Advice and support: Dr. Iman El Nabawi Editor- in-Chief: Ms. Sameena Banu Sup Editor: Dr. Olfa Gandouz Media Coordinator: Ms. Sarah Al Ghanem Creative director: Ms. Sameena Banu Special inputs: Ms. Hanan Al Shehab Graphic and designing: Azhar AL Zhrani
CONTENT:
REPORTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Book club report Conversation club report Graduation Projects Committee report Writing Studio report Community Service Committee report Quality Assurance and development committee report Alumni Committee report
3 5 8 9 11 12 14
GENERAL 8. First prize Winner 9. Harvard University 10. Quarantine and Mental Health – a Lockdown dairy
16 17 19
LINGUISTICS 11. Linguistic Profile of Saudi Arabia
21
LITERATURE 12.Celebrating 400 Years of Shakespeare 13. What to hold 14. Realization: In the Pandemics 15. Nature 16. COVID -19: Pandemic or Detoxic?
23 26 27 28 29
Message by Vice Head of the Department of English (Female Section)
Greetings to all, cordially, my dear respected colleagues and beloved students, I invite you to the 3rd volume of the Department of English Language and Literature magazine- Female Section, 2021. The magazine is a collection of articles, papers, and activities written, compiled, and accomplished by the department staff members and students. The Covid- 19 Pandemic did not hamper the willingness of the staff members and students to share and express their ideas and thoughts. It was a real crisis that struck all humanity; however, we displayed great insistence, and persistence to continue till the last breath. According to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) “if resurrection takes place and one of you have a stalk, let him plant it.” Now, we plant as ordered, and we do reap as promised. With this continuous enthusiasm, the staff and students will move forward to reach the stars. Finally, I thank and congratulate everyone who participated and took part in the publication. As I browse through the magazine, I see the excellent work of perseverance, art and beauty unfolding in front of me. Dr. Iman El Nabawi
1 Newsletter volume_3
Editorial Note Once again, I am here to present you with Newsletter Volume 3. when I returned to my office in college recently to pick up a few things, having not been there (It’s almost a year this march) since the lockdown a big shift from classroom to computers, the campus went silent, empty classrooms and the absence of my colleagues. Oh! As if I am walking in a dream. Wallahi, I miss the college, the students, and my colleagues very much. I have never witnessed a moment in my life where hope was more needed than it is right now, right here! Students and faculty continued to push through this difficult year guided by care, endurance, patience, solidarity, optimism, and the spirit of humanity. One year since COVID-19 first impacted the world all over, with the hope of possibility and promise I’m very delighted to present you with Volume 3, a culmination of the hard work of our staff and students. Efficient, hard-working, dedicated, smart, sincere, strong, eager to change the world, ever ready to overcome any difficulty to pursue and achieve their goals, these few words describe the staff and students of the Department of English you will meet in the pages of this issue. The staff and students worked with determination and zeal. “Anto kafu” (Arabic expression for appreciation). Cover page with a flower, both hands carefully wrapping around it illustrates that life is precious we need to save it and the bud personifies hope for better days ahead. You will find spirited enthusiasm to overcome difficulties in “Quarantine and mental health- a lockdown diary” by our very talented student Al Jowhara Qahtani. In “Realization: In a pandemic”, Dr. Ansa makes us sit back and ponder. “What to hold” by Dr. Ismath motivates you to be hopeful. Dr.Shifan spreads positivity through “Pandemic or Detoxic”. Dr.Warda comes up with an informative article about the history of the famous “Harvard University”. In “Celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare” I bring you the most famous quotes by the wise Bard. " Nature" a poem by Sara Al Aydi, level 1 student is a breath of fresh air symbolizing the color, hope, and music of nature. Rahaf Fahad Aljaidi’s “Linguistic profile of Saudi Arabia” is an interesting sociolinguistic detail of the Arabic language. Last, but not least you will also find reports of the activities organized by the committees and clubs of the department conducted during these testing times enduring the pressure and stress shows resilience, which the department of English stands for. “Writing Studio” was started by our vice head Dr. Eman El Nabawi and the writing studio committee is an honest initiative to promote better academic and creative writing among the students. Taking a step forward towards achieving goal, the writing studio conducted an essay writing competition, you