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Teaching Portfolio

Table of Contents

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Statement of Teaching Philosophy                                                                                        

Annual Activity Report (2017) - Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Elementary Arabic syllabus and corresponding materials                                                   

Intermediate Low Arabic syllabus - Survival Skills in Arabic Countries                              

Advanced Arabic syllabus - Women: Leadership and Activism in the Arab World           

French Intermediate 201 syllabus                                                                                           

French Intermediate High syllabus - Maghrebis: Identity and Integration in France         

Sample Student Projects                                                                                                         

Class Observation Report                                                                                                       

Arabic and French Student Course Evaluations                                                                   

Sample Course Materials                                                                                                        

TED Talks in Arabic - Assignment Summary                                                                          

Instructor-Created Materials (reading and role play sample material, IPA assessment)   

Oasis Arabic Radio Show materials (flyer, student-created playlist, review)                      

Arabic Extracurricular Activities - images                                                                              

Uprising in Tahrir Square: book summary                                                                              

Uprising in Tahrir Square: reviews                                                                                          

Published Works and Scholarly Contributions                                                                      

Scholarly Lectures and Other Presentations                                                                         

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Statement of Teaching Philosophy

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As a self-professed 'lifelong learner,' I view my teaching practice as a continually-evolving discipline in which there is always more to absorb, reflect upon, and incorporate from pedagogical research, best practices in the field, technological advances, and most importantly, the needs of my students. Teaching Arabic – my native tongue – prompts me to carefully examine the structure, idioms, nuances and cultural associations of one of the world’s most widely-spoken languages and to strive to effectively impart that language to students representing widely diverse backgrounds and learning styles.

   

In my experience, teaching must be carried out with patience, humor, respect and accommodation for all types of learners. The Arabic language poses a host of challenges to students: from navigating a new alphabet and production of unfamiliar vocal sounds, to the introduction of diverse cultural practices and perspectives. I believe it is important to make students feel comfortable and establish a tension-free environment that allows them to ask questions and make mistakes without feeling intimidated. In this atmosphere, it is possible to engage students in a variety of educational strategies. Even with my beginning classes, I focus on an immersion approach by speaking Arabic in class as much as possible so that students become attuned to the nuances of the spoken language. I foster a cooperative learning community by designing many opportunities for paired and small-group class work and extended projects. Camaraderie and humor are essential elements of my classroom.

   

I believe in the importance of a balanced and holistic approach to Arabic instruction; one that not only teaches mechanics and grammatical structures – but also transmits a 'living language' through culture, history, and global perspectives. Thus, I utilize a broad palette of authentic sources, including current newspapers, Arabic-language authors, films, music, poetry, short stories, field trips, and guest speakers. I keep my students motivated and engaged through use of diverse educational technologies and activities such as podcasting projects, development and performance of skits on videotape, language competitions, Skype-facilitated interviews of native Arabic speakers, writing assignments, Power Point presentations, clips from YouTube and other approaches.

 

I am continually observing and refining my teaching practice to best meet the needs of my students, and to address their individual goals for learning the language. I work diligently to facilitate student success by holding study sessions, encouraging visits during office hours, maintaining regular e-mail contact, and providing resources for special academic interests such as study abroad, political science, literature, advanced language studies or other endeavors. My underlying objectives as an Arabic educator are to ensure my students’ strong foundation and growing fluency, build their communication skills, and foster their informed appreciation for the Arabic language and culture. I want my students to become independent learners who can eventually use their own knowledge base in Arabic for whatever purposes they deem important: whether travel, business, diplomacy, journalism, religion, cultural heritage or other personal/professional interests. I believe that my unique, creative and thoughtful teaching practice directly impacts my students’ success, as they apply their knowledge of Arabic to the world outside of the classroom.

