The Washington, DC Arabic Teachers Council presents an in-person mini conference on challenges and opportunities in teaching Arabic language students. Three expert speakers will cover the topics of heritage language learners, inclusive approaches to teaching, and issues regarding AI and ChatGPT in the classroom. Dr. Kamilia Rahmouni, Teaching Assistant Professor in the School of World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and a member of the DC-ATC Advisory Board, will present a keynote address on “Bridging Arabic Instruction from High School to Higher Education.”
Session speakers:
Dr. Abdulkafi Albirini is a Professor of Linguistics and Arabic Language Acquisition at Utah State University, where he teaches linguistics, oversees the Arabic program, and serves as co-director of the MSLT program. His main research interests are in heritage, first, and second language acquisition and sociolinguistics. He is author of Modern Language Sociolinguistics (Routledge, 2016) and many articles on Arabic heritage, first, and second language acquisition and sociolinguistics.
Ahmed Salem had over a decade of teaching experience at the secondary level. He spent three years in Fairfax County Public Schools teaching Arabic and then transitioned to underserved charter schools in Washington, DC, where he assumed the role of a special education teacher, catering to students grappling with learning and emotional challenges. Ahmed holds an MA in special education and has contributed to instructional design for the Arabic STARTALK program at Virginia Commonwealth University and for the Institute for Middle East Studies at George Washington University.
Lina Kholaki is an Arabic language instructor at Occidental College and a consultant for the Los Angeles public school Elizabeth Learning Center. She has served as co-chair of the California Arabic Teachers Council for 10 years and as co-chair for the ACTFL Language Learning for Children special interest group since 2005. In 2017 she was named the ACTFL Teacher of the Year. Lina also directed the Aldeen STARTALK Summer High School Student Program for seven years.
Join us!
Event details:
Thursday, May 2, 2024
8:30 am - 2 pm (in person)
George Washington University
The Elliott School of International Affairs, Room 505
1957 E St NW, Washington, DC 20052
Free parking, breakfast, coffee breaks, and lunch will be provided.
