Table of Contents: Message From the President Dear All 1 Message from the President 1 2 9th BELTA International (Virtual) 2 Warm greetings to the readers of the BELTA Conference Newsletter! We are pleased to share with you 3 Conference Panel Discussions 2 the June 2021 issue of the newsletter. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has 4 DU Research Team Presents at BELTA 3 International Conference disrupted the flow of education, it is heartening to know that we have been able to 5 “Stories About Ourselves” Project 3 Update keep education going and the activities of the association moving amidst the crises. The 6 BELTA Webinar Series 8 4 crises triggered by COVID-19 have also 8 Webinar Arranged by BELTA Chittagong 4 created opportunities and despite the setbacks South Chapter we have moved forward and achieved goals. 9 Research on Online Education in 5 The pandemic has created new ways of during COVID-19 interaction amongst teachers and students and 10 Recent publication on Language Testing 6 colleagues! We have also moved beyond borders and connected, attended and presented at various International forums and 11 Research on Equity and Social Justice 6 published conferences. We are proud to announce that the regular activities of our association did not 12 Recent Article on "Grassroots English 6 and Bangladeshi Economic Migration to come to a standstill and we held virtual the Middle East” conferences, teacher development webinars, our flagship THT teacher educator 13 Publication of On Language in Leapyear 7 programme, panel discussions and AGM. Since face to face interactions were not 14 Publication of Challenges in Academic 7 allowed we moved our professional Writing: A Pragmatic Study development programmes online! 15 South Asian Regional Online Conference 7 Our E-newsletter, does a great job by keeping the association members updated on relevant 16 Rubina Khan @ ELTAi, KOTESOL 8 news, events and at the same time provides &TESOL them a platform to share their views and 17 BELTA Learning Technology SIG 9 showcase their achievements. In times of social distancing, our newsletter keeps the 18 BELTA Research SIG 10 BELTA community informed and engaged. I 20 Report on the Fieldwork of Hornby Trust 10 would also like to take this opportunity to TA Project thank the contributors of the newsletter and 21 Nominations from BELTA for TESOL 11 the Publications Secretary and her team for Convention 2021 their constant support in making this E- 22 Teaching Essential Word Structures 11 newsletter a success. Happy Reading! 22 Critical Thinking in ESL Teaching 12 23 BELTA Chittagong South Chapter Report 12 23 BELTA in Pictures 13 Dr. Rubina Khan President, BELTA

1 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER 9th BELTA International (Virtual) Conference 2021

The 9th BELTA International (Virtual) Conference on “Education during the pandemic: Learning amid crisis and emerging opportunities”, was held on 6th March, 2021 utilizing the virtual platform BdREN Zoom. The conference started with BELTA President addressing the audience a warm welcome speech by Dr Rubina Khan, President, BELTA. It was inaugurated by Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah, Conference Panel Discussions Chairman, UGC, Bangladesh. There were 11 In keeping with the Conference theme sessions in which the research experiences "Education during the Pandemic: Learning during the time of COVID-19 pandemic of amid crisis and emerging opportunities", 22 nationally and internationally recognized two panel discussions were organized. The ELT professionals were presented. The first reflected on the current situation amidst themes of the presentations encompass the the disruption caused to education in a emergence of teacher agency in the number of Asian countries and how different paradigm shift to ERT (Emergency Remote contexts coped with the crises by adopting Teaching), usage of different technological remote online learning. The second panel tools like Google Forms in facilitating looked at the post-covid days ahead and online teaching and learning, impact of deliberated on how to move forward in a Corona pandemic in different education changed global environment in order to levels of Bangladesh and Nepal, challenges provide effective and sustainable English and opportunities created by the pandemic language education for all. situation and so on. The presenters were Dr M Obaidul Hamid, Dr Fauzia Shamim, Dr Mian Md. Naushaad Kabir, Dr Joshua John Jodoin, Dr Muhammed Shahriar Haque, Dr Shahidullah, Elizabeth J. Erling, Ram A.Giri, Saraswati Dawadi, Sagun Shrestha, Saifa Haque, Curtis M.Chan, Ahmed Bashir, Dr Bijoy Lal Basu, Md Mohib Ullah and Muhammad Emdadul Haque. The conference was attended by 165 Closing remark from BELTA Advisor participants. Dr Rubina Khan, President, BELTA ended the conference with a Vote of The invited Panelists came from a number Thanks after an insightful closing remarks of partner Asian International Language by Dr Arifa Rahman, Advisor, BELTA and Teaching Associations (LTAs) with whom the recorded performance of Mr Naveed BELTA has agreements of understanding. Mahbub, a notable stand-up comedian of The tone of the discussion was encouraging, Bangladesh. supportive and very meaningful as all the

