School of Education

Jessica Saba

Postgraduate Researcher
School of Education

About me:

My educational background includes a BA in English Language and Literature and an MA in English Language Teaching. I am pursuing my EdD in TESOL (Dubai) from the University of Exeter. I currently work as a senior lecturer of English at the University of Balamand Dubai (UOBD). Prior to joining to UOBD, I taught English at the American University in Dubai for two years. Before moving to Dubai, I taught English as a second language in leading schools and universities in Lebanon. All in all, I have been teaching English as a second language to various levels (intensive, basic, intermediate, and advanced) for more than seven years.


Research Unit:
University of Balamand Dubai
Professional/research experience:

January 2010 to present

2018- Present: Senior Lecturer of English, University of Balamand Dubai

ENGL 100, ENGL 101, ENGL 102, ENGL 203

2016- 2018: Instructor in English, American University in Dubai, UAE

IELP 096 (Spring 2017, Summer 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018)

Teaching students to:

  • write basic sentences;
  • improve vocabulary and spelling skills;
  • enhance academic reading skills;
  • produce in-class writings from forming meaningful sentences to writing well-structured paragraphs.

IELP 098 (Fall 2016)

Teaching students to:

  • produce an academic essay and learn different types of essays;
  • deliver a speech;
  • critically read and analyze long passages;
  • listen to long conversations and recognize and separate main ideas from details.

2015- 2016: English Instructor, Lebanese American University, Lebanon English 009 and English 101 (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

Teaching students how to:

  • write different types of well-structured essays: comparison-contrast; cause-effect; process analysis; illustration; and classification;
  • practice summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting;
  • write guided responses to readings;
  • analyze short stories and answer questions critically;
  • document sources using APA;
  • write documented essays;
  • give engaging oral presentations;
  • revise and edit organization and sentence level errors.

2012- 2016: English Instructor, University of Balamand, Lebanon

English Communication Skills Three (ENGL 203), Two (English 102), and One (ENGL 101) (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

Teaching students to:

  • critically analyze texts;
  • correctly quote, paraphrase, and cite sources;
  • research topics using library databases and internet sources;
  • write well-structured academic, narrative, persuasive, and argumentative essays;
  • give engaging oral presentations, in addition to taking part in public debates;
  • revise and edit organization and sentence level errors.

Intensive English (ENGL 001, 002, 003)
Teaching students how to:

  • write, revise and edit academic essays and differentiate between different types of writing;
  • use academic vocabulary appropriate to topics and level;
  • paraphrase, write summaries and responses, and identify sources used;
  • skim, scan, and close-read various types of academic texts and write summaries and responses;
  • give presentations (individually and/or in groups);
  • use listening skills to respond to lectures and dialogues occurring in a variety of contexts;

I have also provided guidance and training to newly assigned English instructors at UOB.

2014- 2015: English and SAT Teacher- Grades 9 and 10 - Bishmizzine High School

  • Teaching English language and literature to grades 9 and 10 with focus on all language skills, developing lesson plans, and designing exams
  • Teaching grade 9 SAT

2011-2013: English Teacher- Grades 4, 5, and 6 - Lady of Balamand High School

  • Teaching English language and literature to grades 4, 5, and 6 with focus on all language skills, developing lesson plans, and designing exams

2010-2011: Special Needs Teacher, International School Al- Koura

  • Teaching students with autism and down syndrome: reinforcing the lessons taught in the regular class


Education:

January 2007 January 9999

2017- Present Doctorate Candidate of Education in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), University of Exeter, United Kingdom

2010- 2012 MA English Language Teaching, University of Balamand, Lebanon Thesis (with distinction): Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions of Integrating Interactive Whiteboards into ESL Classrooms in Lebanon

2007- 2010 BA English Language and Literature, University of Balamand, Lebanon

Dean’s Honor List


Professional Development:

0000-00-00

Conferences/Symposiums-

  • Presenter: The Center for English Proficiency: English Language Teaching with an Academic Focus at the Applied Linguistics & Language Teaching International Conference and Exhibition- Zayed University Convention Centre (March 2018)
  • Advancing the ELT Profession- 23rd TESOL Arabia International Conference and Exhibition-

The Ritz Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE (March 2017)

  • Teaching Summit: Learning with Technology, American University in Dubai (August 2017)
  • Faculty Professional Development Conference: Enhancing and Measuring Student Performance, Focus on Writing and Language Proficiency (August 2016).
  • How to use interactive whiteboards in language classes- USL Lebanon
  • Importance of cooperative learning in English language classrooms- UOB Lebanon
  • How to develop and implement interactive lesson plans in the ESL classroom- UOB Lebanon
  • Importance of extensive reading- UOB Lebanon
  • How to use literature in the ESL classroom- UOB Lebanon
  • Using technology and blogs in the ESL classroom- UOB Lebanon
  • How to manage a classroom- UOB Lebanon

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