will find the winning essay in this volume. “Research Seminar Series” started by the vice head and Dr. Maha Al Atawi under the faculty development program facilitates members of the staff to share and learn from each other’s rich experiences. How to be kind, reassuring, and maintaining a great sense of humor in these difficult circumstances throughout the year is really a delicate balancing act mastered by our vice head Dr. Eman. She stands for all the above mentioned characteristics, calmly and reassuringly offering the staff and the students moral support, instilling a sense of duty, and providing important pieces of information. These are instances that characterize good, adaptive leadership. I would like to thank vice dean Dr. Nawal Al Faheed and vice head Dr. Eman El Nabawi for encouraging me to revive the magazine publication. I would also like to thank all the members of the staff and students who contributed immensely to shaping the present volume. Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy this issue. I hope you find ways to stay connected to the department of English PSAU, a department that is committed to building better days ahead for our students of today and tomorrow. “If Winter comes, can spring be far behind?” as P.B. Shelly says in “Ode to the West Wind”, may you find ways to keep your hope and optimism alive in these trying times. Signing off with one of my favourite lines quoting Robert Frost:
But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
Ms. Sameena Banu 2 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT
3 News letter volume_3
Book Club
REPORT
The final meeting was on 25th March, which was in collaboration with the Theatre Club under the guidance of Dr.Maha Alatawi and Dr.Olfa Gandouz. The students who participated were Asmaa Omer Alharthi, Jawahar Saeed Qahtani and Felwah Ali Dossari, they discussed about the significance of Shakespeare, Female characters in Shakespeare’s plays, the different themes of his plays and his use of fools. The one and half month-long meetings and readings were drawn to a close with the hopes for a brighter semester, and suggestions for the next terms reading book list.
4 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT
Conversation Club Registrations for the second semester of Conversation Club, PSAU 2021 started on the 1st of Feb through the WhatsApp link https://chat.whatsapp.com/LmGGBrMo5hFADJLbBhWtqN and Twitter Account link https://twitter.com/psau_club/status/1224978369370054656?s=24 was used to post the messages and information related to the club. There was a tremendous response from the students to join the club. A meeting was called to discuss the plans of the club for the ensuing semester. The members of the club decided to focus on Cancer Awareness among the students and the staff to help the affected individual to fight it and the second activity was, to invite an international Visually challenged artist Ms. Noura Al Hammoud for a Motivational talk.
5 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT Cancer Awareness Program: On the 18th of Febrauary’2021 Conversation Club in collaboration with the Community Development Committee organized a cancer Awareness Workshop. The workshop presented by a group of students initiated by Amjad Al Subaie. The event was hosted by Fay Dagfaq. Students presented talks highlighting the cause and preventive measures to be followed. They also spoke about different types of cancer, its danger, and about healthy food to protect us from various diseases. PSAU Staff and Student Community express their support through their messages under the headline “We can; I Can: aiming to encourage and motivate cancer-affected students and other patients. They also presented a video based on the comments received from the staff and the students of various departments of the university. Another video about the cancer fighters was shown to the participants causing their emotional strings to vibrate and they were visibly moved listening to the stories of their struggle to survive. The attendees saluted the cancer fighters for their exemplary courage and for their spirit of never giving up. The aim of the club was to send a strong message across the different strata of society that there is nothing to panic about cancer, it can be cured, can live a healthy and normal life. The club also aimed at instilling courage especially among the students affected by cancer and getting them back to normal life. The workshop was attended by the Dept Vice Head Dr. Eman Nabawi and members of the staff and students. Dr. Eman thanked the students for their hard work, encouraging messages, and appreciated their fighting spirit. The host thanked the staff, participants, and all the attendees for their overwhelming response by participating and attending the event in large numbers to support the cause. The program was supported by Dr. Hanan Johani.
