Category / TRAINING & EVENTS

by Mourad Diouri

Speaking Portfolio

Keynote Speeches, Conference Presentations, Seminars & Workshops. For Teacher-Training Courses & Workshops, go to: Teacher-Training

Since 2007 until now, I have delivered:

  • 6 keynote lectures/talks (5 as invited keynote speaker & 1 event organiser) 
  • 9 public lectures/talks (for public engagement and KE) 
  • 3 media interviews
  • 4 widening participation workshops (for school pupils in Scottish-based schools) 
  • 23 conference presentation& seminars

The themes of the presentations were in: language learning, educational technology, Arabic language and the impact of Arabic on European languages. 

KEYNOTE TALKS & LECTURES 

EdArabFest Director’s Opening Speech

  • 2015 Edinburgh Arab Festival (The Fringe)
  • LLC, U. of Edinburgh
  • 28-29 Aug 2015

The Potential of Visuals and Social Photo-Sharing and networking for learners and teachers in today’s digital education 

  • Keynote Lecture
  • Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Centre, U. of Qatar
  • Jan 2013

Keynote Speech, Book Launch of (Write & Read Arabic Script: Teach Yourself Series) (John Murray ltd) by Mourad Diouri

  • Blackwell’s Bookshop Edinburgh
  • Organised by CASAW (Centre of the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Nov 2011

Let’s Learn Arabic Together: Using emerging social networking tools in teaching and learning Arabic

  • Conference Keynote Speech,
  • Conference (Blended & Mobile Learning: Potential & Challenges)
  • Arab Open University, Oman
  • Dec 2010

Islam’s Contribution to Scotland                                                                

  • Keynote speech for the launch of (The Arab Community in Scotland) report
  • Fife Arabic Society, Fife, Scotland
  • Apr 2008

Modern Educational Strategies and Technologies: The Potential of Audio-Visual Libraries (فنون وأسالیب التعلیم عن طریق التقنیات الحدیثة: قیمة المكتبات السمعیة البصریة)

  • Keynote Speech
  • Conference (ARABELE 2009 International Congress on Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language)
  • Casa Árabe-Instituto Internacional de Estudios Árabes y del Mundo Musulmán, Madrid, Spain
  • Oct 2009

PUBLIC LECTURES (Widening Participation & Knowledge Exchange) 

MEDIA INTERVIEWS (live & recorded) 

AlJazeera Live Broadcast of the Opening Speech & Ceremony of the Edinburgh Arab Festival 

  • Opening Speech
  • LLC, U. of Edinburgh
  • The opening ceremony of the festival was broadcasted live on the channel “AlJazeera Live”
  • 28-29 Sep 2015

BBC Arabic Radio Interview (Edinburgh Arab Festival) 

  • Live Radio Interview
  • Recorded interview (w/ BBC World Service & BBC Arabic)
  • BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals, U. of Edinburgh
  • 28-29 Sep 2015

Media Live Radio Discussion (You Already Speak Arabic: Islam’s Contribution to European Languages)

  • Invited Guest Speaker in a live radio show
  • BBC Arabic Xtra Show (BBC Radio Scotland)
  • The media interview was a discussion based on the Edinburgh Festival event “You Already Speak Arabic: Islam’s Contribution to European Languages” which I delivered for the “Islam Festival”.
  • Thurs 27 Aug 2009

WIDENING PARTICIPATION WORKSHOPS 

You Already Speak Arabic! : Why is it Important to Learn a Second Language?                    

  • Open Day Workshop, Widening Participation For School Pupils,
  • Loretto School (Organised by Al-Waleed Centre, U. of Edinburgh)
  • Jul 2011

You Already Speak Arabic! : Arabic Influence On World Languages                

  • Public Speech/Workshop, Languages Awareness Day,
  • of Aston, Birmingham
  • Apr 2011

You Already Speak Arabic!: Calligraphy Exhibition & Workshop 

  • Audience: Delegation of college students from Saudi Arabia
  • Organised in collaboration with Master Iraqi Calligrapher Jawdat Khadim
  • LLC, U. of Edinburgh
  • Organised by Al-Waleed Centre, UoE
  • 15 Jul 2017

