Ahlan ya colleagues, Welcome to the Arabic K-12 Bulletin, a biweekly resource for elementary, middle, and high school Arabic teachers, administrators, and researchers. The school year is wrapping up, and similarly we are taking a break for the summer. Stay tuned for more as we get ready for the new school year in late August, and have a wonderful and relaxing summer! As always, if you would like to reach us please send a message to arabick12@gmail.com. Steven Berbeco, Editor |
The Arabic K-12 Teachers Network consists of more than 1,000 educators, administrators, and researchers interested in the Arabic K-12 field in the U.S. It is a free membership provided by the National Capital Language Resource Center's Arabic K-12 Project. Recent issues of the Bulletin are archived here: http://bit.ly/10KRZi3 . All members are welcome to submit posts in English or Arabic and may do so by e-mailing their content to arabick12@gmail.com specifying their content for the listserv. This listserv is focused on elementary, middle, and high school Arabic teaching. Job openings at the university level can be found on the AATA's website . |
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES NEW RESOURCES FOR YOUR STUDENTS AND CLASSROOM GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS NADA'S WEBSITES: "Tag Galaxy" BELAL'S ACTIVITIES: "Aliens Versus Defenders" MEOC BOOK RECOMMENDATION: "Alif the Unseen" CURRENT RESEARCH: "Reducing Summer Reading Setback" FOCUS ON LEARNING: "CCHS Senior to Study Arabic in Morocco" |
Workshops and Webinars Google has announced a free, self-paced course (http://bit.ly/18Ba8T6) on how to use Google Maps in your classroom, for teaching, to support your students, etc. The course begins on June 10 and features video and text tutorials to help you use Google Maps, Google Earth, and similar programs. It's possible to earn a certificate through completion of projects. COERLL (Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning) offers the free webinar Finding Open Media for Foreign Language Instruction on Wednesday, June 12, 3-4 pm. To register and earn CPE credits: http://bit.ly/16eIgqB . The Center for Language Education and Research (East Lansing, MI) is offering summer professional development workshops in July and August. These workshops offer hands-on experience and concrete ideas for language teachers: Writing in the Foreign Language Classroom; Revisiting the Learning and Teaching of Vocabulary; Rich Internet Applications for Language Learning: Introductory Techniques; and Assessing Speaking: For Placement Testing, Classroom-based Assessment, and Proficiency Exams. Early bird deadline is May 17 ($150/workshop), regular deadline is June 3. For more information: http://bit.ly/16KTFeh . New York University (New York City, NY) will conduct a STARTALK teacher-training workshop June 10-21, 2013. All current and prospective teachers at any level can apply, from community to college; graduate students are also welcome. Grant covers on-campus housing, course transcript, and need-based travel assistance. To apply: http://bit.ly/151VnK4 . Occidental College is offering Technology as the Core of Standards-Based Arabic Instruction, a workshop for teachers at California State University, Long Beach, June 20-26. Participants will learn to effectively use technology to enhance a standards-based approach, including locating authentic materials on the web; using technologies to make authentic materials accessible to students; facilitating interpersonal communication through instant messaging, video, audio and written chats, emails, interactive assignments and homework; supporting presentational communication using online postings, webpages and GoogleDrive. For more information, contact Iman Hashem ihashem@oxy.edu. The Developing Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages institute at CARLA (Minneapolis, MN; July 15-19, 2013
) will provide Instructors with practical tools and hands-on experience in developing a wide range of materials. Grounded in the latest research on effective language pedagogy and second language acquisition, this institute will focus on proficiency-oriented approaches to teaching. For more information: http://bit.ly/16rRtIp . Concordia Language Villages is offering Qatar Professional Development Workshops this spring and fall with full scholarships, substitute teacher reimbursement, and travel stipends for current and future teachers of Arabic, October 10-13. These workshops will bring together K-16 Arabic language teachers from across the United States to explore innovative instructional strategies. All Arabic language teachers are invited to apply for one or both of these workshops. To register: http://bit.ly/Xm0v7y . Professional Conferences Stay tuned for more conferences in the fall! Call For Proposals and Papers The Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (JNCOLCTL) is soliciting articles for publication. The Journal, published annually by NCOLCTL, is dedicated to the issues and concerns related to the teaching and learning of Less Commonly Taught Languages such as Arabic. The Journal primarily seeks to address the interests of language teachers, administrators, and researchers. Articles that describe innovative and successful teaching methods that are relevant to the concerns or problems of the profession, or that report educational research or experimentation in Less Commonly Taught Languages are welcome. For more information: http://bit.ly/12gmiRT . To submit an article: Danko.Sipka@asu.edu . The Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) will be holding its annual conference Oct 3-4, 2013 at Williamsburg, VA. FLAVA is seeking papers, panels, and workshops on teaching Arabic L2. Last year we had eight sessions on Arabic that where well-attended by teachers of Arabic, French, Spanish, Chinese, and more. School teachers as well as college professes are strongly encouraged to share their teaching and research with teachers of other languages attend this annual meeting. For more details: http://bit.ly/Xf3aBL . |
