In cooperation with the students of our Master Degree Programs, the Department of English organized on 14th June 2019 the Second Junior Conference of the students of English entitled “New Dimensions and Approaches in English Studies”, in which 41 students of the three Master Programs presented their work and research in the field of foreign language teaching and methodology of teaching, translation studies, culture and communication studies, as well as 4 product presentations resulting from their research proper conducted by the students of the ELT Master Program, English Language, and the students of the Bachelor Program, English Language .
The welcoming remarks were delivered by the Head of the Department of English, Prof. Dr. Viktor Ristani, who highlighted the special importance of this first junior conference in further enriching the students’ extra-curricular experience, further extension of collaboration with international partners within the framework of such programs as US Embassy English Language Fellow (ELF) Program, CEEPUS, Erasmus+, students’ and department staff involvement in various international programs, emphasizing that “we continue to grow and adapt, always motivated, student-focused and labour market-oriented, adaptable to new developments, open to new ideas, experiences and approaches.”
In this context, the Department of English has initiated and organised joint academic and research projects and events with fellow colleagues in the other universities, focusing on several specific research areas.
As from early 2019, the students and staff of the ELT Master Program, English Language have benefitted from their collaboration with Dr. Aileen Hale, English Language Specialist, U.S. State Department, within the framework of a 10-month project financed and supported by the US Embassy English Language Fellow (ELF) Program and implemented in collaboration with the Department of English and the Faculty of Foreign Languages.
Her contribution for our Department and Faculty has been related to:
1. co-lecturing and running workshops with the lecturers for the pre-service teacher training program in such subjects as:
a. Psycholinguistics and FL Teaching Methodology;
b. Applied Linguistics
c. Intercultural Education;
d. Sources of Information and the use of new technologies in teaching
2. supporting young researchers of the pre-service teacher training Master Program;
3. supporting in-service teacher training for our Department and Faculty;
Thanks to the exchange schemes such as ERASMUS + and CEEPUS, fellow colleagues from European Universities have been invited, contributing to their proposals for further collaboration in the area of teaching and research. Cases in point are Assoc. Dr. Maria Bajner, international relations office for the University of Pecs, Hungary, Dr. Balint Szele, University of Applied Sciences, Kodolanyi Janos, Hungari (ERASMUS+)
In addition, within the framework of Erasmus+ Exchange Program, lecturers from the European universities with which the Tirana University has signed institutional agreements, respectively Silvia Sánchez Calderón, PhD, lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Valladolid, Dr. Arzu Kocak, lecturer at the University of Haceteppe, Turky have been invited for teaching and training sessions, jointly organized with our teacher training staff and the students of our ELT Master Program.
The participants were also greeted by the Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Prof. Dr. Artur Sula, who thanked the organizers of this second Junior Conference, becoming a tradition for the English Department, and emphasized its significance not only for the Department of English, but also for the Faculty of Foreign Languages. In this context, he expressed his appreciation of the continuous efforts made to offer students the best teaching and educational practices and standards required to cope with the future challenges, as well as contributing towards quality insurance and management in adequately training our students in compliance with the requirements indispensable for the national, regional, and international job market. further extending the scope of Master Programs, especially the organisation of joint international programs in the area of tourism and communication, as well as further extending and deepening our collaboration with international partners in higher education.
Ana Shehu, an excellent student of our ELT Master Program, English Language, shared with the conference attendees her experience in both study cycles at the Department of English, Faculty of Foreign Languages.
The key-note speaker Aileen Hale, PhD, English Language Fellow, U.S. Department of State.
, Albania delivered her key-note speech on Engaging Teachers “Outside of the Box”, whereas the key-note speaker Silvia Sánchez Calderón, PhD, lecturer and researcher at the University of Valladolid, Spain, delivered her key-note speech on “First language acquisition of English and Spanish complex predicates” in the conference plenary session.
In this plenary session, the students of the ELT Master Program, English Language mentored by Dr. Daniela Hasa and Aileen Hale, PhD, made their presentations, respectively “Engaging students with Interactive Power Points”, “English for taxi-drivers” and “Teaching English to café/bar staff/Drink English APP”, whereas third year students, English Language, Bachelor Program, mentored by Dr. Irena Kapo (Pata) made their presentation on “Gender Speech Differences in Albania”
Subsequently, the students made their presentations focusing on the topics prepared and participated in discussions in concurrent sessions according to the specific study and research areas identified. Presentations were followed by questions, discussions, and various suggestions. The conference and the presentations, thanks to their rich variety of research on various areas of English studies, served the students of Masters of Science Programs at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, interested to attend the conference and share their research experiences, hence contributing to the discussions as to how to strengthen and widen their professional and interpersonal cooperation in these areas of expertise, teaching, and scientific research.