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Annual Activity Report (2017) - Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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I. TEACHING

Classroom Teaching

Quality of teaching (end-of-semester and informal interim student, peer, and dean’s evaluations, alumni statements, honors and awards)

  • Excellent student evaluations overall, positive mid-term evaluation from the Dean of the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation and Language Education

  • Excellent interpersonal skills

  • Creative teaching approaches

 

Quantity of teaching:

  • Fall 2014: 3 courses, 4 units each. Religion and Ethnic Groups in the Arab World, Introduction to Intermediate Arabic I, Friday sessions/ working on materials for intermediate level with Professor Rana Issa

  • Spring 2015: 2 courses, 4 units. Arabic Speaking Countries I, Changes in the MENA Region; working on intermediate level curriculum materials with Professor Rana Issa

  • Fall 2015: 3 courses. 4 units each: Topics in Arab Culture, Topics in Security and International Relations, and Maghrebis, Identity and Integration in France

  • Spring 2016: 2 courses, 4 units each. Understanding the Arab World, France and the Arab World

  • Fall 2016: Taught 3 courses, 4 units each. US/EU Polices in MENA Region, Activism & Arab Civil Society, Topics in Arabic: Current Events

  • Developed curriculum for new LS Arabic and French courses:

        - Arabic Speaking Countries I

        - Changes in the MENA Region

        -Topics in Security & International Relations

        -Topics in Arab Culture

       - Maghrebis: Integration & Identity in France

       - Activism and Arab Civil Society

       - France and the Arab World

       - Understanding the Arab World

       - Topics in Arabic: Current Events

       - French Reading and Conversation

  • Developed Arabic Summer Intensive Language Program (SILP) curriculum for Elementary Arabic level  from 2015 through 2018

 

New teaching techniques and approaches:

  • Implemented Policy Analysis Report, Comparative Case Study Report and Collaborative Student Guide projects

  • Skype technology hosting of remote guest speakers, including Arabic professors at Boston University and Slimane Zghidour, TV5 commentator

  • Successful Digital Storytelling project with Intermediate level Arabic students

  • Arabic podcast project for Intermediate level Arabic students

  • Arabic radio show (simulated) with Intermediate level Arabic students. Simulated broadcasts of music, cultural and political topics, news, and interviews pertaining to the Arab-speaking world.

  • Initiated an Arabic Cultural Expo featuring cultural artifacts in three courses: Religion and Ethnic Groups, Maghrebis, Identity and Integration in France, and Topics in Arab Culture

 

Formal and informal student contact hours and advising/mentoring:

  • Met with students during and outside office hours on a regular basis, to provide targeted help on all course content and projects (homework, blogs, video project, radio show project, Digital Story telling project)

  • Served as Language Evaluator for three MIIS applicants to the State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship Program in Washington, D.C.

  • Served as reference for one MIIS applicant to the Summer Arabic School at Middlebury College

  • Served as a Fulbright Language Evaluator for one MIIS student and one former SILP student

 

Other student services:

  • Co-organized an Arabic Club at MIIS, aimed at fostering conversational language skills through discussion topics

  • Co-organized an Arabic Film Club at MIIS

  • Initiated and co-organized the Arabic Table at the International Fair (Bazaar) at MIIS, April 2015 and 2016

  • Initiated an Cultural Expo featuring cultural artifacts for Arabic and French intermediate classes

  • Organized field trip to attend Annual Arabic Music Concert in Santa Cruz in summers 2016 and 2017

 

II. SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH & PUBLISHING       

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Publications:

  • Published Work: Uprising in Tahrir Square: an interactive toolkit for advanced Arabic classrooms. This is the first volume of a series entitled Changes in the Middle East and North Africa.

  • Began work on Volume Two about the Syrian conflict

  • Book project in progress:women’s roles in Algeria in colonial and post-colonial periods.

 

Instructional Development

Syllabi:

  • Revised existing syllabi for ten courses.

