GUST Organizes English Language and Literature Workshops
• Three internationally renowned academics from the UK and Canada lead workshops
• Event showcases the advantages of being bilingual/multilingual in today’s global culture and economy
• Renowned Kuwaiti writer Saud Al-Sanousi was in attendance as guest of honor
• Workshops and seminars sponsored by KFAS
Kuwait City – 19 April 2016: Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) launched its three day Annual GUST English Language and Literature (GELL) program, sponsored by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS). Carrying the theme “Language at the Crossroads of Bilingualism, Translation, and Culture”, the workshops are taking place on GUST’s campus led by internationally renowned academics Professor Michelle Hartman, Professor Jason Rothman, and Alice Guthrie. The event aims to provide GUST students, staff, and faculty greater exposure to global influences, new academic trends, and major developments in the industry, which will allow them to stay current and ahead of their peers.
GUST President, Professor Donald Bates, said, “GUST continuously supports events that provide knowledge and skill to our staff, faculty, students, and community. It is important for an institution like ours to be up-to-date with the latest developments in order to remain current and competitive to bring about Kuwait’s future generation.”
The first two days of the conference will consist of workshops and seminars by Professor Michelle Hartman of McGill University, Canada, and Ms. Alice Guthrie, Translator in Residence at London’s Free Word Centre in the UK. The last day will be dedicated to Professor Jason Rothman of Reading University, UK. Attendees will gain intensive theoretical knowledge about the most recent developments in the techniques, as well as ethical and cultural considerations in the field of translation. They will also learn the advantages of multilingualism. The workshops will give participants the opportunity to implement theories in a practical way. More importantly, participants will have the chance to experience how native English speakers approach the Arabic language and literature for translation, and the advantages of being bilingual or multilingual in today’s global culture and economy.
The panel will also dedicate time to talk about the work of renowned Kuwaiti novelist, Saud Al-Sanousi, known for his most recent novel “The Bamboo Stalk”, who was also in attendance.
GELL Committee Chair, Dr. Ikram El-Sherif, said, “This event provides a venue for researchers and practitioners to gather and share research, and with this year’s theme we are focusing on bilingualism, translation and culture. In today’s global world, bilingualism is seen as an asset to those who seek to become global citizens. Translating and interpreting are now not only desirable, but vital skills in an ever-expanding world where opportunities are limited and boundaries dissolve”.
GELL workshops and seminars aim to contribute to the enhancement of the university’s academic environment, along with the development of its faculty, staff, students and the community as a whole. The event is free for the GUST community, but for external participants, a registration fee of KD20 per workshop applies. Each participant will receive a certificate upon the completion of any workshop.