6 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT
Love the moon
Motivational Talk: A story of exceptional courage and talent- Noura Hammoud- "Painter of "darkness Conversation club was pleased to invite an exceptionally talented, visually challenged artist, nicknamed "painter of darkness" Ms. Noura Hammoud to share her experience, ideas, and the story of her courage to stand against all odds carving a niche in the field of painting. The evening started off with Noura Al Dossary introducing the guest speaker, giving details of her life, national and international events she attended. Paintings by Noura Hammoud were also displayed. Fay Dagfaq, the host steered the event professionally through the evening. Students were excited and awe-struck listening to Noura’s story. Curious to know more about her, students took an active part in asking questions in the interactive session and the guest speaker Ms. Noura Hammoud cheerfully and patiently answered them all, satisfying the curiosity of the students. The event was attended by Dr. Eman the vice head of the department. She praised Noura for displaying exemplary courage and for her positive attitude. She also expressed special thanks to the guest speaker for taking out her valuable time to speak to the students. All the members of the staff and students of various departments attended the event. The evening came to an end with a vote of thanks. It was really an emotional and memorable evening for all. Special thanks to Dr. Haroon for giving an opportunity to organize the event and loads of thanks and appreciation to Dr. Maha AlAtawi and Dr. Eman for their support and encouragement. Organizer of the event was Ms. Sameena Banu. https://twitter.com/englishpsau/status/13733913132326 13376?s=21
7 Newsletter volume_3
Graduation Projects Committee
REPORT
On Thursday 3/18/2021 - at 5:00 pm –a lecture entitled “Methods and Mechanisms for writing a Research Proposal” was held at the Department of English Language - College of Science and Humanities (Female Section) The lecture was organized by the Graduation Projects Committee and presented by Dr. Iman El-Nabawi Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics. It dealt with the following themes: 1- The importance of scientific research, 2- Steps for writing a research proposal, 3- Scientific websites to use in writing a research proposal, 4- Methods of documenting scientific research, and 5- The ethics of writing a research. The main purpose of the lecture was to guide the students to develop their research aptitude and help them to organize their research work to the best of their ability.
8 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT
Writing Studio was set up to encourage students of the Department of English to develop their Writing skills while exploring the creativity in them. The Studio was introduced in the Department under the leadership of vice –head, Dr.Iman El –Nabawi on February 8th 2021 and received accolades both from faculty and the student community. The Studio is managed by three- member committee: Dr.Shifan Thaha , Dr.Ismat Jabeen and Ms .Saja Albaraik . At present it has 38 members enrolled. The program is purely writer –centered. It is strictly designed based on the Needs Analysis Questionnaire. The Remedy program aims to attend to the specific needs of the learners. The tasks are tailored to provide remedial measures related to improving Writing Skills.
Announce a variety of tasks at the beginning of the week. Facilitator gives a brief outline.
Design tasks based on needs analysis. Encourage writers to pursue their talent. Encourage writers to express their ideas freely. Provide a platform to the writers to showcase their talent. Encourage writers to use their imagination. Provide ample opportunities to improve spellings, organization, vocabulary and punctuation. Provide feedback with scope for improvement. Provide a variety of tasks to choose from. Guide writers to maintain a balance between skills and talent. Assign tasks to think outside the box.
9 Newsletter volume_3
Facilitator and writers communicate through WhatsApp and Email. Writer submits the work within the week. Before declaring the next set of tasks, feedback is provided to the writers. Facilitator and Writers can have one to one interaction and guidance if required.
REPORT BLUE PRINT: In order to make the program beneficial, weekly workshops are conducted by one member of the committee based on the requirements of the students.
Writing Studio has also successfully conducted an Essay writing competition on the topic: ‘Learning English during COVID-19 Era’. The response was impressive. Ms. Sameena Banu took the initiate and Writing Studio selected the three best entries to be declared as the winners.
10 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT
Community Service Committee 'Real and Virtual Worlds: Creating a Balance’: Dr. Ismat Jabeen and Dr. Ansa Hameed along with the dedicated members of the Community Service Committee organized an interactive session for the students, titled ‘Real and Virtual Worlds: Creating a Balance’on11th March 2021 from 6:00-7:00pm. The session was attended by more than 55 students and faculty members. The session aimed at making the participants aware of the two parallel worlds existing side by side, but one seemingly overpowering the other. Also, it was highlighted that unchecked overindulgence in the virtual world for a longer period of time can cause many physical, psychological, and social problems for us all. As the topic was well-grounded in the current times, the participants took a keen interest in the session and discussed and shared their own concerns and experiences realizing the importance maintaining the balance between the two worlds. The session was concluding with a word of advice for the students by the respectable faculty members.
