All Things Arabic

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 language acquisition for refugee learners. Guests Yvonne 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: https://www.salzmannschule.de/ Glossary of terms...

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. Contributing guests are Fatima Mohamed, an Arabic teacher at ...

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 Teachers Council: https://tarheels.live/ncatc/#:~:text=Established%...

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. Caroline Sanchez, all from Cumberland International Early Colle...

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 forces to win the 3rd US Universities Arabic Debating Champion...

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 Houston, Texas, and Amanda Minnillo, a Language Specialist at ...