COVID-19 and Education in Oman (Published)
COVID-19 pandemic has swept through the world and brought about abrupt changes in every sector of life, including the area of ELT (English language teaching). This essay explores briefly from my humble point of view, as an in-service Omani cycle 2 English teacher, the impact of the current pandemic on ELT curriculum, teaching methods, and educational growth of teachers.
Keywords: COVID-19, ELT, Education, Oman
Intercultural Exchanges and Soft Skills Development in the Info-Tech-Enabled EFL Classroom (Published)
The present research study assesses the impact of an ICT-enabled English language environment on students’ intercultural exchanges and soft skills development. The major objective is to see whether an English course content that makes use of blogs, podcasts, and Internet-aided presentations allows intercultural encounters and boosts personal and professional development. The qualitative comments from the end–of–course interview are examined with regard to students’ reflections on their learning experience. Research findings show that the use of ICT-enabled class content does not bring about any considerable changes in students’ cultural practices, but stirs and triggers personal and professional changes (changes in attitudes) and allows learners to develop empowering soft skills, including personal development skills, communication skills, and conflict resolution skills.
Keywords: ELT, ESP, Information Technology, Intercultural Exchanges, Soft Skills