11 News letter volume_3
REPORT
Quality Assurance and development committee Department of English The Quality Assurance Committee in the Department of English Language and Literature, female section conducted number of activities during the Academic year 1441-1442 in the College of Science and Humanities, PSAU, Al-Kharj. The activities were organized to enhance the learning and teaching processes positively. - Students’ orientation meetings Terms 1 & 2 Well-organized programs were prepared for first-level students online. Dr. Maha AlAtawi & Ms. Asma’ Abdelhaleem coordinated the programs that were presented by undergraduate students. The vice- head Dr. Iman El-Nabawi welcomed the students then participants presented detailed information about the department, the academic advising, the department’s plan, activities and clubs in the department. Moreover, tips to advise the attendees to enjoy and benefit from the study journey were offered. Ms. Saja Al-buraik presented a video about the courses in the department. The orientation program included the following workshops: ▪ “Blackboard collaborate Ultra”: Dr. Shifan Thaha ▪ “Virtual classes: guidelines”: Ms. Nawal Alfozan ▪ “The Four Skills”: Ms. Baheia Khalifah & Ms. Hanan Al-Shihab ▪ “Conversation –An Art” Ms. Sameena Banu ▪ “ Writing Skills” Ms.Hanan Al-Shihab
- Faculty development program
Two-day program, main purpose was to share ideas and experiences were presented by faculty members to discuss the following topics: ▪ Digital Classrooms and Cyber security: Dr. Warda Wahaj ▪ Motivating Students: Challenge your students online: Ms. Asma’ Abdelhaleem ▪ Dynamic Assessment: Dr. Shifan Thaha ▪ Be a better researcher with technology: Dr. Ansa Hameed ▪ Contemporary Eco feminism: The Affinities between Women and Nature in a Pre and Post Covid 19 Contexts: Dr. Olfa Gandouz
12 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT
- Workshops related to quality issues: Academic Accreditation and the standards of the self-study: Under the theme “Classrooms Assessment and Learning Outcomes. The following workshops were held. ▪ - List of CLO’s and PLO’s Weightages: Ms. Asma’ Abdelhaleem ▪ Types of Questions used in Exams: Dr. Basant Moustafa ▪ Samples of K Questions: Dr. Ansa Hameed ▪ Samples of S. V. Questions in Linguistics: Dr. Shifan Thaha ▪ Samples of Literature Questions: Dr. Olfa Gandouz Quality Assurance coordinator Asma’ Abdelhaleem
13 Newsletter volume_3
Alumni Committee Term Two / 1441-1442 Department of English Language and Literature Vision: Excellence locally and regionally in English Language, literature, translation and scientific research to serve the community. Mission: Offering distinguished academic instructions in English Language, translation and scientific research to prepare qualified graduates for the job market and community. As a vision of the Saudi Kingdom in general and Prince Sattam University, in particular, to ensure the compatibility between the outputs of the higher education and the requirements of the labor market, and make partnerships with the parties to provide training for male and female graduates, the role of the Alumni Committee appeared to be the link between the university and graduates to achieve the University's vision of developing mechanisms to develop the competencies of graduates and develop a partnership with the labor market to achieve a clear vision and mission.
REPORT
The Alumni Committee organized several activities at the department level catering to achieve the vision of the committee.
1. "IELTS Master Class": On Wednesday 3-3-2021 workshop was presented by Dr. Wahaj Unnisa Warda Sr. Lecturer of Literature at the department, female section. The workshop focused on outlining and understanding the four micro skills that are tested for international English Language Tests. The aim of the workshop was getting the students ready for the IELTS exams.
2. "Work Ethics": On Wednesday 3rd of March’ 2021 a workshop entitled "Work Ethics" was held at the Department of English Language and Literature, organized by the Alumni Committee, the workshop was delivered online via Blackboard by Ms. Sameena Banu, Sr. lecturer of Literature at the department, female section. The workshop shed light on the elements that serve as a solid foundation for a strong work ethic leading to success. Work ethics as a bridge for success and achieving goals and it can be seen as a very crucial contributing factor in the development and progress of the organization. The students were trained for their future endeavours in the job market.
