Rationale
With the advent of technology and the change of values in a globalized world, individuals and
communities have become more and more virtual, and self-actualization and self-appraisal have taken
new dimensions. Consequently, so many elements of the educational realm have been shaken,
including the role of the teacher in the development of individuals of the new millennium,
pedagogical competencies, methodological choices, and what is generally happening inside (and even
outside schools). Therefore, there is an urgent need to give a second thought and a daring exploration
and redefinition of what is happening in education in general and in language education in particular.
Teacher professional competencies, alternative methods or strategies, curriculum evaluation and
development, materials production, learner needs and wants are but examples of the issues that need
reconsideration and further exploration in the current educational context.
MATE 38th annual conference will accordingly address the issue of pedagogical changes and
competencies that can accommodate the millennium educational context from different perspectives.
Experts in the field of education, educational psychology, applied linguistics, and language education
in general, are meeting to contribute to this socio-professional debate and suggest successful
strategies and techniques to help come to terms with this significant socio-educational change.
Conference objectives
The main objectives of this conference, among other things, are to
explore curriculum and syllabus design in the light of the current changes in education and
language teaching and learning;
redefine the concept of pedagogical competence in accordance with the current educational
challenges;
discuss the psychological dimensions of pedagogical competence;
discuss teaching standards and didactic knowledge and skills;
revisit learners’ needs in terms of teaching materials and the different teacher roles in this regard.
reconsider teaching materials and activities in a constantly changing digital world.
Conference sub-themes
Presentations and workshops target the following areas related to:
Educational psychology and class management;
Teacher training and evaluation;
Didactics of teaching English as a foreign language;
Curriculum and syllabus design;
Teaching materials: selection, evaluation, adaptation and development;
Best practices in educating digital learners.
Presentation formats
Presentations (20 minutes)
Workshops (60 minutes)
Poster sessions
Panel discussions.
Download MATE 38 Conf April2018 final booklet َ Arabic Cover