You Already Speak Arabic!: Public Exhibition 

  • Organised in collaboration with Fife Arab Society, Scotland
  • Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
  • 14 Jan 2007

PUBLIC LECTURES & SEMINARS 

A Conversation with Prominent Arabists: Live Video Conference

  • Speakers: (1) Mr. Leslie McLoughlin (The Royal Interpreter, Arabist & Scholar U. of Exeter)
  • Speaker (2) Dr. Paula Santillán Grimm (Lecturer in Arabic & Translation, U. of Pompeu Fabra)
  • IMES, U. of Edinburgh
  • 28 Sep 2018

Book Launch Event (Essential Arabic Vocabulary: Teach Yourself Arabic Series) (John Murray ltd) by Mourad Diouri 

  • 2015 Edinburgh Arab Festival (The Fringe)
  • LLC, U. of Edinburgh
  • 29 Aug 2015

Live Interpreting & Commentary for a Calligraphy Workshop by Master Calligrapher Haji Noor Deen 

  • Live Interpreting & Commentary (Arabic to English)
  • 18 Aug 2015
  • Edinburgh Book Festival
  • Organised by The Alwaleed Centre, U. of Edinburgh 

You Already Speak Arabic!: Arabic Loanwords in European Languages                                 

  • Presentation & Exhibition, Inaugural Arab Cultural Open Day
  • of Aberdeen
  • 9 May 2012

Intensive Language Workshop/Taster Class on Islamic-Arabic (x3 Events) 

  • Open to the public
  • Location 1: Al-Andalus Centre, Glasgow | 7 Jan 2012
  • Location 2: MYF Foundation, Manchester | 30 Dec 2011
  • Location 3: The Hubb, Birmingham | 29 Dec 2011

You Already Speak Arabic! : Islam’s Contribution to European Languages                

  • Public Speech
  • Islam Festival, Edinburgh International Arts Festival (Central Edinburgh Mosque)
  • 25 Aug 2009

Islam’s Contribution To The World: English Words of Arabic Origin                

  • Public Lecture
  • Islamic Society, U. of Edinburgh
  • Feb 2009

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS, SEMINARS & PRESENTATIONS

2015Learner Centred and Communicative Learning: Putting it into Practice (The case of Arabic) 

  • Conference Presentation, 8th Annual Conference for Arabic Language and Culture
  • British Council, London
  • Mar 2015

2013Using Technology in Teaching Foreign Language 

  • Conference Presentation, 7th Annual Conference for Arabic Language and Culture
  • British Council, London
  • Nov 2013

2011Revolution 2.0: The Power of Social Media & Networking in the Arab Revolutions

  • Research Seminar
  • IMES, U. of Edinburgh
  • Sep 2011

How to Mingle the Web2.0 Way: Maximising the Potential of Language Learning Using Emerging Web2.0 Technologies          

  • Conference Presentation, eLearning 2.0 Conference
  • of Brunel
  • Jul 2011

Daily Micro-Blogging Using Innovative Web 2.0 Tools To Improver Writing Skills                 

  • Conference Presentation, “Enhancing Business Performance: The Role of Technology in Developing Skills”
  • JISC, Edinburgh
  • Feb 2011

2010eTAFL (e-Teaching of Arabic as a Foreign Language):Modernising the way we learn and teach Arabic    

  • Conference Presentation, Arabic Language & The Internet
  • Temimi Foundation in Tunis & CASAW, Tunis
  • Dec 2010

Top 10 Secrets of e-Language Learners                                                                           

  • Induction Session, Induction Week
  • IMES, U. of Edinburgh
  • Sep 2010

Blended CPD in Essential eLearning Skills for Foreign Language Teachers: Are we prepared for our digital students?             

