QFI Podcast: All Things Arabic

The Study of Adolescent Lives after Migration to America (SALaMA) seeks to assess the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of high school students who have been – or whose parents have been – resettled to the US from the MENA region. QFI partnered with Washington University in St. Louis in and a number of school districts and local refugee resettlement agencies around the US to uncover the true impact of displacement on mental ...

Are there lessons for Arabic language educators and admin in the way Scotland approaches language learning? In this episode of All Things Arabic, Fhiona Mackay, the Director of SCILT, explains how a hybrid teaching environment is helping students across the nation – even those in remote regions – learn Arabic.   

References: 

• Scotland’s National Centre for Languages 
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages  

Gloss...

Learning Arabic can unlock new opportunities for both professional and personal growth. 

In this episode, four former students of Arabic meet for the first time and discuss how learning the language shaped their lives and led them to their current career paths. 

Listen as each guest reflects on how their study of Arabic has led them to where they are, and how it greatly enriched their careers and their personal lives. 

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Incorporating art, music, and calligraphy into Arabic classrooms enhances students’ linguistic and cultural knowledge—and makes space for fun and creativity. 

Ustaaza Ibtissam, a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience teaching French and Arabic to both native and non-native speakers, shares how she connects classrooms in North America with refugees and teachers in Lebanon, promoting cultural learning and fostering stro...

So far in All Things Arabic, we’ve heard from teachers, students, administrators, and researchers about Arabic language education. But what do parents of Arabic learners have to say about the language? 

In the latest episode, hear from Kelly, the parent of an Arabic learner at a secondary school in Chicago. Kelly shares her perspective on Arabic and the opportunities it has offered her daughter, Kendall. 

References: 

• Arabic Honor...

What’s the secret to expanding an Arabic program at a secondary school and building a love of language learning among students? 

Ustaaz Fadi  has played a vital role in the creation, expansion and management of the World Language Curriculum at a state-funded school in Chicago. Hear from Fadi about his experience teaching Arabic and engaging students and communities, as well as his advice for teachers and administrators. 

References...

Research is providing vital information on the impact of teaching dialects alongside Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Historically, MSA was the primary form of Arabic taught and learned, but in the past 10 years the use of spoken dialects has expanded in classrooms 

Guests Dr. Rasha Soliman, Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Linguistics at University of Leeds in England and Dr. Lizz Huntley, instructor of Arabic and Linguistic...

In Ireland, a unique pilot program for students from Syria provided intensive English and Arabic language lessons to help improve literacy over the summer of 2023. Many of these students had missed years of education and had poor language skills in both English and Arabic. This pilot, implemented based on findings from the SALaM Ireland research project, pioneers a path forward for boosting both mother tongue literacy and English l...

This episode explores the reality of teaching Arabic in Germany through the lens of assessments, including process, problems, and successes. Dr. Peter Konerding, an Arabic teacher and the coordinator of the Center for the Arabic Language, discusses what the situation is and how CEFR standards can be applied to Arabic in Germany. 

References: 

• German Arabic Teacher Association: https://vdal-d.de/  
• Salzmannschule Schnepfenthal: htt...

In the UK, teachers are calling for changes to the current language assessment models. The difficulty of Arabic language assessments and a disconnect between classroom teaching and exams are potentially deterring students from studying the language.

This episode of All Things Arabic discusses teachers’ experiences with the Arabic GCSE and the changes they recommend to improve student experiences and encourage further language study....

What lessons can other languages provide Arabic teachers? In this episode of All Things Arabic, Ann Marie Gunter, a World Language Consultant in North Carolina, discusses how other global languages like Mandarin overcame challenges that now face Arabic language programs, and strategies to boost enrollment, from offering online classes to Seal of Biliteracy programs to building teacher capacity.

References:

• North Caroline Arabic T...

This episode dives into Arabic debate at the high school/secondary school level. Arabic debate seems to be more than just a linguistic exercise; students are advancing in their language and critical thinking skills and are finding joy in learning, all within the school setting.

This episode features secondary school Arabic debater and team captain Mariana McCottry, her Arabic teacher and debate coach Rana Nasser, and principal Dr. C...

Join us this week as we follow two university Arabic debate teams as they prepare for a national competition and make every effort to come out on top. UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University’s rivalry is age-old: Who has the better basketball team? Who has a more beautiful campus? Which shade of blue is better: light Carolina blue or dark Duke blue? And now, who has the fiercest Arabic debate team?

In 2022, Duke and UNC students joined ...

With the expansion of Arabic language programs across the US, UK and Europe, educators and their institutions are striving to strengthen methods for teaching and learning Arabic, just like any other global language. 

This episode discusses one of the proficiency and performance assessment techniques and language standards used in some US classrooms. Guests Rolla Elsaiary, Magnet Coordinator at Arabic Immersion Magnet School in Houst...