Dr. Magda's Bio

Dr. Magda Al Sebai teaches English at the College of Languages and Translation, King Saud University. She is married and has two sons. Her areas of interest include linguistics, literature, translation studies, integrating technology into learning, brain-based research, curriculum design, research-based instructions, alternative assessment, quantitative and qualitative research, and second language learning theories. She has been teaching English and translation since 1976. Currently, she teaches English for the students of computer sciences. She worked as the coordinator of the English programs for the intensive courses for students of the English Department, Science, Translation, and English for graduate students of administrative sciences. She has designed courses for the intensive English programs and the translation department. She received a certificate in Computer Studies in 1990. It was her first serious experience using computers in learning. Since then, she has always been involved in taking a course or participating in a workshop on integrating technology into learning.  She has completed her doctoral dissertation on the theory of Dr. Howard Gardner of Harvard University about multiple intelligences and the ramifications of this theoy for English language acquisition. 

She has served as a member on her children’s school Board Committees of Education and Community Relations to enhance educational research and multi-cultural activities. She was also involved in service learning as a volunteer at the school.  She is a member of several international professional organizations including  the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Phi Delta Kappa,  American Psychological Association (APA), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), Child Rights Information Network, the Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Studies, and the Egyptian Society for Cultural Research.    

Her philosophy of education is based on teaching English as a dynamic language using materials that provide knowledge, concepts and skills that are relevant to students’ needs and lives. She has participated in many international language conferences and seminars since 1977 and this has helped her to get acquainted with other different philosophies of teaching. She also participated in some conferences with the United Nations and has a number of publications on short stories that include Katherine Mansfield’s An Ideal Family, E.M.Forester’s The Road to Colonus, Lord Dunsany’s The Guest, and The Birthday Party, published in Dr. Richard Andretta, The Theater of Harold Pinter. She has a number of articles under publication on curriculum and instructions and learning theories.

The hobbies that she enjoys away from her life career include reading and research in the field of education, psychology, literature, anthropology, history, comparative religions, art, and technology. She has studied art and music and she paints using oil and water colors. She also enjoys traveling and has been to almost all countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. She particularly enjoyed France, Belgium, England, Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Turkey, Kenya, and Canada . She has lived in USA since she got married and she visited most of the states in USA. Traveling provides her with great opportunities not only for attending conferences and seminars on current research, but also for providing various cultural and social activities.