Game Maker 8 (http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker) is a free game development tool that allows you to create simple video games using a drag-and-drop editor. Extra help is available through on-line tutorials. If you are looking for ideas, the company that publishes this program, YoYo Games (http://www.yoyogames.com/browse), lets you browse hundreds of free games, too. Piktochart (http://piktochart.com/product-features) is a tool that allows your students to create infographics, which are visual representations of information or data. The website include seven free templates, and students (or teachers!) can change the colors, fonts, icons, and charts. Pixntell (http://pixntell.com/) for iPad allows students to create simple photostories complete with narration. The process for making a photostory is easy, and then the site records the student's description or narration of the images. Completed projects can be uploaded to YouTube, shared on FaceBook, or mailed to the teacher or other students. Make Beliefs Comix (http://www.makebeliefscomix.com) is a web-based service for creating comic strips in different languages using pre-made templates. The templates are divded into thematic categories to help you or your students decide on which to use. High School Summer Programs Choate Rosemary Hall is offering a high school summer program in Amman, Jordan (June 10 - July 10, 2013). The program will offer Modern Standard Arabic (at a level appropriate to proficiency) and intensive Jordanian colloquial classes. Students will also explore Jordanian History and learn about traditional Islamic arts, and students will live in pairs with Jordanian families. For further information: http://bit.ly/10CGmYr or email Georges Chahwan gchahwan@choate.edu. Aldeen Foundation (Pasadena, CA) is offering Stay Fit and Healthy June 17-July 5, 2013, a free Arabic summer program for beginner and heritage learner high school students. Language activities include sports, fitness, nutrition and role playing. Students who complete the online and onsite sessions will receive an allowance for mileage and college credit. Deadline to apply is May 31, 2013. For more information: http://bit.ly/Yjwab6 . King's Academy is offering a summer program for middle school and high school students on its campus outside of Amman, Jordan (June 30-July 25). The program will offer separate tracks for heritage and non-heritage speakers. Students will also engage in afternoon and weekend activities to explore the culture, traditions and history of Jordan and the Arab world. Students will live in King's Academy dormitories, supervised by school faculty. For more information: http://bit.ly/XUSgLB or email Joe Silvestri jsilvestri@kingsacademy.edu.jo. University of North Georgia is offering the Federal Service Language Academy, an intensive first-year and second-year Arabic program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in international-related careers with the federal government. Includes a daily fitness program, career counseling from federal agency representatives, and possible high school credit. For further information: http://bit.ly/TYKd3B . The Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy recently received a grant from the Qatar Foundation International to provide student scholarships for this summer's four-week immersion Arabic Academy at Pomona College (Claremont, CA). For more information: http://bit.ly/17p1IP4 . Connecting With Teachers Connect with hundreds of Arabic teachers in America and from around the world on the Teachers of Arabic Language K-12 (TALK12) page on Facebook. Teachers can chat, swap ideas, and give each other advice: http://www.talk12.org . Arabic teachers from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut: the New England Association of Arabic Teachers has been supporting K-12 Arabic teachers since 2008 with workshops, material and resources, and regular meetings. To join, contact Steven Berbeco berbeco@bu.edu. The Marhaba! Project is facilitating biweekly Virtual Coffee Hours, where a small group of teachers "meet up" on a conference call to talk about classroom teaching, materials and resources, and educational technology. The next coffee hour will be in September, after the summer break. Contact coffeehour@marhabaproject.org if you have any questions or would like to participate. |
Stay tuned for more grant opportunities in the fall! Job Openings Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (Claremont, CA) is looking for a full-time Arabic teacher for their intensive summer program for high school students. Stipend is $4300. For more information: http://bit.ly/191ztXE . Noorart (Richardson, TX) is seeking curriculum developers for an upper elementary Islamic Studies textbook as part of a multi-grade articulated curriculum. Applicants should demonstrate relevant writing competence, classroom teaching experience (preferably grades 4-6), and a graduate degree in a related field. Developers will receive detailed instructions for the format/structure of each book, including page count; components of textbook, unit, and lessons; objectives for each textbook; and grade-level content. To apply, send a letter of interest a writing sample (2-3 pages) such as lesson plans, and a resume to: info@noorart.com by May 30, 2013. The Middle East Studies Center at Portland State University seeks a paid curriculum consultant to help develop Arab Culture through Literature and Film, a five-unit high school curriculum to increase knowledge about Arab culture. Submit your resume and cover letter to Elisheva Cohen e.cohen@pdx.edu by May 20, 2013 . Orange Crescent School (Garden Grove CA) is seeking a full-time