14 Newsletter volume_3
REPORT 3. "Facing Interviews Confidently": On Thursday 4-3-2021 a workshop was presented by Dr.Shifan Thaha ( Assistant Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature- Female section) The workshop provided students with various tips to pass job interview successfully. 4. "Effective Writing for Professional Purpose" was held on Thursday 4-3-2021 by Dr.Ansa Hameed. During the workshop, tips to improve efficacy of professional writing have been discussed and practiced. 5. "Work Behavior Professionalism" was held on Monday 8-32021 by Dr.Wahaj Innisa Warda . The workshop helped students to learn how to behave in a professional setting and avoid unconscious mistakes. 6. "Employability Skills" Workshop was held on Monday 8-32021 by Ms.Bahia Khalifa, on Thursday11-3-2021. The workshop aimed at increasing awareness of the employability skills among student and Why they are needed in almost every job. The workshop was attended specially by the students of Level eight. 7. Discover the Myths of the German Language”: On Thursday, 18th of March 2021, a workshop entitled “Discover the Myths of the German Language” was held at the Department of English Language and Literature. Organized by the Alumni Committee of the department, the workshop was delivered online via Blackboard. It was attended by students of all levels as well as staff members. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Basant Moustafa, the assistant professor of linguistics at the department. Dr. Moustafa got her PhD from Johannes Gutenberg University of Mains, Germany and hence, she elaborated on the different aspects composing the cultural and social background of the German language. Contextualizing the contributions of German musicians, scientists, artists, economists, etc., a good background of language as a vital component of culture was illustrated. Moreover, a comprehensive comparison and contrast between the English and German languages was provided. In this respect, the different linguistic features of the German languages, e.g. alphabet, vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, etc. were addressed and demonstrated. The workshop was well-received by the students and the staff members alike.
15 Newsletter volume_3
First prize Winner Essay Writing Competition Learning English during Covid-19 Era Temporary interruption of education activities occurred all over the world due to the recent corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak. The current fight against the coronavirus is something that concerns us all; therefore, the sudden and quick shift to the online learning mode occurred as a normal response against this disaster. This change has made a big effect in all fields of education and brought many positive and negative aspects to us (English language learners and others interested in learning this language). Learning English online enables the teacher and the student to set their own learning pace, and there’s the added flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone’s agenda. It teaches you vital time management skills, which makes finding a good work-study balance easier. Also, it offers a wide selection of learning English programs. In a space as vast and wide as the internet, there are a lot of sites and programs to teach and learn English like Cake, Al Grammar and Duolingo. Furthermore, it is easy to access. Online English learning enables you to study or teach English from anywhere in the world. This means there’s no need to commute from one place to another, or follow a rigid schedule. On top of that, not only do you save time, but you also save money. On the other hand, learning English online still tends to struggle with student feedback. Learners completing regular assessments become dissatisfied when they experience a lack of personalized feedback. In addition, learning online requires strong self-motivation and time management skills. Lack of self-motivation among students continues to be one of the primary reasons why students fail to complete English online courses. Moreover, one of the biggest negative sides of learning English online continues to be cheating through various methods. Online learners can cheat on assessments more easily as they take assessments in their own environment and while using their personal computer. The students cannot be directly observed during assessments without a video feed, making cheat detection during online assessments more complicated than for traditional testing procedures. In conclusion, learning English online has become more and more common with the coronavirus pandemic, as people have to stay at home. It has become more important than ever. Adapting to working hours for comfort or just having the freedom to study from anywhere. This can be positive or negative depending on the way we handle it. Fatimah Ali Alhlo Level: 8
16 Newsletter volume_3
GENERAL
Harvard
History of Harvard University: Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was named after the College's first benefactor, the young minister John Harvard of Charlestown, who upon his death in 1638 left his library and half his estate to the institution.
The Harvard Shield: On Sept. 8, 1836, at Harvard’s Bicentennial celebration, it was announced that President Josiah Quincy had found the first rough sketch of the College arms – a shield with the Latin motto “VERITAS” (“Verity” or “Truth”) on three books – while researching his History of Harvard University in the College Archives. During the Bicentennial, a white banner atop a large tent in the Yard publicly displayed this design for the first time.
