STARTALK Arabic K-16 Teacher Professional Development Program

Summer 2009

The Academy for Arabic Teachers (AAT) is an intensive four-week Arabic K-16 teacher professional development program at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. A two-week off-site component will be followed by a two-week face-to-face component on site. The program’s curriculum is based on the National Standards for Arabic K-16 established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages based on current Second Language Acquisition theory and research. The program addresses all key aspects of foreign language instruction, focusing on Arabic as a Foreign Language. A three-week solid theoretical foundation phase will be followed by a one-week practical training phase at the Arabic Summer Academy, the nationally recognized STARTALK high school Arabic student program at nearby Charlestown High School in Boston as well as Harvard University. AAT includes a cohort of renowned experts in Arabic and second language acquisition disciplines with rich teacher training experience.

The Academy for Arabic Teachers is designed as a comprehensive program for current and prospective teachers, offering a balance between foreign language learning theory and practice. In the summer of 2009, AAT aims to provide training to twenty K-16 level Arabic teachers.  For prospective teachers, the program aims to qualify native or proficient Arabic speakers to teach in K-16 Arabic programs in the United States. For current teachers, the program aims to enrich, update, and refine their pedagogical knowledge and practice.  In both cases, the main goal is to graduate Arabic teachers who are equipped with the current foreign language acquisition and instruction theory, pedagogical tools, and practical experience; who have the appropriate linguistic and cultural competency; who are effective and passionate about teaching Arabic; and who deliver a rewarding learning experience by practicing excellent standards-based instruction.  This program will draw on Boston’s unique set of Arabic-learning resources and will help meet the acute demand for highly qualified K-16 Arabic teachers in New England and throughout the United States.

At the end of the program, the participants will be awarded a program completion certificate.

 

Program Dates: July 2 – July 31, 2009 (2 weeks online coursework & 2 weeks in Boston)

Stipend: Participants will be awarded a $1,200 stipend.

(No tuition or registration fees; materials and textbooks will be provided)

Application deadline: June 5, 2009

The deadline is rolling and seats are limited. Early applications are encouraged.

Download the AAT Application Form here!

For more information contact the Program Director, Dr. Giselle Khoury, at giselle@bu.edu.