Adnan Hakeem
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How to Teach in Saudi Arabia: a practical perspective
Teaching English in Saudi Arabia: What Works with Beginner University Students When I first started teaching English to first‑year university students in Saudi Arabia, I quickly learned one truth: many students arrive at university barely able to say or write a single correct sentence. Some hesitate to speak at all. Others understand a little but…
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What are EFL, ESL, ESP, EAP? The Story of English Teaching.
EFL, ESL, ESP, EAP — What Do These Four Abbreviations Really Mean? Before anything else, I like to explain the terms clearly, because something I have never seen is a learner who feels comfortable with terms they don’t fully understand.I don’t pretend these labels are mysterious codes, and I don’t treat them as higher‑level theories.…
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Is Material Adaptability a Smaller Part of Curriculum Design?
Material Adaptability vs Curriculum Designing A Classroom Is Never Fully Inside the Curriculum Something I have never seen is a classroom where every learner moves exactly the way the curriculum expects. I don’t assume teaching is a rigid script, and I don’t treat material adaptability as a new invention. For me, it’s simply needs analysis…
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A complete PPP vocabulary lesson plan to teach:
complex – intricate – convoluted – complicated – sophisticated This lesson plan is written in a teacher‑training / CELTA‑style format, clear aims, procedures, timings, CCQs, and anticipated problems ✅ 📘 PPP Vocabulary Lesson Plan Level: Upper‑Intermediate (B2) → Advanced (C1)Time: 60 minutesLesson Type: Vocabulary (Academic / IELTS‑oriented)Target Lexis: 🎯 Overall Lesson Aim Students will understand,…
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Do you know these five words?
sophisticated – complex – intricate – convoluted – complicated They look like synonyms, but you need to know more about them. Complicated is different but the other four words focus on objective description, not personal reaction: 1️⃣ sophisticated → describes advanced, well‑developed technology2️⃣ complex → describes the nature of the problems3️⃣ intricate → highlights detailed,…
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You know that irregular verbs are the “final boss”!
Irregular verbs behave like a rude boss for many students. They don’t follow the standard +ed rule, so they require pure memorization.Here is a breakdown of the most common irregular verbs categorized by their patterns, which often makes them easier for students to learn. 1. The “No-Change” Verbs These are the easiest (and sometimes the…
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Why Material Adaptation Matters in ELT: A Saudi Classroom Experience with Imported Safety Training
I was asked to teach safety material as part of the STEM component in the final English level of a Saudi vocational training program. The material itself came from the American Young Workers Safety Training resources and was provided to teachers with the expectation that it would be used as it is. On paper, the…