17 Newsletter volume_3
Harvard University Shields: The students’ color of choice had at one point wavered between crimson and magenta – probably because the idea of using colors to represent universities was still new in the latter part of the 19th century. Pushed by popular debate to decide, Harvard undergraduates held a plebiscite on May 6, 1875, on the University’s color, and crimson won by a wide margin. The student newspaper – which had been called The Magenta – changed its name with the very next issue.
U.S. Presidents and Honorary Degrees: After George Washington’s Continental Army forced the British to leave Boston in March 1776, the Harvard Corporation and Overseers voted on April 3, 1776, to confer an honorary degree upon the general, who accepted it that very day (probably at his Cambridge headquarters in Craigie House). Washington next visited Harvard in 1789, as the first U.S. president. Harvard University has the honor of 49 Nobel Laureates, 32 heads of state, 48 Pulitzer Prize winners.
GENERAL
University Library Collection: The Harvard Library—the largest academic library in the world—includes 20.4 million volumes, 180,000 serial titles, an estimated 400 million manuscript items, 10 million photographs, 124 million archived web pages, and 5.4 terabytes of born-digital archives and manuscripts. Access to this rich collection is provided by nearly 800 library staff members who operate more than 70 separate library units. Museums: Harvard’s museums are stewards of more than 28 million works of art, artifacts, specimens, materials, and instruments. With deep roots in scholarship and teaching, these internationally renowned collections are fundamental to the development and continuation of many disciplines. These unparalleled institutions rank alongside some of the greatest museums in the world and they are open to the public. They welcome more than 650,000 local, national, and international visitors each year.
Faculties, Schools, and an Institute: Harvard University is made up of 11 principal academic units – ten faculties and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The ten faculties oversee schools and divisions that offer courses and award academic degrees. Harvard University has 12 degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The University has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 20,000-degree candidates including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. There are more than 360,000 living alumni in the U.S. and over 190 in other countries. Source- harvard.edu
Dr.Warda Wahajunnisa
18 Newsletter volume_3
GENERAL
Quarantine and Mental Health – a Lockdown dairy
My heart is reaching out to all those who have struggled this year mentally, with or without COVID-19. The pandemic has increased the loneliness that is apparent through every adversary a human goes through. There is only so much one person can bear alone. This piece of writing is dedicated to anyone who feels alone, lonely, or a combination of both.
BREAK THE STIGMA Studies have found that the stigma surrounding mental illness can not only hinder one’s recovery, but can also stop one from seeking help altogether. I cannot fathom how one seeking professional help for their mental health is different than one seeking help for a stomachache. This topic shouldn’t be hushed or cast aside, but embraced. Times are changing in pace faster than expected, it is only normal for pressure to happen, the constant race against time, trying to catch up—and sadly, eventually, get burned out. I chose quarantine specifically because it is the time where many of us have spent alone, and perhaps even faced some truths about ourselves, some are very pleasant while others are not so easy to face. I am awed by your bravery to face the truth, because it is what guides us in the end, our very own truth. I chose this time, because the odds have been unfair, the earth has luckily breathed—no more cars and airplanes and ships, the atmosphere is clean. But, so many of us, maybe our families, have struggled financially and even worse, have lost someone during this pandemic. I want to break the stigma that visiting a professional therapist should only be done when you’re on the brink, on the very edge. In fact, anyone can visit a therapist for any reasons, whether struggling with sleep, or time management, or the fear of failure, or repetitive thoughts. You can visit a therapist even when you’re okay, even when you just have a concern about something. Of course, you can sort it out with a loved one, or through journaling, praying, but seeking professional help is in your best interest because the person in this position has studied all the cases and is very familiar with its ups and downs, substitutes and short-cuts. Carving time, a session expanding an hour or 45 minutes is a form of self-care. Life is unpredictable, and having a supporter, is nothing to be ashamed of.
THE REASON BEHIND THE STIGMA The main and forefront reason is that mental health is not understood. Stigma reeks when someone says “crazy” or “dangerous” or “broken” when speaking of someone who is mentally ill or has a mental disorder. This discrimination is harsh and even flawed. End the stereotypes about people with mental illness. Speak about it like speaking about the weather, there is no need to lower your voice.
19 Newsletter volume_3
GENERAL It is very normal to feel crippled and afraid of voicing your needs and what is going on when you don’t even know what’s going on, you’re confused, you’ve never felt this way quite before—but there’s an imbalance. You notice it, maybe even your closest loved ones do. Please, never be afraid to seek help. It is coming your way.
