ICT for ELT in the Horn of Africa: Options and Approaches

Tomorrow, a workshop in "ICT for ELT in the Horn of Africa: Options and Approaches"

will be held at the University of Khartoum. The objectives of the workshop are "to raise participants’ awareness of the role ICT can play in language teaching and related fields, such as professional development training, and to explore ways in which it can be used effectively within the contextual constraints teachers face in Sub-Saharan Africa.  It is aimed primarily at tertiary level teachers of English / teacher trainers with a degree of ICT competence and an interest in seeing its use expanded within their university or institut".

I will train teachers for one day, day 3, to use blogger and pbworks. Hala Salih will take day 4, to train them to use del.ici.ous, Google applications. I wish I was in a better health (I am due tomorrow :-))) so I could have fully participated in the whole 5 days. I am not feeling well, which results in NOT working on my full energy. I was hoping to give my utmost to the teachers at the workshop, some of whom are dear friends of mine. Pity me!

This what  I "managed" to create for our day 3 and 4. I thought of inviting someone as a guest speaker. I thought of webcasting it. I thought of streaming it with UStream. All gone with the wind. I am working with only 30% of my energy.  My presentation is not ready yet! Oh, this is for sure, not the Hala I know. I hope all will go well.

Building Blocks for Citizenship & Peaceful Transition

BubbleShare: Share photos - Easy Photo Sharing

We have a proverb in Sudanese colloquial Arabic that says" Sudanese eat, drink and breath politics. They are breast-fed with politics". These are the terms that I am "eating", "drinking" and breathing these days: Conflict Management, Democratic Principles in the Sudanese context, Case studies of Parliamentary elections, Presidential elections in Egypt, Kenya Congo . Negotiation Skills,: Elections as a Negotiation Process, Responsibilities of Citizens in Peaceful Elections: Volunteering , Conflict Styles, Democracy and Pluralism, developing undergraduate Peace studies programs.
Dr.Mutasim, a very dear friend of mine, PhD in Arabic language asked me to take his place as an interpreter in a workshop held by the Institute for the Development of Civil and society, East Nile University, and the U.S Institute of Peace. The workshop title was “Electoral Violence Prevention: Building Blocks or Citizenship and Peaceful Transition", It took place in January6-8 2009-02-03.
I took the job!
Yes, people get excited about new experiences, but I got way too excited and overwhelmed by the experience to the extent that I am thinking of changing career (I hope it will pass away soon:-)I love teaching!)I thought that all Sudanese youth are indulged in trivial interests which will take Sudan to the grave. However, seeing and watching tens of motivated youth in the workshop,from all ages and races,working in civil society organizations, obsessed with knowing how to get hold of ways to help in conflict resolution in our country, is what drifted me from my classroom walls. Themes? War in Darfur, Southern Sudan, Northern Sudan at Marawy Dam, Eastern Sudan with the Nuggara tribe and even North-west where others are trying to do the same, to divide!
What was amazing was that participants represented all parties in Sudan, from all four directions. It was amazing to see them all working in harmony to reach agreements and suggest ways to conflict resolutions.
The presenters helped a lot in open participants' eyes on new and innovative ways of holding workshops. Telling about their own private stories during Obama’s elections was the part that took participants' hearts ways. They ended up saying” Wow! We are faaar away back on the stick!!” (Authentic translation”.
I felt I am helping a nation to go forward. So, here I am, beyond the classroom walls, and even inside my classroom walls,I strongly believe that I am also helping the nation by teaching English language, without which the new generation will not be able to compete in the job sphere of sustaining peace and development.
I asked the most active young man in the workshop if I an accept my daughter,as a volunteer, after finishing her exams, to join their organization. They were pleased with the idea, and how much I am offering her as a mother. I hope she will love the experience.I know she will!
Technology wise: I couldn't stop tweeting and jotting down points for further blogging. When one of the American Instructors asked me" Where did you learn all these tips and tricks?" guess what was my answer?

ICT Course Graduation

With a flat tyre , I manged to reach Ahfad University late for Leikny's excellent summary for what was covered on the course. It was very nice to have all the participants together, from different universities in Khartoum, coming together with a very powerful sense of satisfaction about what they have learned and achieved from Leikny's content and delivery method.Seconding one of the teachers, her delivery style taught us a lot about dealing with a very different context in a very flexible and creative way.Leikny, if you happen to come back to this blog, you are GREAT!
Thanks! I lost my PC Suite Cable to add pictures of the graduations .Later!