  • Conference Presentation, Languages for the 21st century: Training, impact and influence,
  • Higher Education Academy, LLAS, U. of Sheffield
  • Sep 2010

Technology-Enhanced Language Learning from a Student Perspective                                  

  • Conference Presentation, elearning@ed 2010: The Student Perspective,
  • of Edinburgh
  • Apr 2010

Empowering Arabic Language Learning & Teaching with Educational Technology  

  • Conference Plenary Session, Arabic Language & Culture in Schools
  • British Council, UK
  • Mar 2010

Technology-Enhanced Foreign Language Learning & Teaching                                               

  • Seminar, “e-Learning Roadshow”
  • of Edinburgh
  • Feb 2010

2009Visual e-Lingua: How to empower new e-Learning technologies to support visual based learning of COLT languages  

  • Conference Presentation, Community and Lesser Taught Languages
  • of Manchester
  • Nov 2009

Revolutionising The Way We Learn And Teach Arabic: Tapping On Web-Based Tools And Technologies            

  • Conference Presentation & Paper, ARABELE 2009 International Congress on Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language
  • of Murcia, Madrid, Spain
  • Sep 2009

Moving from “Chalk & Talk” to “Surf & Connect”: Blended eLearning of Arabic Language Education in HE        

  • Conference Presentation, Blended Learning Conference 2009
  • of Hertfordshire
  • Jun 2009

Language Learning 2.0 in Action: Web 2.0 Tools To Enhance Language Learning                

  • Conference Presentation, Plymouth eLearning Conference 2009
  • of Plymouth
  • Apr 2009

eLearning Technologies To Support Foreign Language Leaning In The Classroom And Beyond

  • Conference Presentation, Arabic Language and Culture in Schools Conference
  • British Council
  • Mar 2009

2008Language Education in the Digital Age:  eLearning Technologies and Resources to Enhance Arabic Education

  • Research Seminar
  • Al-Maktoum Institute For Arabic and Islamic Studies, U. of Dundee
  • Oct 2008

Moving Beyond ‘Chalk and Talk’: Blended e-Arabic Learning and Teaching               

  • Conference Presentation, Languages of the Wider World: Valuing Diversity
  • SOAS, U. of London
  • Sep 2008

Beyond Traditional Learning: Using Virtual Realia For Innovative Language Learning And Teaching

  • Conference Paper & Presentation
  • of Plymouth e-Learning Conference
  • Apr 2008

e-Learning : Enhanced Learning of the Arabic Language            

  • Conference Presentation, Arabic on Campus and Beyond Conference
  • CASAW (Centre of the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Apr 2008

2007e-Learning and e-Teaching of the Arabic language: Benefits and Opportunities                    

  • Presentation
  • CASAW (Centre of the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Oct 2007

Innovative Approaches in Teaching Arabic in HE                                                

  • Event Presentation & Poster, Learning and Teaching Day
  • of East Anglia
  • Jul 2007

Why study languages? How Can Languages Work for You?                                         

  • Conference Presentation, Widening Participation Conference
  • of East Anglia, UK
  • Jul 2007
by Mourad Diouri

Full day Teacher-Training for Teachers from the BATJ (British Ass. for Teaching Japanese)

Very humbled to be invited again to deliver another full-day teacher-training workshop 8th Dec for BATJ (British Ass. for Teaching Japanese) @KingsCollegeLon, this time on “Using Technology to Teach Reading Skills” Photos from last training in Jun 2016 http://Batj.org.uk

by Mourad Diouri

Reflections on the Launch & End of EdArabFest 2015

Today in Edinburgh marks the end of this year’s glorious International Arts Festival (the Fringe) and last week we too celebrated the launch and end of the 1st Edinburgh Arab Festival 2015.

What an amazing festival it was!

The festival might have only lasted two short days, but these two days were full of surprises and happy memories for me personally to cherish over the years. Having envisaged this festival months ago as a modest cultural event that will showcase what Edinburgh’s Arab community has to offer, the high attendance and excitement about the event has simply exceeded all my expectations and predictions.

What we witnessed over the two festive days was phenomenal and truly reflected the key message of the EdArabFest: Beauty, Diversity, Richness.

Over the past four months, and with the help of many dedicated people and organisations, we managed to put together something for everyone. A wide array of open and scheduled events around: art, calligraphy, storytelling, poetry, lectures on history and science, fashion, film screenings, live music, folkloric dance, photography, language taster classes, authentic traditional cuisines, food tasting, cooking, tea ceremonies, children activities, dressing-up, panel discussions, literature readings and much more.

We also had a huge media interest and overage from Al-Jazeera Live, BBC Arabic and BBC World Service.