2 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER countries were facing similar challenges Elias Uddin gave a talk at the 9th BELTA during the Covid-19 pandemic and were International (Virtual) Conference 2021 held making both local and global attempts to on 6 March 2021. The talk was delivered by mitigate this education crisis. They agreed Mr. Ahmed Bashir and Dr. Bijoy Lal Basu that cooperation, partnership and networking on behalf of the team. The theme of the are essential for the LTAs to move forward conference was “Education during the in the future. Pandemic: Learning amid crisis and Panel Discussion 1 emerging opportunities”. The title of the talk Country perspectives of the pandemic was ‘Innocence to Experience: Teacher situation on education and alternative attitudes to online instruction’. The team modalities of learning and teaching shared some preliminary findings from their Moderator: Dr Shaila Sultana collaborative research that explored tertiary Panelists: level English teachers’ attitudes towards Dr Vivek Joshi (AINET, India) online teaching during the COVID-19 Dr Nasreen Hussain (SPELT, Pakistan) pandemic, and any changes in their attitudes Mr Hemanta Raj Dahal (NELTA, Nepal) over time. The presenters discussed the Datin Dr. Cynthia Yolanda Doss(MELTA, major findings of the longitudinal study Malaysia) which include teachers’ attitudinal change in Dr Tazin Aziz Chaudhury (BELTA, affective, cognitive and psychomotor Bangladesh) domains. “Stories About Ourselves” Project Panel Discussion 2 Update Looking Ahead: Post-Covid strategies for “Slow and steady wins the race” describes education and ELT the progress of the “Stories About Moderator: Dr Arifa Rahman Ourselves” materials development project Panelists: since its arrival on the world wide web last Prof Dawn Lucovich (JALT, Japan) year. The project, which is a collaboration Dr Kumar Shravan (ELTAI, India) between BELTA and THT (“Teachers Dr Ikhsanuddin (TEFLIN, Indonesia) Helping Teachers”) Japan, provides free Prof Michael Free (KOTESOL, South graded reading materials with a Bangladeshi Korea) focus for English learners at all ability Dr Md. Zulfeqar Haider (BELTA, levels. Bangladesh) After the initial writer training workshop in DU Research Team Presents at the 2018, the BELTA sponsored site was born in th 9 BELTA International (Virtual) 2020, and now provides over forty stories, Conference 2021 non-fiction texts and poems, all written by A research team, from the Department of Bangladeshi writers. Each is carefully edited English, University of , comprising for accuracy, high frequency vocabulary use, BELTA president Prof. Rubina Khan, EC and learner interest. Illustrations and member Mr. Ahmed Bashir and life photographs are then added, along with members Dr. Bijoy Lal Basu and Mr. Md. stimulating learning activities based on

3 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER Bloom’s revised taxonomy of cognitive BELTA Webinar Series-8 entitled, “New skills. This approach enables learners to Spaces in Language Education: challenges develop critical thinking skills while for theory and practice”, was organized by simultaneously building comprehension. the BELTA Professional Development New reading texts are being added regularly, Committee on March 27, 2021. It was as writers contribute these, and the quantity facilitated by Dr. Cecilia Silva, Associate of materials is growing steadily. Professor, Tohoku University, Japan. Dr. Silva shared her experience as a language educator during COVID-19 pandemic with an emphasis to her discovery of online teaching as a unique methodology. She claimed that success of such methodology not only depends on the content dissemination and the technological expertise of the teacher but the power positive attitude on the part of the teacher and independent learning on the part of the students are also required. She found the “Mediation tools and Students’ IT Learning Paradigms” (Kemmis et al, 1977) very helpful in her mediating teaching. She talked about four paradigms that she applied in her online language classroom: i) Instructional paradigm, ii) Revelatory paradigm, iii) Fig: One sample story lesson of the project Conjectural paradigm, and iv) Emancipatory If you are looking for free and interesting paradigm. She also shared the experience of English language reading materials that have her students’ intercultural telecollaboration a Bangladeshi focus, that can be and how successfully she has utilized downloaded for use with your learners, or if artifacts and cultural practices in her class. you would like to join our team of writers She also demonstrated some language and contribute your own stories, take a activities based on the stories of the moment to check out the website. You won’t renowned Bangladeshi writers, Tanvir Malik be disappointed. https://www.stories.belta- and Selina Hossain. The webinar was bd.org/ moderated by Dr. Rubina Khan, President, BELTA and reviewed by Dr. Shaila Sultana, Prof. Cherie Brown, of Akita International Convener, BELTA PD Committee, for 49 University, Japan, Is a member of THT( a special interest group within the Japan participants. Association for Language Teaching), and manages the “Stories About Ourselves” project. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Webinar Arranged by BELTA BELTA Webinar Series-8 Chittagong South Chapter

