UAE University researchers contribute to largest global English Language Teaching Encyclopedia

An international team of 14 editors have produced the largest encyclopedia project in the world on English Language Teaching.

The Wiley-Blackwell 8-volume print (14 volumes online) encyclopedia is titled The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching.

Dr Ali Shehadeh, Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL at the United Arab Emirates University’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the College of Education, was one of the editors of the encyclopedia, having edited Volume II, entitled Approaches and Methods in English for Speakers of Other Languages.

“More than 1,000 researchers and scholars contributed to it,” he said. “The aim was to be a work of reference, and the largest one, in English Language Teaching. It would help scholars, researchers, students, teachers, and anyone interested in English Language Teaching in the world.”

The encyclopedia is the most authoritative and comprehensive reference ever on English Language Teaching. The five-year project was completed last year, published in January 2018. “Among the 1,000 contributors, there are 15 scholars and researchers from the UAE in my volume alone, seven of which are scholars and researchers from the UAE University,” he explained. “The good thing is that the encyclopaedia won the Association of American Publishers 2019 Prose Award for the best Multivolume Reference in Humanities, which is a huge achievement. I was thrilled as it’s huge work and when you get an award, it speaks to the validity and to the scope of the work.”

Dr Shehadeh’s interest stemmed from his profession in the English language for more than 27 years, with experience teaching in universities in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Syria and the UAE. “We are looking at ways to make language teaching effective and successful,” he added. “It’s absolutely important because it’s a reference work for anyone interested in English language teaching, in the development of approaches and methods, and how to teach languages.”
With globalizalisation increasing people’s interest in learning and teaching languages, the encyclopedia is considered a prime reference. “It’s a key reference for all language teachers, professionals and researchers, focusing on how we teach, strategies and skills,” he noted.

Other volumes include English as international language, teaching speaking, reading, writing, as well as teaching and technology, professional development in language teaching, and assessment and evaluation. “Each one looks at the topic in a very broad and comprehensive manner,” he added. “It can be found anywhere, and many libraries in world request it on their shelves. It’s available both in print and electronic formats.”

The encyclopedia will be a new updated edition, depending on the demand, every five to 10 years. Its website can be accessed using the following links:(Link 1 , Link 2)