CMU-Q Hosts Lecture on Arabic Language Learning CMU-Q Hosts Lecture on Arabic Language Learning Anonym / Sunday, March 8, 2015 0 15844 CARNEGIE Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) recently hosted an 'Enhancing Teaching Arabic in Qatar' workshop for 25 primary, private and independent schoolteachers in an attempt to complement their language learning pedagogy. Led by Zeinab Ibrahim, PhD, professor of Arabic Studies at CMU-Q and a renowned sociolinguist, 'Enhancing Teaching Arabic in Qatar' introduced the teachers to the linguistic theories behind the Arabiyyatti project, which is supported by the Qatar National Research Fund's National Priorities Research Program (NPRP). Ibrahim said Arabiyyatti aims to introduce teachers to recent best practices in teaching Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) to schoolchildren. While Arab children are able to speak their local dialect, they are often unable to communicate using Modern Standard Arabic, otherwise known as fus'ha. "There are common problems with teaching Arabic across the entire region, and Arabiyyatti is the result of research indicating the need to support educators by introducing them to updated teaching methods as well as recent linguistic theories that deal with language acquisition and learning. I hope the participating instructors gained value from the workshop, and that it will inspire them to use Arabiyyatti in their classrooms not only for the benefit of their Read more