WAYS TO BREAK THE STIGMA 1. YOU ARE NOT YOUR ILLNESS: You are a complete human being, with stories, several endless stories—a collection of tales that haven’t been lived yet. You are so much more than your illness, your hardship, your past. Even your present . 2. TALK ABOUT IT (WHEN YOU ARE READY, OF COURSE): Sharing your story can inspire hundreds of others to share as well. It can inspire them to seek help, and break the mold of shame. Definitely share your story with those you feel comfortable with. 3. BE MINDFUL: The world loves throwing titles and plastering tags on anything. Personally, when I struggled with mental health, I saw myself in a box of “Too Late to Seek Help” and “Wasted Potential” this is not true, who gets to have a say in what’s too late or what’s too early, only God can tell. Wasted potential? Our stories are not over yet as long as our hearts are still beating, we get to come back, and thrive. Be mindful and intentional in all that you do as much as you can. Remember there’s no perfect guideline for this, we are human, therefore we err and make mistakes—and that’s okay as long as we learn from our mistakes.
FINAL NOTE Sharing one of my favorite quotes to wrap this article. “Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” —Lisa Olivera
Aljohara S. Alqahtani
20 Newsletter volume_3
LINGUISTICS
Linguistic Profile of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is one of the largest Arabcountries where the Arabic language serves all the national, religious and official purposes. Introduction to Arabic language: Arabic is the official language of the 22 countries that form the Arab League. There are more than 300 million Arabic speakers across the world, though predominantly live in the region stretching across the Middle East and North Africa. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nation (UN). In addition, the Arabic language consists of the full alphabet of 28 letters. Standard Arabic: The Arabic language is classified into three different forms: Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and Dialectal (Colloquial) Arabic (CA) or Quranic Arabic is more common in literature and writing. It is the language used in the Holy Quran as well as ancient literary texts from the 7th century AD to the 9th century AD. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), or Modern Written Arabic (shortened to MWA) is a term used mostly by Western linguists. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) fuS-Ha; is the “official” Arabic taught in schools and universities, used in books and magazines, media, legal documents, etc. In addition, MSA is the standard form of Arabic that nearly all native speakers uniformly understand. MSA is the linguistic thread that connects the Arab World. Although I can sound utterly formal and differ substantially from spoken dialects, Arabic and native-speakers can make themselves understand through the common features of MSA and their dialects. Moreover, Arabic dialects are the same language as MSA. Although day- to- day words and accents will differ across regions. At their core, Arabic dialects are the same language as Modern standard Arabic.
21 Newsletter volume_3
LINGUISTICS
Language communities in Saudi Arabia: The country has many expatriate communities that continue to speak their first language. These languages are: Tagalog, Rohingya, Urdu, Hindi, and Pilipino. Moving to Tagalog is the first Language of the Philippine, but there are about 700,000 people in Saudi Arabia whose native language is Tagalog. Moreover, Rohingya is a written language used by the immigrants who have come to Saudi Arabia to work and live. There are 400,00 people in Saudi Arabia use Rohingya as their First language of communication. In addition, there are a lot of Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia, their first language -Urdu- is spoken by about 390,00 natives residing in the country. However, the spoken dialect of Egyptian Arabic is used by about 300,000 native Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia. While Egyptian Arabic can sometimes be encountered in Egyptian literature and poetry, in newspaper and books.
Different Dialects of Arabic Language: Arabic is the mother tongue for most of the Saudi’s natives. There are a variety of language communities that differ from each other according to the region and its cultures. Thus, Arabic language in Saudi Arabia has many regional dialects. For examples, people in the northern region, such as Hail, speak the northern dialect; people in the central region, such as Riyadh speak the Najdi dialect; people in the southern region such as Najran speak the southern dialect, and people in the Hijaz region like Makkah speak the Hijaz dialect. These dialects differ greatly in day –today language (food items, greetings, etc.), but core grammar and vocabulary remain constant. This is because, after all, the root-and-pattern system lies at the heart of all Arabic words.
Rahaf Fahad Aljaidi.