4 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER As a part of the celebration of Women members of the research cohort are BELTA Month, Md. Mohib Ullah, Chair, EC member Ahmed Bashir and life-time BELTA Chittagong South Chapter, hosted a members Dr. Bijoy Lal Basu and Md. Elias Webinar on "Role of Educators to Promote Uddin. This study investigated the G e n d e r E q u a l i t y a n d W o m e n perceptions of teachers and students of Empowerment" on April 5 at 7 pm. public universities, and examined their American Corner Chittagong and American views of online pedagogy, assessment and Corner Sylhet co-hosted the webinar.Ms. the major challenges faced. Initial insights Khadija Mohamud, ACAO, US Embassy highlight the need for supporting the Dhaka, Bangladesh delivered her opening disadvantaged students as well as training remarks in the webinar.Professor Dr. teachers to use appropriate tools and Lailufar Yasmin, Fulbright Scholar, techniques for teaching and assessing online. Bangladesh and Professor, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University Khan, R., Basu, B. L., Bashir, A., &Uddin, presented her keynote speech in the webinar. M. E. (2021). Online Instruction during Professor Dr. Shamshad Mortuza, Fulbright COVID-19 at Public Universities in Scholar, Bangladesh, and Pro-VC, ULAB Bangladesh: Teacher and Student attended the webinar as chief discussant.The Voices. Teaching English as a Second webinar was moderated by Ms. Reefat Language Electronic Journal (TESL-EJ), Munmun, Fulbright Scholar and Head, BLI, 25(1). https://tesl-ej.org/pdf/ej97/a19.pdf Independent University, Bangladesh.Finally, To read the article, please visit the the webinar ended with the vote of thanks link http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/. from Mr. Md. Mohib Ullah, Fulbright Scholar, Bangladesh and President, Global A third article in the COVID-19 education Aid for Sustainable Development (GASD). series has been published by the same research team in Volume 11, Number 1 Recent Publications by BELTANs (June 2021) of Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics. The title of the paper is ——————————————— “Transitioning to online education in English Departments in Bangladesh: Research on Online Education in Learner perspectives.” Bangladesh during COVID-19 A research article by a Dhaka University Bashir, A., Uddin, M. E., Basu, B. L. & English Department research team led by Khan, R. (2021). Transitioning to online BELTA President Dr. Rubina Khan has been education in English Departments in published in Volume 25, Number 1 (May B a n g l a d e s h : L e a r n e r 2021 Issue) of TESL-EJ (Teaching English perspectives. Indonesian Journal of Applied as a Second Language Electronic Linguistics, 11(1), 11-20. https:// Journal). This is the second of a series of ejournal.upi.edu/index.php/IJAL/article/ papers to be published based on a view/34614. https://doi.org/10.17509/ collaborative research project on online ijal.v11i1.34614 instruction at public universities in Bangladesh during COVID-19. The other

