PhD Degree Awarded to Mr. Abdulraheem Al-Shawthabi in English Language Curricula and Teaching Methods
Mr. Abdulraheem Ali Al-Shawthabi was awarded a PhD degree for his dissertation titled, “Multisensory Learning and Recalling Styles and their Relationship to Speaking Proficiency: A Case Study of Yemeni EFL University Students,” which was submitted to Department of English Language Curricula and Teaching Methods, Faculty of Education – Sana’a University. The PhD dissertation defense was held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following members:
| # | Committee Members | Designation | University | Position |
| 1 | Prof. Fazea Khaled Al-Ezi Al-Maslami | Internal examiner | Sana’a University | Chair |
| 2 | Prof. Mohammed Abdo Ahmed Al-Mekhlafi | Main supervisor | Sana’a University | Member |
| 3 | Prof. Qaed Dabwan Ali Farea | External Examiner | Ibb University | Member |
The dissertation aimed to investigate the relationship between sensory learning styles (auditory and visual), sensory recalling styles (mental speech/inner voice and mental imagery), and English-speaking proficiency among EFL students in university English departments.
Key findings of the research included:
- A statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the visual sensory learning style and the auditory sensory learning style, favoring the visual learning style.
- A statistically significant correlation between the auditory sensory learning style and speaking proficiency.
- A high, statistically significant correlation between the sensory recalling style (mental speech/inner voice) and speaking proficiency.
The dissertation presented several key recommendations, including:
- Reinforcing the development of inner speech (mental speech) through targeted training strategies.
- Considering the role of the learning environment and the flexibility of learning styles within the overall learning experience.
The PhD dissertation was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The PhD defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, interested students, the candidate’s colleagues, and family members.
