Engagements of Professor Shaila Sultana during February
Upon taking on the dual role of Professor and Director at the BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL), Professor Shaila Sultana, PhD, has been leading and strengthening the team's potential with her wealth of experience and expertise. Since being at the helm, she has reflected her extensive experience in a number of activities and events which she has been a significant part of, both within and beyond BRAC University.
On February 7, 2024, Professor Shaila Sultana has been invited to speak on "Social Dimensions of Language Teaching and Testing: Present State and Future Directions for Bangladesh," in a panel entitled "Teacher Education and Use of Technology in EFL/ESL: Present State and Future Directions for Bangladesh" which has been arranged by the department of English, Green University of Bangladesh.
Professor Shaila attended the three-day hybrid conference of 2nd TESOL BD International Conference “TESOL in Transition: 4th Industrial Revolution and Beyond” held at the International Mother Language Institute, Dhaka, from February 8 to 10, 2024. Most notably, she was the moderator of the keynote session of Dr. Stephen Krashen, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Southern California, USA, entitled “The Three Benefits of Reading, and an Important Benefit of Writing '' in the conference. Additionally, she was a speaker in a panel discussion titled “Bridging the Gap: TESOL in Low-Resource Settings in the 4IR.”
On February 13, 2024, Professor Shaila was invited to conduct a day-long workshop on “Theories of Language and Learning and Classroom Practices” for the teachers of National University (College Education Development Project, CEDP 19th).
On February 17, 2023, she was invited as a speaker in a roundtable discussion, entitled “Ensuring Inclusive Education through Digital Literacy for Marginalized Students for a Smart Bangladesh” arranged by It’s Humanity Foundation (IHF) and Center for Youth Development (CFYD) in association with BRAC University.
BIL Faculty Members Won “Quality Journal Publication Award”
Ms. Liza Reshmin, Ms. Evita Umama Amin, and Ms. Fariah Amin, faculty members of the BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL), received the prestigious "Quality Journal Publication Award" in a ceremony organized and hosted by the Research Metrics Committee (RMC) of BRAC University.
The honourable Minister, Architect Yeafesh Osman, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of BRAC University, Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, attended the awarding ceremony and presented the awards to the recipients. Professor Shaila Sultana, PhD, Director of BIL, also attended the programme to encourage the awardees.
This initiative is a component of the "Rewarding Quality Journal Publications" campaign. It aims to honour and motivate BRAC University's faculty members and research personnel for their diligence in conducting research and publishing their scholarly articles in Q1 journals. Their work has established a standard of excellence that subsequent generations of researchers will strive to emulate.
The Pre-University Students of BIL Present Projects on "Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle"
As part of the "Enhancement" activity, in Spring 2024, Pre-University students created and showcased a variety of projects that promote sustainability by emBRACing the "Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle" approach particularly in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 13, which place strong emphasis on responsible consumption, production, and climate action. The main goals of these student-led initiatives were to educate others about the negative impacts of single-use plastics and promote ecologically friendly alternatives.
In their presentations, students demonstrated the irreversible connection between greenhouse gas emissions and excessive plastic use or other waste materials and focused on encouraging sustainable habits. In doing so, they effectively addressed SDGs 12 and 13 by encouraging people to engage in local cleanup efforts and promoting eco-friendly solutions. These initiatives aim to help raise awareness as well as ingrain a sense of responsibility for a sustainable future among the students.
These projects were facilitated by different faculty members of the Pre-university course: Md. Abu Sufian, Md. Mahbubul Islam, Ghazzala Shabi and Md. Sohan Shahriar.
Chinese Language Teacher Qingshan Huang paid visit to the Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy
On February 8, 2024, H.E. Mr. Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, met with Chinese language teachers working in Bangladesh and wished everyone a happy Chinese New Year of the Dragon. Qingshan Huang, BIL Chinese language teacher at BRAC University, introduced BIL’s newly appointed Director Professor Shaila Sultana, Ph.D. to the ambassador and reported on the status of Chinese courses offered at BRAC University, highlighting students' interest and high language talents.