5 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER Recent Publication on Language become agents to challenge dominant Testing narratives, foster criticality, and develop a shared vision to facilitate a similar sense of Rahman, A., & Khan, R. (2021). English social justice and equity in learners. Language Testing Practices at the Secondary Level: A Case Study from Bangladesh. In Recent Article on "Grassroots Lanteigne, B., Coombe, C., & Brown, J. D. English and Bangladeshi Economic (Eds.) Issues in Language Testing Around Migration to the Middle East” the World: insights for language test users (pp 447- 464).Springer. Dr Qumrul Hasan Chowdhury (Department of English, ) has This research study investigates testing recently published a chapter with Professor practices of English at the secondary school Elizabeth J. Erling (University of Vienna) level in Bangladesh and how it impacts on titled ‘The value of grassroots English for test takers and on education in general. It Bangladeshi migrants to the Middle East’ in focuses on test specifications, test items, and the book World Englishes at the Grassroots, its alignment to curriculum objectives. The edited by Christiane Meierkord and Edgar insights drawn from the study discuss the W. Schneider and published by Edinburgh significance of the washback effect and the University Press, UK. impact of testing and the crucial need to develop assessment literacy among teachers, The chapter, based on a research in rural test-setters and scorers. Bangladesh, investigates the value of grassroots English for the Bangladeshi Research on Equity and Social migrant workers in the Middle East, and sheds light on several relevant Justice published methodological issues. It shows that English Rahman, A. (Nov 2020). Promoting Social has some functional values for the Justice in ELT. In Anshori, D. S., Bangladeshi migrant workers, but structural Purnawarnan, P., Gunawan, W., &Wirza, Y. complexities and global inequality (Eds.) Language, Education, and Policy for considerably condition those values. It gives the Changing Society: Contemporary direction that ‘a critical and holistic Research and Practices (pp 486-501). UPI a p p r o a c h i n f o r m e d b y i n d i v i d u a l Press: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. biographies of migrant workers and structural and contextual factors of This paper presents a rationale for ELT migration’ (p. 182) can benefit future educators for promoting equity and social scholarship in this area. justice in a changing world where shifting roles and responsibilities of the education The chapter can be accessed at: https:// workforce is becoming a crucial issue. edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-world- Based on an increasing interest in englishes-at-the-grassroots.html intercultural understanding, cooperation and reconciliation, the writer investigates pathways through which ELT actors may

6 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER Publication of On Language in Leap Rahman. It contains reviewed chapters, year[অিধবর্ষভাষাভাবনা] (2020) selected from the conference held at IML, DU on 28-29 February, 2020. The book is It is our pleasure to inform you all that the distributed by Pankowri Prokashon. b o o k t i t l e d On Language in Publication of Challenges in Leapyear[অিধবর্ষভাষাভাবনা] (2020), a Academic Writing: A Pragmatic bilingual collection of chapters related to Study language education is published from the Institute of Modern Languages, University BELTA Publications Secretary Ms. Rabeya of Dhaka(IML, DU) in December, 2020. Binte Habib has co-authored a book titled The book is edited by Shishir Bhattacharja, Challenges in Academic Writing: A and Mian Md. Naushaad Kabir, the Vice Pragmatic Study with Professor Dr Jaya President of BELTA.The book includes Karthikeyan from Vellore Institute of contributions from both renowned and Technology, India. The book has been promising scholars from diverse fields, published by Royal Book Publishing, India. showing keen interest in language education The objective of this book was to identify in Bangladesh. common mistakes made by 250 scholars and 300 teachers, who are non-native English users and currently affiliated to a technical institution, while writing research papers, research proposals and research articles as a part of academic research.

It includes write-ups by nationally and internationally acclaimed academicians like A thorough analysis of the collected data A n u M u h a m m a d ( J a h a n g i r n a g a r revealed that these teachers and scholars are University), Probal Dasgupta (Indian in need of rigorous training in functional Statistical Institute, Kolkata), and English with emphasis on subject-verb Maniruzzaman (University of Chittagong). agreement, tenses, punctuation, singular- It also includes write ups from several plural, sentence structure and vocabulary. BELTA life members like AMM Hamidur The study was conducted by Full Time Rahman, Iffat Ara Nasreen Majid, Shaila Research Scholars of VIT, Vellore, under Sultana (EC member), and Sayeedur the joint supervision and guidance of

7 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER Dr.J.Karthikeyan and Assistant Professor “Stories About Ourselves”, a collaborative Rabeya Binte Habib, Daffodil International p r o j e c t b y B E LTA a n d T H T. M y University. The findings of individual presentation was appreciated for my creation scholars are published as chapters in this of the Moodle repository of the course in book which make this book as a major DIUBLC, my creative writings, my rapport resource for researches in academic and with my students and my story telling research writing. ability.

