The University is aware of the significance of facilitating the way knowledge is developed, acquired and delivered.  Therefore, the Department of English has responded positively to the AUM initiative by launching and integrating the e-learningfacilties in its premises and classes.

Extensive use of data shows and computer resources is implemented in class learning.  The students have easy access to a rich library replete with the latest publications in the various fields of humanities as well as literary works from all periods.

Conference, Multi-Purpose rooms and the auditorium allow students the space and opportunity to have debates, discussions, open days, plays, presentations  and other English activities. The variety of learning resources enables all students of different levels and learning needs, be it audio-visual or tactile, to gain knowledge, analyze and investigate throughout their University studies. 

In order to attain the highest academic standards, the University is always working on improving learning resources. Where the English Department is concerned, there are the following teaching facilities:

1. Laboratories:

The faculty maintains two equipped labs, i.e. the audio-visual lab and the multimedia internet-based lab to help students master English as well as prepare them to understand, comprehend and use the language for their specialized needs. The audio – visual lab is provided with headsets, microphones, DVD, VCD, TV set, a cassette recorder together with the materials that accompany assigned textbooks as well as material recorded for the purposes of translation classes. For the multimedia internet- based lab, the conception that e-Learning allows information to be delivered in a more user-centric, user-friendly format than traditional training and education, is applied. Two technicians are responsible for keeping the labs ready to receive students at all times.

2. Classrooms, Multi –purpose Rooms and Lecture Support Facilities:

The faculty provides its students with many resources for learning and interaction with the environments around them. The Department has a number of classrooms, each with a capacity of 40 students.

It maintains some classrooms with movable seats and a multi-purpose room that provide the flexible types of study required for today’s world. The multimedia equipment like data show sets, overhead projectors, large white boards and lap-tops aid teachers in presenting their material in the best way possible and provide a good ground for hosting seminars and workshops on a variety of topics.

3. Newsletter:

The interactive role of the teachers as moderators and catalysts has encouraged students to be more positive elements in the process of learning and to be prepared for practical life.  The outcomes of this strategy were specialized bulletins, a newsletter and fantastic drawings for prominent figures or places hanging all over the Department which created a fertile atmosphere for learning. The editorial board of the newsletter consists of the chairperson and six other students who work with other students to make the newsletter something that is both worth reading, informative and entertaining. It covers up-to-date news, tackles subjects of public interest like fighting smoking and keeping the environment friendly to all and also publishes creative writings of students from inside and outside the Department.

The development of the main learning resources (computing laboratories, libraries, and others) is the responsibility of the heads of departments accompanied by the designated committees with the consent of the Dean. Learning resources made available by the University are in general adequate to acquire the basic skills outlined in both degree programs. The Faculties, in association with library personnel, updates the list of books, journals, magazines and other written resources to meet the main requirements of both degree programs.

Meanwhile, all Faculties maintain a well-planned organization structure that assists it in running all daily operations at ease and ensures high level of communication between the various sectors of its community. Moreover, the Faculties, through its departments, in addition to the various support committees, provide effective and efficient administrative support to both the Faculty members and the students.

Staff

Each University student is provided with a secured login, given access to network printers, allocated e-mail account with sufficient storage capacity, and connected to the Internet.

1. Staff-student ratio is excellent in specialist courses (1: 30), reasonable in English 1, 2 and Remedial (1:40).
2. Students enjoy open access to staff.
3. Staff members interact with students in guidance in academic work as well as registration.
4. Members of staff promulgate procedures for assessing student achievements and addressing their academic concerns.
5. The faculty system is being carefully reviewed to accommodate students’ grievances, especially with respect to student representation in the Department Council.

Program

• Program offers a comprehensive coverage of the two main branches of literature, linguistics, formal and variationist; it deals with a wide range of literary issues, old and modern; translation program includes instruction in theory and hand-on training.
• Students focusing on literature find such topics as sociolinguistics and discourse analysis within their quest. Translation majors are motivated to think of literature as one possible translation domain.
• The program includes most up-to-date syntactic theory (minimalism); feminist issues; different types of translation, in addition to applied linguistics for students planning to take up teaching.
• Two labs help train students in various areas.
• Staff meetings are held to ensure the planning and continued development of courses to be taught, reviewing all relevant rules and policies of the department, assigning academic supervisors, and distributing workloads in consistence with the Department’s rules.
• Students are informed about the details of the courses through what is called the tutor’s syllabus, handed to them at the beginning of each semester. The syllabus contains course description, objectives, intended learning outcomes, textbooks, references and the main topics to be covered, assessment requirements and methods. Goals of the courses are framed in terms of expected learning outcomes i.e. what students should be able to know, do or transfer.
• The focus of academic work is on the generic or transferable skills like critical thinking, written and oral expression, research skills and team-working skills.
• The department provides adequate resources for the development, delivery and completion of all offered courses. Textbooks and up to date references are supplied to the students in collaboration with the library. The internet connection is made available till late in the afternoon to avoid difficulties relating to the limited number of seats in the computer lab.
• Students have weekly access (three hours/week) to relevant teaching staff to seek advice on individual courses. Courses containing diagnostic tools to enable early identification of students who are in need of additional support or assistance are given in a preparatory semester.
• Tutorials, presentations, group work and projects are given to create interactive learning environment. New technologies are used (like Data Show) to ensure more engagement for the students. Best practice in education will not be achieved unless the students share in the construction of educational activities energetically and wholeheartedly.
• Training, as work-experience learning, is part of the study in the department. The students are given (30) days training opportunities at different locales relevant to their studies.
• Seminars are held to enhance the skills of staff members.
• Assessments of the quality of student services are conducted on a regular basis.
• The faculty supplies the staff with information regarding continuous improvement in the programs offered, services provided and activities undertaken.
• The Program ensures that all staff and representative student associations are informed of and encouraged to participate in quality management processes.
• The faculty reviews its courses to ascertain how sufficiently flexible they are to accommodate the needs of students.
• The faculty is developing a more competitive and streamlined course and subject profile.