ALIS Newsletter - August 2013 (Plain Text Version)
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MEET RUBA BATAINEH
Dr. Ruba Bataineh is currently a professor in the Department of English at Prince Sultan University (PSU), Riyadh, KSA, on leave from Yarmouk University (Irbid, Jordan). Prof. Bataineh is also the director of Prince Salman Research and Translation Center at PSU. Her research interests include sociolinguistics, pragmatics, literacy, CALL, and teacher education. Prof. Bataineh has published extensively in renowned international and regional journals, such as the Journal of Pragmatics, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, Journal of Research in Childhood Education, International Journal of Educational Developments Using Information and Communication Technology, Intercultural Communication, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies, Jordan Journal of Educational Sciences, and Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences. She is also a cofounder and the former vice president of the Riyadh Chapter of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Association of Language Teachers (KSAALT). She is a member of the international advisory board of Lublin Studies in Modern Languages and Literature and a member of the editorial and review boards for several international and regional journals, such as the Jordan Journal of Educational Sciences, Journal of Pragmatics and International Journal of Applied Linguistics. She is also the winner of PSU’s Best Researcher Award (2009/2010). Back in the mid 1980s, Prof. Bataineh was the top of her graduating class, which won her postgraduate scholarships to the prestigious Columbia University (TESOL, class of ‘88) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (SLATE, class of ‘93). As a teacher educator, Prof. Bataineh strives to create an environment that is both conducive to learning and empowering to students, one in which they are challenged to optimize their inborn potential. Forced memorization and busy work do not cultivate students’ desire to learn, but allowing them, as respected individuals, an active role in their own learning grows them into compassionate and socially adept individuals, change agents in an ever-evolving profession. More often than not, she is “more a guide on the side” than a “sage on the stage.” She strives to exhibit professionalism in her classroom by being consistent in instructional methods, grading, and classroom routine. She sees consistency, equity, and openness, not to mention respect and availability, as vital in maintaining a healthy relationship with students. She believes that students have similar styles but that, like fingerprints, no two are identical. She also believes that students should be taught more than academics and that well-roundedness and life-long education (vs. learning for tests) should be educators’ top priority. Apart from being often hailed as the leading applied linguist in the region, Prof. Bataineh is an avid writer, translator, and editor. With three dozen articles and several books under her belt, she now plans to publish her very first book of stories for children. Away from academia, she enjoys cooking, baking, and gardening. She believes that how one carries oneself determines how one is treated. Her mantra is “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” For publications (and abstracts), and contact and other information, visit Prof. Bataineh’s webpage athttp://faculty.yu.edu.jo/rubab. |
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