The South Asian Regional Online Rubina Khan @ ELTAi, KOTESOL Conference &TESOL Representing Bangladesh in The South Dr. Rubina Khan, President, BELTA, was Asian Regional Online Conference on invited by English language Teachers “Critical Thinking in English Language Association India (ELTAi) to deliver a talk Teaching” held from the 20th to 25th onan International Webinar on English February, 2021, was a unique experience for Language Teaching: The Asian Perspective me as an English language teacher. The most on 2nd May 2021. Dr. Khan delivered a talk attractive part of this conference was the on “Moving Activities On line: the case of opportunity to work under the direct BELTA”. Dr. Khan talked about the supervision of Bruce Rubin, a renowned challenges which BELTA faced initially and ELT Specialist of the U.S. Department of how BELTA overcame these challenges to State. My presentation entitled, “Culture- begin its online monthly meetings and made Based Graded Reading Material in strategic plans for continuing its trajectory Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills in an of professional development activities. Dr. Online Classroom” held on 23rd February, Khan also provided a short report on the was attended by more than 750 participants activities BELTA Central and some of the in the zoom platform and around 240 regional chapters, particularly Chittagong participants in the Facebook live. South had carried out during the pandemic. Among may activities she heightened BELTA’s role in community services, (collecting donations, funds for the poor and the needy) online professional development events including series of webinars, panel discussions, expanded research activities and launching of Technology SIG amongst others. She also highlighted the two events which had a positive impact during these uncertain times. First, the two day long I demonstrated a number of critical thinking Teacher Helping Teachers (THT) virtual activities performed by my students in an seminar during 30-31st October 2020 and online EFL classroom in response to the second, the BELTA 9th BELTA International fiction, nonfiction and poetry published in Virtual conference (6th March 2021).

8 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER Dr. Khan also attended the 28th Korea International University, and MsMarwa TESOL International Conference (February Mohammad Masood, United International 1 9 - 2 8 , 2 0 2 1 ) & t h e University. TESOL 2021 International Convention & English Language Expo from 24-27 Rationale of the SIG: We would like to March 2021. She was also invited by the establish a body that will focus on practice Speak Initiative project organized by Youth and research relating to critical, and Exchange Students (YES) Alumni (30th sustainable use of technology, particularly May, 2021), to deliver a talk on motivating for the context of Bangladesh. undergraduate indigenous students of Dhaka University for enhancing speaking activities. BELTA-SIG Reports

BELTA Learning Technology Special Interest Group (SIG)

BELTA launched a new SIG on Technology, “Learning Technology SIG” on 27 March Aims of the SIG: 2021. The SIG was inaugurated by BELTA To develop an understanding of educational President, Professor Dr Rubina Khan in a technology use in relation to the context and virtual event which was attended by 49 culture of Bangladesh participants from home and abroad. The • To develop a critical perspective of audience included among others BELTA technology use for learning Adviser, Immediate Past President, Office • To develop an understanding of Bearers, Executive Committee Members, appropriate pedagogical use of Tech SIG committee members, general technology for learning members, and Dr Cecilia Silva. The opening • To develop an understanding of of the SIG was followed by a webinar on sustainable use of technology for the “New Spaces in Language Education: context of Bangladesh challenges for theory and practice” by Dr • To create awareness amongst policy Cecilia Silva, Associate Professor, Tohoku makers/administrators/HODs/ University, Japan. Principals to support teachers with SIG Advisor: Dr Rubina Khan, President, the use of technology as a learning BELTA. tool. Core Committee Members: Mr Ahmed • To provide training sessions on use Bashir, Dhaka University (Coordinator), and research of learning technologies DrTaslimaIrine Ivy, University of (for teachers/advanced level students Manchester, UK (Co-coordinator), (MA). MsAdibaMurtaza, Southeast University, • To invite experts in the field to share MsRumanaRafique, Dhaka University, i d e a s / r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s o n MsRabeyaBinteHabib, Daffodil technology use for learning

