Salam is an academic specialized in pedagogy and English language teaching. Her postgraduate research focused on semiotics in teaching, inspired by her father, Professor Mahmoud Al-Ostaz. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and ELT from the Islamic University of Gaza. Her doctoral thesis is titled “A Proposed Teaching Model Based on the Semiotic Approach in Teaching English Literature and its Effectiveness in Developing Creative Writing and Deep Understanding Among University Students.”

Salam worked as a lecturer in English language and as an educational supervisor at several universities in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Aqsa University, Islamic University, and Al-Azhar University. She also works at Israa University, where she is an English language lecturer, Head of the English Department, and a member of the Editorial Board of the Israa University Journal of Humanities.

Her career is dedicated to raising the quality of education, from developing curricula to actively teaching a wide range of courses in English language, literature, education, and scientific research methodology.

Salam is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at King’s College London. Her research addresses the education crisis in the Gaza Strip during the war, analyzing its manifestations and impacts, and proposing solutions.

Salam has forthcoming chapters in the edited volume Open Semiotics published by L’Harmattan, Paris, and the edited e-book Decolonial Education and Youth Aspirations published by Global Policy Journal.

Research interests

• English Language Teaching (ELT)
• Curriculum Analysis and Development
• Semiotics in Teaching EL and Literature
• Modern Trends in Education
• Education in Crisis Contexts
• Identity and Culture in Education

Teaching

Salam’s teaching approach is based on constructivist and student-centered pedagogies, emphasizing critical engagement with texts and real-world applications, and employing interactive learning methods to deepen understanding and foster critical and creative thinking.

Salam believes that the ultimate goal of education is to build a human who is ethical, aware, and capable of lifelong growth.

Expertise and public engagement

Salam participated in several key committees, including the referee committee for the best master’s and doctoral theses at the Ministry of Education, and the selection committee for the Palestine Ambassador for Culture, Arts, and Heritage Competition.

Salam was interviewed in a number of media outlets on Palestine TV and Ministry of Education Radio in Gaza, discussing the importance of learning English for strengthening Palestinian identity, as well as the latest methods and strategies in English language teaching.

Salam has been keen to participate actively in conferences and study days.

Publications

Al-Ostaz, S. (2023). National Identity Dimensions in English Language Textbooks for the Primary Phase in Palestine. Stardom Journal of Psychological and Educational Studies, (2), 130.

Al-Ostaz, S., Al-Astal, I., & Keshta, A. (2022). A Proposed Teaching Model Based on the Semiotic Approach in Teaching English Literature and Its Effectiveness in Developing Creative Writing and Deep Understanding Among University Students. IUG Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies, 30(6), 521.