The theme of the conference, “Students' Identities & Language Learning in Saudi Arabia,” focused on how EFL Saudi students view themselves and how that is connected to their language learning. “Witnessing the change of tides in ESL/EFL learning and teaching nationally and globally, the conference will look at these developments in the context of Saudi Arabia,” said Wai Si El-Hassan, chair of the conference, in her welcome message. The conference was attended by delegates from the Gulf Region, North America, Europe and Asia, including outstanding international speakers from leading educational institutions. Dr. Philline Deraney, Associate Vice Rector of PMU, welcomed the delegates on behalf of PMU Rector Dr. Issa Al-Ansari and Dr. Nassar Al-Sheikh, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. She said PMU is delighted to host the fourth KSAALT conference because the event “fits perfectly with PMU's mission and vision of global citizenship, community service, and professional development of high standards”. A lineup of 27 presenters from different educational institutions shared their research and professional experiences in teaching English during the one-day marathon session. Dr. Suganthi Priscilla John of the University of Birmingham, UK – while addressing the conference plenary session – defined the social and linguistic understanding of students' identities in the context of English language students and suggested teaching methods to enable students to express their identities in writing. She also proposed that English teachers adapt the revision process in teaching academic writing and creative writing. Dr. James Simpson of the University of Leeds, commented on the power and importance of information technology in learning and teaching English by choosing the right websites that are essential to sharpening the literacy skills of students. The conference also featured four distinguished speakers, including Peter Lucantoni from Cambridge University Press, Vicki Hollet and Robert Mclarty from Oxford University Press and Dr Hazel Denhart from PMU. Other speakers presented topics directed towards enhancing English learning processes, as well as teaching. Topics presented included academic writing, students' speaking skills, reading and vocabulary, English classroom strategies, strategies for Saudi learners, teaching technical English, how to be an effective language teacher, understanding Saudi students' mistakes and motivating them, spelling pitfalls and planning integrated learning lessons. Hamdallah Al-Husban, KSAALT President, expressed his appreciation to all participants, particularly those who came from overseas to attend the conference. “Thank you all for making the effort to travel long distances from every corner of the Kingdom and beyond to attend this wonderful event,” he said in his welcome speech. KSAALT, established five years ago by a handful of instructors in the Eastern Province, has realized its goal of becoming the only affiliate of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, KSAALT has recently become the only associate in Saudi Arabia of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) according to Hamdallah Al-Husban. KSAALT is now expanding Kingdom-wide with two regional chapters in Riyadh and Jeddah, represented respectively by Dr. Connie Michelle and Laila Al-Khatib. A third chapter is also being organized at Taibah University in Madina. Members of the KSAALT Executive Council include Hamdallah Al-Husban, Dr Amani Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Philline Deraney and Ralph Kraft. The association is also supported by Prince Mohammad University, the British Council, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and other educational institutions.