9 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER • To establish collaborative projects Mymensingh: Abdul karim, Dipa Adhikari with teachers to understand their & Jeni Evana needs and address these. Dhaka: Sultana Nasrin Chowdhury, Ferdoushi Rahman & Rumi Ahmed BELTA Research SIG Dhaka: Shamsi Ara Huda, Golam Kader Zilany, Kushal Das, Nanda Kumar Das BELTA research SIG has been very active Bipul since the beginning of the pandemic (May 2020) and members (Rubina Khan, Zulfeqar Haider, Shaila Sultana, Naushaad Kabir, Successful Completion of the Moninoor Roshid, Naushaad Kabir, and Fieldwork of Hornby Trust TA Akhter Jahan) of this SIG have been Project working on a research project related to A BELTA team led by Ms Rabeya Binte education at private universities during Habib under the guidance of BELTA COVID-19. Their work is in progress and Advisor, President, Immediate Past covers varied dimensions such as exploring President and a Hornby Alumni, has the issues of access, equity, quality, completed the fieldwork of Hornby Trust TA wellbeing, assessment, and crises and Project 2019-2021 (extended due to opportunities at private universities during COVID) titled ‘Connecting Underprivileged the pandemic. Children and Tertiary Students through Cross Age Teaching: A Hand-in-hand in ELT The research SIG has also expanded its Approach’. The team consisted of four final outreach program and currently, eight year undergraduate students of Daffodil BELTA cohorts from Mymensingh, International University who taught several Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Pabna, and English lessons to the underprivileged D h a k a a r e e n g a g e d i n v a r i o u s children of RMG workers at Ashraf Textile research projects. Critical thinking skills, Mills School before pandemic and the street teacher preparation, digital transformation, children at Kamplapur Railway station EFT textbooks are some of the topics among during COVID-19 facilitated by a voluntary others to be covered by the research groups. association named Light of Hope. These teams will be mentored by BELTA senior researchers. The research team members include:

Pabna:Farjana Anwar,Yesmen Sultana & Hafizul Islam Chattogram: Mohib Ullah Chattogram: Muhammed Rukan Uddin & Shanta Rani Biswas Sylhet:Emdadul Haque, Rajon Mahmud &Mahfuza Ahmed Fig: A student writing his name on board Rajshahi: Akhteruzzaman & Mustafizur Rahman The team incorporated the hygiene and safety measures of WHO providing masks

10 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER and sanitiser to the street children before and 268, East Kazipara, PO – Mirpur, PS – while teaching, although the lack of Kafrul, Dhaka – 1216 awareness was observed throughout. These Phone Number: +8801723388297 children were taught English alphabets, Email:[email protected] vocabulary and stories with moral lessons 3. Dr. Monalisa Khan aiming social inclusion, peace and justice. Affiliation: Eden Mohila College, Dhaka Designation: Lecturer Nominations from BELTA for Phone Number: 01764126500 TESOL Convention 2021 Email: [email protected] Secondary level ( School) 4. Anwarul Karim 1. Mohammad Jahidul Islam Senior Lecturer in English Assistant Teacher in English NarayanhatAdarsha Degree College Chattogram Cantonment Public School Fatikchhari, Chattogram. College & Life Member, BELTA Chittagong South. Phone Number: 01714345567 Phone Number: 01716461096 [email protected] Email:[email protected] 2. Mohammad Siraj Hyder Chowdhury Tertiary Level (University) Senior. English Teacher 1. Name: Mohammod Moninoor Roshid KAFCO School & College Affiliation: Institute of Education and Anowara, Chattogram. Research, University of Dhaka, Phone: +88 01711 199771 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mobile number: +8801716182922 3. Sultana Nasrin Chowdhury BELTA Membership Number: 254 Position: Faculty 2. Name: Akhter Jahan Affiliation: The Aga Khan School, Dhaka Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department Phone Number: 01919567238 of English, East West University Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Cell: 01919567238 Cell: 0088-01752687017 BELTA: Life member BELTA Membership N0: 462 Higher Secondary level (College) 1.Surayia Mostafa Teaching Essential Word Structures Designation: Lecturer, English Institution: Adamjee Cantonment College A language facilitator must familiarize the Email: [email protected] learners with the way the words are built. Phone Number: 01621655899 This not only will assist them to pronounce Address: House-93. Katlapur, Savar-1340, and spell better but also will enhance their Dhaka critical thinking abilities. In English BELTA Membership: 3070 language, there exist two such basic 2.Muhammad Mustafa Hossain (Nadim) structures. In the first one, adding (BELTA - 1318) mechanisms take place. For example, a new Lecturer, English word is formed by adding two existing Mohammadpur Preparatory School & words, e.g. bitter + sweet = bitter-sweet, etc. College or by adding grammatical particles with an

