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gradstud
 Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Lang.


Arabic Language Institute
School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor: El S. Badawi (Director, Arabic Language Institute)
Associate Professor: A. El Gibali (Director, TAFL Program)

Interest in the Arabic language has increased greatly throughout the world. With this has come a demand for professionals trained in the field. Based on modern theory and practice, the master's degree and the diploma programs in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL) are especially designed to meet this need.

Master of Arts

The master's degree requires two years' residence and covers the following areas: linguistics, contrastive analysis in second-language teaching and learning, and methods of teaching foreign languages. In addition, practice teaching is required. The courses have been structured to promote research as well as to develop highly trained teachers. In addition, a number of issues related to the role of Arabic in modern society are freshly examined, such as current methods of teaching Arabic to children, reform of the writing system, grammar reform movements, and the problem of diglossia. The TAFL program seeks to inspire new approaches to these problems.

Admission

Applicants for the master of arts degree in TAFL should hold a bachelor of arts degree specializing in Arabic language, Islamic studies, Middle East area studies, or a modern language. Applicants should also meet general university admission requirements. Applicants with undergraduate specialization in a modern language other than Arabic must take a number of additional courses in the field of Arabic studies. Applicants for the master of arts degree in TAFL should have teaching experience prior to admission into the program or must acquire this experience concurrently with the program.

Language

Non-native speakers of Arabic and holders of degrees other than Arabic language or Islamic studies must demonstrate in an examination that their proficiency in Arabic is adequate for study in the program. The level of language proficiency required for admission is not less than the level Superior as specified by the guidelines of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).  Those with less but showing exceptional promise may be recommended for AUC preparatory training for a period not to exceed one year.

An applicant who is not a native speaker of English must have sufficient command of English to qualify for admission as an AUC graduate student. Those with less but showing exceptional promise may be recommended for AUC preparatory training for a period not to exceed one year.

Courses

A minimum of 30 graduate credit hours and a thesis are required except as indicated in the "Thesis" section below. Required of all students:

TAFL

501

Principles of Linguistic Analysis, 3 cr.

 

503

Second Language Acquisition, 3 cr.

 

510

Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language I, 3 cr.

 

511

Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language II, 3 cr.

 

515

The Phonetics of Arabic, 3 cr.

 

520

Research Methods Applied Linguistics, 3 cr.

 


Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination consists of a written examination followed by an oral examination. It is required only of students not writing theses and may not be taken more than twice.

Thesis

The thesis is usually required for graduation. In some circumstances and with the adviser's approval, a candidate may be allowed to replace the thesis with two additional courses, increasing the total number of minimum credit hours required from 30 to 36. In such cases the candidate would be required to take the comprehensive examination.

The student writing a thesis must produce a professional paper on some aspect of TAFL. The thesis must be prepared under the guidance and close supervision of a faculty adviser and a designated committee.

Graduate Diploma in TAFL

The diploma program in TAFL is designed for qualified teachers of Arabic who meet the same admission requirements as those for the masters degree. The diploma is awarded to those who successfully complete the following six TAFL courses:
 

TAFL

502

Assessment in Language Learning, 3 cr.

 

506

Resources for TAFL, 3 cr.

 

510

Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language, 3 cr.

 

516

The Linguistics of Arabic, 3 cr.

 

565

Observation and Evaluation of Language Teaching, 3 cr.

 


One three-hour elective course to be decided upon by the student in con-sultation with the academic adviser.

A maximum of one appropriate course may be accepted, with departmental approval, as transfer credit toward the diploma in lieu of 502, 510, 516, 565, or an acceptable elective.

TAFL Courses
 

 CourseNum CourseTitle

501

Principles of Linguistic Analysis

502

Assessment in Language Learning

503

Second Language Acquisition

506

Resources for Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language

507

Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)/Computer Operations Techniques

510

Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language I

511

Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language II

515

The Phonetics of Arabic

516

The Linguistics of Arabic

520

Research Methods in Applied Linguistics

525

Contrastive Analysis in Second-Language Teaching/Learning

540

Selected Topics in Applied Linguistics

550

Language Pragmatics

551

Advanced Arabic Grammar

553

Sociolinguistics

555

Research Seminar

560

Supervised Study in TAFL

565

Observation and Evaluation of Language Teaching

588

Comprehensives

599

Research Guidance and Thesis

 

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