 

Course materials:

  • Developed new course materials:

        - Topics in Security & International Relations

        - Maghrebis: Integration & Identity in France

        - Activism and Arab Civil Society

        - France and the Arab World

        - Understanding the Arab World

        -Topics in Arabic: Current Events

        - Maghrebis and Africans in France

        - US., France/E.U. and Africa

        - U.S., E.U. and Arab Foreign Policy in the MENA Region

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Instructor manuals:

  • In-process: Collaboration with Professor Rana Issa on developing textbook materials for intermediate Arabic classrooms

New methodologies:

  • Designed content-based resource book for advanced Arabic learners:

 

III.   SERVICE TO THE INSTITUTE     

Committee service to the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation and Language Education (GSTILE)

  • Member of Peer Review Committee for contract renewal dossiers

  • Attended all Language Studies Faculty Planning meetings

  • Attended all Arabic program meetings

  • Member of the Fulbright Review Committee at MIIS. I also served as a member of the Immersive Professional Learning committee and reviewed / rated 65 applications between October and December 2016.

 

Thesis/Directed Study:

Directed studies offered in Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2017 and Fall 2018:

  • Nationalist movements around the world and role of the Middle East within them (French)

  • Advising Skills for Arab Students in U.S. Higher Education (Arabic )

  • Yemen Crisis (Arabic)

  • Education System in the Arab World (Arabic)

 

Program development:

  • Conducted  Arabic and French oral proficiency interviews with incoming students, in collaboration with other Arabic and French faculty

  • Contributed to a comprehensive review of the current Arabic and French placement test

  • Reviewed Arabic SILP applications, Assessed and placed Arabic students in summers 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018

  • Developed Arabic SILP Integrative Performance Assessments for Elementary Arabic levels from 2014 - 2018

  • Researched and recommended Arabic language films. Co-organized an Arabic Film Series featuring four contemporary films representing a cross-section of Arabic culture in Fall and Spring semesters.

 

Administrative duties:

  • Coordinated the Arabic Summer Intensive Program - summers of 2015 - 2018

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IV. PROFESSIONAL STATURE AND PRACTICE   Rate: 3.5

 

Professional Activities

Consultancies:

  • Served as reader for 2017 CLS (Critical Language Scholarship through the State Department) Arabic applications (40 applications).

  • Fulbright Language evaluations for MIIS student and former SILP student (2018)

  • Provided letters of recommendation and language evaluations for many former and current students seeking the CASA (Center for Arabic Study Abroad) fellowship and CLS Scholarship

  • Researched and recommended Arabic language films; co-organized an Arabic Film Series at MIIS

  •  As   judge  for an essay contest, reviewed and scored nine contest essays   (http://www.abdelkaderproject.org/)

 

Professional association officer/board member:

  • American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

  • The American Association of Teachers of Arabic (AATA)

  • Middle East Studies Association (MESA)

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Public service:

  • Guest speaker in Professor Rana Issa’s Modern History of the Arab World course, MIIS 2018

  • Guest speaker and panel participant for Contemporary France class at Oregon State University, Oregon, CA.  Topic:   French – U.S. historical relationship. Host: OSU Associate Professor, Nabil Boudraa.

  • Guest speaker at Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA, November, 2016. Topic: Contemporary History of Algeria

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Published Works and Scholarly Contributions

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Forthcoming Published Work:

Uprising in Tahrir Square: an interactive toolkit for advanced Arabic classrooms. Equinox Publishing, May 2019

This is the first volume of a series entitled Changes in the Middle East and North Africa.

 

Three online journals on Al-Jazeera: Teaching Arabic in the U.S.A. 2013-2014. The link is:

http://learning.aljazeera.net/en/blogs/pages/6ebde074-5f56-46f7-830a-2644e717ee68

                  

 In progress (initial stages): collaborative Arabic textbook co-authored with Professor Rana Issa at MIIS. This will be a content-based work on practical, high-interest topics for the Intermediate Arabic learner

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 In progress: Algerian women and the Struggle for Algerian Independence 1954-1962

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Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Statement of Teaching Philosophy - TOC
Annual Activity Report TOC
Annual Activity Report Document
Published Works and Scholarly Contributions
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