Arabic Language Pedagogy: Theory and Practice

This graduate-level course introduces students to the theory and practice of foreign/second language instruction. It focuses on teaching Arabic as a foreign language, and starts with introducing students to models and theories of second language acquisition (SLA) including input/output hypotheses, sociocultural theory, processability theory, noticing hypothesis, and others. The course will also focus on SLA research, including Arabic SLA studies, and the implications of major research findings for Arabic language pedagogy. Since language pedagogy is not only informed by research, the course will also focus on best practices in Arabic instruction including the teaching of the four skills, vocabulary and grammar teaching, course design, lesson planning, material development, technology use, assessment, and teaching MSA and dialect.