"Hymns of Syria"

"Hymns of Syria" is a poetry reading, which is performed by the Department of Arabic Language students at Qatar University. The Forum “Shagaf” organized the event. The aim of the event is to create a literary communication between students and writers within a cultural atmosphere. Consequently, this event also aims to identify the poetry models that provide ideas about the concepts of freedom, humanity, and values. This Hymns comes in the context of the message that the Arabic department wants to achieve. The Arabic department enhances the creativity among students, seeks to provide them with literary, and critical skills development.

This seminar was the best practical application of what students are studying in the Department of Arabic poetry and creativity. The Hymns was a teaching lesson for students, to learn how to convey their feelings and ideas through a beautiful language.

This event was varied between fun and politics, that we've gotten three poetic sounds diversity. In other words, a passage from capturing the terms meaning in depth to the formation of poetic images. The poet tried to present the actual incidents and political issues in a mocking and funny way.

Dr. Mohammad Mustafa Slime, faculty member in the Department, said that the event presented a variety of the poetry rhythm with diversity in meanings.

Only few guests attended the event, also there was a problem in the sound system, which in turn affected the quality of   the event.

My suggestion is to promote similar activities; however, a good marketing is required in order to attract a good number of students to attend. Indeed, the sense of the Arabic poetry is highly needed to preserve our culture.

How to be an author

How to be an author, is a lesson that pre-k teachers taught to their students. They taught them how to write, and how to illustrate their own books.

In ASD, teachers help their students making their own books; meanwhile, they allow them to choose their own topics.  Furthermore, students finish their books and then parents gather with teachers to celebrate their young writers, to encourage the student to talk out loudly with confident in front of parents and teachers. This way of teaching allows students to build their personality strongly and develop their ability to present and perform in future events. Also, it is considered as an opportunity to enhance their writing and performing skills.

The kids were so happy. They took turns one by one to read their stories and show their pictures to their parents. Most of the boys wrote about superhero, but the girls wrote about color and flowers. The parents were proud with their kid’s improvements, and so happy with what their achievements. Indeed, teachers gave certificates to each child.

I hope that all schools do the same to their students, and that will help them developing their skills. Especially since the Arabic schools which don’t concentrate on such activities.

The annual friendship festival

The annual friendship festival is a big day performed by the American School of Doha (ASD) community. The Parents- Teacher Association (PTA) organized the event. The purpose of the event is to gather the students of the school and their families to spend a full day of excitement and fun, also bring the ASD community together to make the school stronger, to encourage the community awareness and cooperation.

The school organized different of activity for children and adult including games food from around the world, to make the event more excitement the school choir did a special performance.

Although, that the kids had fun that day but their was a weakness in the event. The game and the food they designed were very expensive, for example the one game that the child can play was about 5 ticket, they were supposed to play it once. In addition, the purpose of the game was useless like one of the games called (jail) that you pay 5 tickets to put someone in that jail for 10 minute.

Another issue in the event was how teenager were dressed and how they were acting. The mix between the small kids and the teenager will affect their acting. The children saw improper views, like the hugging between the teenagers in both genders.

My suggestion is that they don’t mix teenager with elementary students, so they both can have fun without annoying any one. In my experience schools in Canada separate between the teenagers and the small kids.

Although, to make the cost of the games less like other schools here in Doha, they can put the bouncy things for free, or they can pay once and play for several time.