I personally believe and hope that the Edinburgh Arab Festival will continue to grow from strength to strength and remain a solid annual feature of the Fringe Festival.

I’d like to thank every member of the EdArabFest team who dedicated time and effort to make this festival a reality, including our wonderful volunteers, partners, sponsors, exhibitors and anyone who has supported the festival in spirit and attendance.

For those of you who attended the festival, I sincerely hope that you had an enjoyable cultural experience and hope you left the event enlightened, informed and full of inspiration, with plenty of unforgettable moments and newly forged friendships.

We will be sending a call for feedback soon (with lots of prizes to give away as a thank you gesture). We are also interested in your photos, videos and social media interactions during and after the festival. More information on this will be shared soon.

Until then, I look forward to welcoming you next year to the Edinburgh Arab Festival 2016.

Best Wishes

Mourad Diouri

EdArabFest Founder & Director

PS. There were other volunteers who didn’t make it to the photo call but they are still celebrated in spirit.

by Mourad Diouri

Teacher-Training Portfolio

1-day training event delivered to teachers from the
BATJ (British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language), 8 Dec 2018

Over the past 12 years, I have continuously contributed to staff training and professional development locally within Scotland, nationally and internationally. The training I delivered is mainly focused on the effective use of educational technology in language education, which is targeted to teachers of MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) and LCTL (Less commonly Taught Languages).

  • To date, I’ve designed and delivered 29 events/workshops (in total):
    • 2-4h training: 9 events
    • 1-day training: 12 events
    • 2-day training: 7 events
    • 4-day training: 1 event
  • Delivered to 490 participants (primarily teachers) including:
    • 15 students enrolled on MSc Advanced Arabic
    • 23 colleagues/language teachers from LLC (IMES, DELC & Asian Studies)

To date, I have designed and delivered the following training events:

2021

Training Workshop | “I See What You Mean”: Training teachers to become competent in visual teaching & learning in the Arabic classroom

  • Event: BATA Inaugural International Conference
  • Location: 24 & 25 June 2021, Online
  • Organiser: The British Association of Teachers of Arabic (BATA) and the University of Leeds
Find out more

2019

1-day Training Workshop: 4Ts (Tried & Tested Tips To… Teach Arabic with Technology)

  • Date: 3 Sep 2019
  • Organised by:  Training Workshop
  • No of Trainees: 8
  • Location: Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, U. of Exeter
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic

2018

1-day Training Course: 4Ts for Reading! Tried & Tested Tips To … Teaching Reading with Technology Within and Beyond the Language Classroom

1-day Training Workshop: Teaching Arabic With Technology: Essential Skills & Tools

  • Date: Jun 2017
  • Event: Teacher-Training Programme for PG Students in the MSc Advanced Arabic
  • Organised by: IMES, U. of Edinburgh
  • No of Trainees: 7

2017

2h Training Workshop: Using Visuals to Empower Language Learning & Teaching

  • Date: Jan 2017
  • Conference: 9th Arabic Language & Culture Conference, British Council
  • Organised by: British Council, London
  • No of Trainees: 16

1-day Training Workshop: Teaching Arabic With Technology: Essential Skills & Tools

  • Date: Jun 2017
  • Event: Teacher-Training Programme for PG Students in the MSc Advanced Arabic
  • Organised by: IMES, U. of Edinburgh
  • No of Trainees: 8

2016

1-day Training Course: Teaching Japanese with Technology Within and Beyond the Classroom

2015

2-day Training Course: Teaching Arabic w/ Technology

1-day Training Course: Teaching Arabic w/ Technology

1-day Training Course: Teaching Arabic w/ Technology

  • Date: 7 Jun 2015
  • Location: Liverpool, UK
  • Organised by: Al-Gazali Multicultural Centre, Liverpool
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies
  • No of Trainees: 30

2-day Training Course: Teaching Arabic w/ Technology

  • Date: 17-18 Jun 2015
  • Location: U. Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. Edinburgh
  • Participants: Teachers and lecturers of Arabic language in HE (US &UK)
  • No of Trainees: 6

3h Workshop: Teaching MFL Vocabulary w/ Technology

2h Training Workshop: Student-Generated Learning Resources

2013

2-day Intensive Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Language Teachers