22 Newsletter volume_3
LITERATURE
Celebrating 400 Years of Shakespeare 23rd April 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. William Shakespeare was the most prolific poet and dramatist the Western world has ever seen. As the most quoted English writer, Shakespeare created more than his fair share of famous quotes. His words have staying power; they have remained relevant and moving to readers for more than 400 years. Shakespeare's plays and sonnets are some of the most quoted in all of literature. We often talk about Shakespeare’s quotes as things the wise Bard is saying to us. Some William Shakespeare quotes are known for their beauty, some quotes for their everyday truths and some for their wisdom. A few quotes stand out, whether for their wit, the poetic elegance with which they ponder love, or their heartbreakingly accurate depiction of anguish. Whilst it’s hard to definitively say, which are the most famous Shakespeare quotes are, the following believe to be the most famous Shakespeare quotes of all time. Shakespeare may not have been born great, but he certainly managed to achieve greatness!
23 Newsletter volume_3
Few of Shakespeare’s Most Famous Quotes 1. ‘To be, or not to be: that is the question’
LITERATURE
(Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1)
2. ‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.’ (As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7)
3. ‘Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?’ (Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 1)
4. ‘What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’ (Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2)
5. ‘All that glisters is not gold. ‘ (The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 7)
6. ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.’
(Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2)
7. ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. ‘ (Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, Scene 1)
8. ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.’ (Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 5)
24 Newsletter volume_3
LITERATURE
9. ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.’ (Julius Caesar, Act 2, Scene 2)
10. ‘If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?’ (The Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1)
11. ‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.’ (The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1)
12. ‘Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ (Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5)
13. ‘There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.’ (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)
14. ‘Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.’ (Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3)
15. ‘We know what we are, but know not what we may be.’ (Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)
16. ‘I am a man more sinned against than sinning.’ (King Lear, Act 3, Scene 2)
Ms. Sameena Banu Source: Google 25 Newsletter volume_3
LITERATURE
What to hold
My dusty mind, my rusty thoughts, My racing heart, my aching hopes, Drowning, drowning, drowning deep, Nothing to hold and what to keep, And yet Clinging to life and its treasury delights, Not losing everything and all the sights, The times of despair and hopelessness, Always are beaten by tiny shiny stars, Stars of smiles and fluttering flowers, Beaming fireflies in the midst of darkest hours, Hold them Hold them tight Stars of smiles And fluttering flowers Beaming fireflies in the midst of darkest hours
Dr. Ismat Jabeen
26 Newsletter volume_3
LITERATURE
Realization: In the Pandemics Some miraculous rain that would wash away all contagion, some angelic saint to labour with his ineluctable invocation, some holy shrines to emanate the magic, some scientific potion to combat the infection, Waiting and wanting, we are here. Striving to save ourselves from any labour, to say repentance out of realization. As the words without souls have no weight to fly high. Often such prayers keep wandering in the air . Let us realize this and pray once more !
Dr Ansa Hameed
27 Newsletter volume_3
LITERATURE
Nature
Butterflies fluttering around Canoes moving slowly across the subtle waves Kids laughing and gawking Bugs Flying Ducks fighting Families grilling Relaxation is this This is nature
Sara AL-Aydi
28 Newsletter volume_3
LITERATURE ه
COVID -19: Pandemic or Detoxic? Afte9r a long wait, finally came spring As usual brightness and happiness, did it bring? Flo0wers blooming and spreading fragrance as usual Amidst Nature all seemed well and casual. Hold on something seems to be missing! The excitement and vigour are decreasing. Why is it so quiet all around? Why are the children missing from the playground? Where are the laughters and the sounds? I just find police doing the rounds. Oh, what a transformation! Is it real or figment of my imagination? The old and the young are the most prone None meet, just greet and grieve over phone Some keep sighing and some withstand Nature has its own way to make us understand. The hustle and bustle have come to a standstill Isn’t it time to introspect and check our will? The dark clouds seem to be moving to another location. Does it mean it is time to end speculation? Life has different shades Hard times shall certainly fade. Let us not despair His mercy The roses shall bloom and so too daisy. The playgrounds shall be full again Patience shall surely not go in vain. Dr. Shifan Thaha Abdullateef Associate Professor Department of English
29 Newsletter volume_3
Painting by: Sarah Ayed AL Fahhad
Painting by: Sarah Ayed AL Fahhad 30 Newsletter volume_3