Sharjah 24: The 7th International Arabic Language Conference (IALC) will begin on Tuesday under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The organiser, the Arabic Language Educational Centre for Gulf States (ALECGS), based in University City, had a press conference to provide details about the upcoming conference on January 16 and 17.

The conference, themed "Teaching and Learning Arabic: Looking Towards the Future: Requirements, Opportunities, and Challenges," will bring together 197 speakers and experts from 23 countries, who will present 82 qualitative research papers and contribute to 24 seminars and workshops.

Dr. Issa Al Hammadi, Director of the Arabic Language Education Centre for Gulf Countries, and Dr. Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy (ALA), as well as Adel Mohammed Waheeb, Head of the Programmes Unit at the centre, addressed the press conference's audience of media representatives and stakeholders.

Dr. Issa Al Hammadi offered an exhaustive overview of the programme and anticipated outcomes of this significant event, emphasising the spirit of interaction and collaboration among educational institutions and language specialists. He highlighted the conference's importance in promoting cultural interchange and exchanging experiences.

Dr. Al Hammadi stated that His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, has provided significant support for the educational centre's efforts, resulting in numerous accomplishments in the fields of studies, research, training courses, seminars, conferences, partnerships, and more, all aimed at developing Arabic language education.

He stressed that the conference, which is being held in Sharjah for the seventh year in a row, would be held both in person and electronically, allowing specialists to profit from the research and debates. The conference seeks to lay educational, pedagogical, and professional foundations for teaching and studying Arabic in a variety of contexts.

The conference's objectives, according to the centre's director, include addressing the issues, challenges, and growing concerns associated with the Arabic language in the face of changing dynamics and new terminologies. It also aims to promote communication and the sharing of knowledge and experiences among specialised institutions and educational and pedagogical bodies under the auspices of education ministries in the Gulf countries, as well as non-member government entities.

Dr. Issa Al Hammadi stated that the conference will help policymakers in Arabic language curriculum development, writers of Arabic language teaching materials, instructors, and educators. It will clarify information, skills, and pertinent themes in Arabic, including explanations, readings, and meanings that students must learn, as well as inform them about techniques, activities, and tactics that aid in the development of these skills.

An academic committee was constituted to review the submitted research based on a set of criteria in preparation for the Arabic Language Conference. The committee chose members based on their competence and academic qualifications, ensuring effective and varied representation across language domains.

The director of the centre stated that the conference and its many activities were publicised using accessible advertising channels, including visual and aural media. The centre used social media channels to reach a larger audience of stakeholders and language learners. Next, a review and assessment of the research abstracts submitted by participating researchers, resulted in 197 research abstracts.

The researchers evaluated all 157 research papers as part of the procedure, choosing 82 papers for presentation at the conference. In the final step, a thorough conference programme was designed, which included 24 lectures and workshops. The emphasis was on broadening the subjects and facilitating rich conversation and discussion among participants.

Dr. Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy (ALA), emphasised the significance of linguistic events in promoting quality education. He highlighted the importance of teamwork in achieving common goals, as well as the value of discourse and the exchange of ideas and experiences at the conference. Al Mosteghanemi claims that this one-of-a-kind platform shapes the personalities of Arabic language teachers while also improving their linguistic skills.

Al Mosteghanemi expressed confidence in the conference's success and potential to improve the quality of Arabic language instruction. He stressed the necessity of continuous collaborative efforts to improve Arabic language teaching and learning through investment in the use of current technology, as well as tackling growing difficulties.