TESOL BD Conference 2024 Highlights and IMLI's Role in Language Education
Ms. Tarannum Fatema Chowdhury, Lecturer at BIL, presented her research paper titled "Investigating TESOL Teacher Education's Influence on Professional Identity in Bangladesh" in the 2nd TESOL BD International Conference 2024.
The conference themed "TESOL in Transition: 4th Industrial Revolution and Beyond," was held on February 9-10, 2024, at the International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The conference featured keynote speakers Dr. Richard Smith, Dr. Stephen Krashen, and Dr. Maria Villalobos-Buehner, along with esteemed plenary speakers Professor A.M.M. Hamidur Rahman and Professor M Shahidullah. Attendees engaged in discussions on innovative teaching methodologies, language technology, and the future of TESOL and English language teaching. Pre-conference workshops and a round-table discussion on the Teacher's Role in Implementing the New English Curriculum provided additional insights into the evolving landscape of language education in Bangladesh.
IMLI aims to serve as a platform for various stakeholders in the field of language education, including educators, researchers, policymakers, and curriculum developers, to exchange knowledge, network with one another, and access professional development opportunities.
Book Drive Project HERALD for Secondary School Students
BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL) faculty members Mohammad Aminul Islam, Md Mahbubul Islam, and Imam Zafar Numanee organized 280 books to be distributed among the students of Kolkakoli Secondary School, Kustia in collaboration with BRAC University Community Service Club. On February 13, 2024, Mr. Imam Zafar Numanee handed over the books to the school.
MA-TESOL Thesis Defence Held on February 15, 2024
The first thesis defence of 2024 of the MA in TESOL program of BRAC University was held on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Seven students defended their thesis on diverse topics ranging from the use of technology in English classrooms, online teaching strategies, and scaffolding strategies in online classes to exciting areas of sociolinguistics, specifically on the Bihari, Chakma, Bawm, and Rohingya communities. The audience included current MA-TESOL students, BIL faculty members, thesis supervisors, and external examiners from renowned universities and the National Curriculum Textbook Board (NCTB). Notably, Professor Shaila Sultana, PhD, Director of BIL graced the program.
The list of supervisors and external examiners included Professor Bijoy Lal Basu, Department of English, University of Dhaka, Professor Md. Ahsan Habib, Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka, Dr. Zulfeqar Haider, Professor and Senior Curriculum Specialist, NCTB, Dr. Qumrul Hasan Chowdhury, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Dhaka, Harunur Rashid Khan, Former Associate Professor and Chair of English Department, South East University, Dr. Faheem Hasan Shahed, Director, Center for Language Studies, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, Dr. Mian Md Naushaad Kabir, Associate Professor, Department of English Language, IML, University of Dhaka.
The esteemed examiners and supervisors attentively examined the presentations and assessed the contributions through perceptive questions and comments. The session was completed by wishing the new graduates all the best for their future endeavors.
“Falgun” Celebration at BIL
On the second day of the month “Falgun” of Bengali year 1430 BRAC Institute of Languages arranged a day-long celebration to welcome the first month of Spring.
The new BIL office space of the Campus was decorated with the colors of Spring. The office ambiance was completely transformed into a festive atmosphere with vibrant Bengali themed decorations such as ribbons, swings, and traditional artifacts, along with springtime flowers. All the faculty and staff members at BIL participated enthusiastically in the decoration and arrangement of this event. They also shared delectable and delicious traditional food that included Nakshi pitha (sweetmeats).
This vibrant Phalgun celebration at BIL brought Spring’s spirit into the office, allowing everyone to experience the lively energy of the season and the cultural richness of Bengali traditions.