  • Date: Jan 2013
  • Location: U. of Edinburgh
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World)
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic at the U. of Edinburgh and other UK institutions
  • No of Trainees: 5

4-day Training Course: Essential eLearning Skills for Arabic Language Teachers

  • Date: 7-10 Jan 2013
  • Organised by: Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Centre, U. of Qatar
  • Location: University of Qatar
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic language and literature at the U. of Qatar
  • No of Trainees: 8

2h Training Workshop: Using Technology in Teaching Foreign Language

  • Date: Nov 2013
  • Event: 7th Annual Conference for Arabic Language and Culture
  • Organised by: British Council, London
  • Participants: Conference Delegates
  • No of Trainees: 15

2012 

2h Training Workshop: eLearning  & Technology for Arabic Teachers, Arabic Language & Culture in Schools Conference

  • Date: 26 Oct 2012
  • Organised by: Association for Language Learning and the British Council
  • Location: Dulwich College (South London), UK
  • Participants: Conference Delegates
  • No of Trainees: 30

4h Training Workshop: Using Free Audio Online tools to Enhance Learning and Teaching in Languages

  • Date: 15 Jun 2012
  • Organised by: London Metropolitan University
  • Location: London Metropolitan University, UK
  • Participants: Teachers of Modern Foreign Languages
  • No of Trainees: 20

4h Training Workshop: Podcasting and Videocasting

2-day Intensive Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Language Teachers

  • Date: Sep 2012
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Location: U. of Edinburgh
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic and Urdu in HE from the UK and abroad
  • No of Trainees: 8

2011

1-day Training Workshop: Creating e-Flashcards for Language Learning and Teaching: Past, Present and Future

  • Date:27 Jan 2011
  • Organised by: e-Learning symposium 2011, LLAS (Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies)
  • Location: University of Southampton, UK
  • Participants: Teachers of Modern Foreign Languages
  • No of Trainees: 7

1-day Training Course: Essential eLearning Skills for Arabic Language Teachers

1-day Training Course: Essential eLearning Skills for MFL Language Teaching

  • Date: Apr 2011
  • Organised by: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES), U. of Edinburgh
  • Location: University of Edinburgh
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic, Persian & Turkish from IMES
  • No of Trainees: 6

2-day Intensive Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Language Teachers

  • Date: Feb 2011
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Location: Goldsmiths University, London
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic in HE and Primary/Secondary Schools from the UK and abroad
  • No of Trainees: 7

2-day Intensive Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Language Teachers

  • Date: Jul 2011
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Location: U. of Edinburgh
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic in Primary/Secondary and HE from the UK and abroad
  • No of Trainees: 12

2010

2h Training Workshop: Essential eLearning Skills and Resources for Creative Language Teaching

  • Date: Nov 2010
  • Organised by: SSAT (Specialist Schools and Academies Trust), London
  • Location: U. of Bradford
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic in HE & Primary/Secondary Schools from the UK
  • No of Trainees: 25

1-day Workshop: eLearning Skills for Language Teachers

  • Date: Aug 2010
  • Event: Communicative Teaching Approach to Foreign Language Instruction: 5-day Intensive Course
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World), U. of Edinburgh
  • Location: British Council, London, UK
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic
  • No of Trainees: 13

1-day Training Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Community Language Teachers

  • Date: Nov 2010
  • Organised by: Lincolnshire School Improvement Service, Arabic School For All (ASFA)
  • Location: Lincoln, UK
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic in Primary/Secondary & Supplementary Schools
  • No of Trainees: 16

1-day Training Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Community Language Teachers

  • Date: Sep 2010
  • Organised by: Community Language Teacher Development Day, Westway Development Trust
  • Location: London, UK
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic in Primary/Secondary & Supplementary  Schools
  • No of Trainees: 23

2-day Intensive Course: Essential e-Learning Skills for Language Teachers

  • Date: Jul 2010
  • Location: Goldsmiths College, U. of London
  • Organised by: CASAW(Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World) in collaboration w/ Goldsmiths College, U. of London
  • Participants: Teachers of Arabic language in HE and Schools
  • No of Trainees: 15