11 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER existing word, e.g. take + -ing = taking, etc. Afzal Mahmud Hussain, This can often change the parts of speech. In Founder: Concept Institution Zeetarro; the second one, words can have additional E-mail: [email protected] mechanisms such as change of one or two sound(s), e.g. thief-> thieves, etc. or Report on the activities of BELTA repetitions, e.g. yum-yum, etc. or short Chittagong South Chapter forms, e.g. gymnasium -> gym, etc. Words c a n s h o w b o t h t h e m e c h a n i s m s BELTA Chittagong South has created five simultaneously. If the learners can analyze research groups to conduct research in this words followed by these basic mechanisms, region. Four research groups will conduct they might be able to grasp new words research at the Primary, Secondary, Higher quickly. Secondary, Tertiary Levels and one group in TanziaSiddiqua, Madrashah. A supervisory committee Senior Lecturer, ULAB, Dhaka consisting senior faculties from public and [email protected] private universities has been formed to guide the research group. Critical Thinking in ESL Teaching Being nominated by BELTA and Global Aid Too often, critical thinking is confused for for Sustainable Development (GASD), application-based learning or as a tool to seven life members from BELTA Chittagong critic or question authority. The reality is, it South have attended the Virtual TESOL empowers teachers to tailor curriculums that International Conference 2021. Two of these meet the learners’ needs. In order to teachers got nominated from BELTA and incorporate critical thinking, firstly, the five others from GASD. students must identify and communicate Mr. Md. Mohib Ullah, Chair, BELTA their purpose for learning, which could Chittagong South Chapter supported and range from wanting to speak fluently to guided the RELO nominated TESOL 2021 getting a targeted grade. This will establish International Virtual Conference participants the intent as well as give the teacher the from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal by foundation to tailor the curriculum. creating a WhatsApp group. Secondly, the student must be presented with expected outcomes based on prior Recommended by GASD, eight life assessments or progressive growths. This is members from BELTA have got final to provide a realistic road map for the selection to complete the prestigious OPEN student without them feeling overwhelmed Scholarship courses sponsored by US or having to feel inadequate when Department of State, USA in the first cohort comparing to others around them. Lastly, a of 2021 thorough and judgement-free discussion can be held concerning the student’s academic Md. Mohib Ullah hosted a briefing session and social motivators. This is vital to ensure on April 11, 2021 for the OPEN Scholarship long-term engagement and information holders where Mr. Shaon Karmokar, retention. Coordinator, English Language Programs attended the session.

12 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER BELTA- in Pictures

PRELIM Project BELTA celebrating International Women’s Day, March8th, 2021

BELTA International Conference (Virtual)

Workshop on Abstract Writing Tips

BELTA Webinar Series-8

Workshop on Essentials of Proposal Writing!

13 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER Editorial Board: newsletter aimed primarily at members of BELTA. Rabeya Binte Habib (Publications Secretary)

Dr Mian Md. Naushaad Kabir (Vice Send your contributions to the BELTA President) Newsletter. Your write-ups on any ELT events, your experiences related to teaching Ahmed Bashir (Executive Member) or any tips on teaching are welcome. Please send them as a word file probably within Ferdoushi Rahman (Joint Treasurer) 350 words, font size 12 in Times New Roman. We accept contributions all year round.

BELTA is a non-profit professional forum of WHERE TO SEND COPY ELT practitioners connected to the teaching of English in Bangladesh Reg. No. S979/48 Copy and further questions should be of 1984-1985 under the Societies directed to the editorial board at info@belta- Registration Act of 1860 issued by the bd.org keeping at least one or all members Registrar of joint Stock Companies on February 13, 1985 of Newsletter Editorial Board at CC.

Enquiries:[email protected] Rabeya Binte Habib Website: www.belta-bd.org [email protected]

Dr Mian Md. Naushaad Kabir

BELTA NEWSLETTER [email protected] Notes for Contributors Contributions are welcome for BELTA Ahmed Bashir Newsletter [email protected]

Ferdoushi Rahman GENERAL INFORMATION [email protected] BELTA Newsletter is aimed at practicing classroom teachers, administrators and managers. It is not a refereed journal, but a

14 Page Issue 30 BELTA NEWSLETTER