This course can be used towards the Instructional Dimensions major or minor requirements.
This course offers a foundation in the approaches, theories and methods of teaching Middle Eastern (ME) languages as second/foreign languages. With focus on Arabic, Persian and Turkish, the course introduces students to second language acquisition research, task-based, standards-based, and proficiency-oriented language pedagogies from linguistic, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives. Through focused readings, in-class discussions, presentations, group collaborations, students develop foundational and critical knowledge about theoretical basis of teaching methods in their respective languages. Also, they will be introduced to critical pedagogies and social justice issues in the context of ME languages. Recent trends about translanguaging pedagogies, multilingualism, study abroad, and the integration of dialects in the curriculum will be also addressed. They gain tangible experiences by completing activities and teaching projects including classroom observation, action research, lesson planning, and material and curriculum design and review, and language assessment. Also, students will be mentored to develop a teaching portfolio with a teaching philosophy grounded in recent practices of language pedagogy. The course is envisioned to be open to teaching and research assistants of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. Other graduate students in less-commonly taught languages can take the course with the approval of their own departments.
Identical to: ARB 533, SLAT 533