Oman Higher Education Conference themed: ‘Entrepreneurship and Higher Education’ from 20-21 April 2015 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman held concurrently with GHEDEX Exhibition.
March 2015
Participated in Sultan Qaboos University Career and Training Opportunities Fair (March 10-12, 2015)
Participated in Sultan Qaboos University Career and Training Opportunities Fair (March 10-12, 2015)