Lecturer of BRAC Institute of Languages Completes Certificate Course on Active Learning, Commits to Enhancing Teaching Methods
Mr. Yusha Alam, Lecturer, BRAC Institute of Languages at BRAC University, recently completed a three-day certificate course titled "Teaching for Active Learning" offered by the Foundation for Learning, Teaching, and Research (fLTR).
The University of Asia Pacific (UAP) organized a program from February 22 to 24, 2024 to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement active learning strategies in their classrooms. The certificate course included informative sessions on various contemporary education topics, such as Outcome-Based Education (OBE), Integrating Technology in Higher Education, Multiple Intelligences, Ethics in Teaching, and Effective Assessment Practices. Notably, Professor Arshad M. Chowdhury, Dean of the School of Engineering at BRAC University, led an insightful session on "Assessment and Rubrics."
The closing ceremony was graced by the Vice-Chancellor of East West University Professor Dr. Shams Rahman as the chief guest, along with the Vice-Chancellor of UAP Professor Dr. Qumrul Ahsan, and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Green University Professor Dr. Khawza Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed. The entire program was presided over by Professor Golam Samdani Fakir, Chairperson of fLTR.
The Pre-University Students Participated in a Session on Mental Health
Pre-university students participated in a "Mental Wellbeing" workshop led by the Brac University Counseling Unit as a component of the course's Enhancement lesson titled “Psycho-Social Issues”. The workshop was conducted on February 22, 2024 and was followed by student presentations on February 29, 2024.
The promotion of mental health and well-being is emphasized in Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). In line with this goal, the principal objectives of this workshop were to educate the students on these various mental health conditions, such as anxiousness, depression, and stress, and to provide them with coping mechanisms for these conditions.
Following the workshop, students shared a few instances that dealt with mental health-related issues. They demonstrated their learning from the session by recognizing, analyzing, and ultimately offering solutions for the issues from their viewpoints.
BIL Faculty Member, Farjana Afrin, Participates in Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's Connect and Collaborate Event 2024
On February 23, 2024, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission arranged a Connect and Collaborate Event at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London to welcome 350 scholars of 2023-24 from 28 commonwealth countries.
Ms. Farjana Afrin, Lecturer at Brac Institute of Languages of Brac University and one of the 24 Commonwealth scholars of 2023-24 from Bangladesh, attended the event and took part in panel discussions on the CSC development theme Access, Inclusion and Opportunity where scholars and delegates from different countries discussed the topic ‘Equity in the Digital Age’ and tried to find answers to the question “how can educators bridge the digital divide to enable inclusivity for all?”
Ms. Farjana also participated in a workshop on networking narrative with fellow scholars from other countries, and narrated her story of scholarship journey and the intended future impact of her study and research in the area of English Language Teaching in Bangladesh.
The event was full of discussions, speeches from Professor Robin Mason, the Chair of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, Dr. Terri-Ann Gilbert-Roberts, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr. Shakir Mohamed, Google DeepMind, and Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, FCDO. The event ended with a delightful performance by the Commonwealth Choir.
BIL Annual Team-Building Retreat 2024
BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL) organized a picnic on January 26, 2024 for its faculty members at the scenic BRAC CDM, Rajendrapur, Gazipur.
This cheerful occasion provided a refreshing and serene backdrop for fun, relaxation, and team-building sports and activities such as badminton, cricket, football, and pillow-passing. Moreover, a diverse range of refreshments and a catered lunch were provided for everyone to enjoy.
Following an exhilarating Raffle Draw Event and the subsequent distribution of prizes to the victorious participants, Lady Sarwat Abed and Ms. Shaila Sultana expressed gratitude towards all participants and organizers, for their collective efforts in making the picnic a resounding success. They believed that such initiatives reinforce commitment, prioritize employee well-being, and strengthen the bonds that form the foundation of a thriving and harmonious workplace.
The day's experience fostered a strong sense of camaraderie among employees, leaving a positive and lasting impact on the overall workplace morale.