K-8 Arabic teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. To apply, send a letter of introduction, letter(s) of recommendation, and a resume to: hr@orangecrescent.com . ABC Languages (New York, NY) is seeking a part-time Arabic teacher for classes in Westchester county. To apply, send your resume to: westchester@abclang.com. Chicago Ridge School (Chicago Ridge, IL) is seeking a full-time elementary school Arabic teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. For more information: http://bit.ly/16yGbjH . Newark Collegiate Academy (Newark, NJ), a KIPP school, is seeking a full-time high school Arabic teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. For more information: http://bit.ly/WL05YE . The Awty International School (Houston, TX) is seeking a Classical Arabic language teacher to teach in the middle and high school IB program for the 2013-2014 school year. For more information: http://bit.ly/13PbScW . Albert Einstein Academy for Letters, Arts and Sciences (Los Angeles, CA) is seeking a part-time high school Arabic teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. For more information: http://bit.ly/13MlNzK . E.L. Haynes High School (Washington, DC) is seeking a full-time middle school Arabic teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. To apply: http://bit.ly/YcJBE3 . |
Nada Shaath (Bell High School, CA) suggests: Tag Galaxy (http://www.taggalaxy.com). Browse through Flickr photos in 3D with this flash application. You will need a newer Version of the Adobe Flash Player to view the Tag Galaxy website. This is great for all subjects, including Arabic, and including 3D pictures for lesson planning ideas and for students to explore. |
Belal Joundeya (Renaissance Academy, UT) suggests: Aliens Versus Defenders. Download a PowerPoint file from a Google search on "Aliens vs. Defenders .ppt". Divide the class into two teams: the Aliens and the Defenders. Use flashcards with the students. Whichever team answers first gets to destroy one of their enemies on the PowerPoint. If it is a tie at the end, whichever team got it first wins. |
The Middle East Outreach Council (http://www.meoc.us) recommends the young adult book Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (Grove Press). Alif the Unseen is a witty fantasy written for the cyber-age and its youthful inhabitants. During the course of a mythical and political thriller, it teaches about Islam, jinns, gender relations, Gulf politics, the importance of freedom with responsibility, and much more. With themes that teenagers will embrace, settings that fascinate, and characters that are bizarre and entertaining, it is a book for high school students who loved Harry Potter but want to explore a gritty fantasy world of both magical and internet wizardry, grounded in the issues and complexities of the Middle East. Note: Some strong language and sexual content. |
Reducing Summer Reading Setback
By Kim Marshall | Marshall Memo #486, May 20, 2013, http://www.marshallmemo.com In this article in Reading Today, Richard Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen (University of Tennessee) say that 80 percent of the rich/poor achievement gap comes from summer loss – the ground that poorer children lose because most read very little when school is not in session. Sending children home for the summer with self-selected books is an excellent intervention, say Allington and McGill-Franzen: "An annual cost of approximately $50 per child for a summer book distribution program is far less expensive than scheduling summer school programs and equally effective at enhancing the reading achievement of children from low-income families." Here are their research-based recommendations: If money is short, prioritize younger children, especially kindergarten and first graders. Have children select books in a book-fair format; they are much more likely to read books they've chosen themselves. Send grade 1-4 children home with 12-15 books each; older children don't need as many, perhaps 5-6 books each for sixth graders. Keep the program going for several years. "Eliminating Summer Reading Setback: How We Can Close the Rich/Poor Reading Achievement Gap" by Richard Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen in Reading Today, April/May 2013 (Vol. 30, #5, p. 10-11). |
CCHS Senior to Study Arabic in Morocco
By Staff | Wicked Local Concord, May 25, 2013
Source: http://bit.ly/12fF8Jv Jack Struck, a graduating senior at Concord-Carlisle High School, has been awarded one of approximately 625 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships and will study Arabic in Morocco this summer. The nationally competitive NSLI-Y program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. NSLI-Y offers overseas study opportunities in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian and Turkish. Struck, 17, who graduates in June, will spend two months in Morocco. He has been accepted to the School of International Service at American University and will enroll there this fall. The NSLI-Y scholarship covers all program costs for participants including domestic and international travel; tuition and related academic preparation; language testing; educational and cultural activities focused on language learning; orientations; meals; and accommodations, usually with a host family. Launched as part of a U.S. government initiative in 2006, NSLI-Y seeks to increase Americans' capacity to engage with native speakers of critical languages by providing foal instruction and informal language practice in an immersion environment. Educational and cultural activities are designed to promote language learning and build mutual understanding and long-lasting relationships. The goals of the NSLI-Y program include sparking a life-long interest in foreign languages and cultures, and developing a corps of young Americans with the skills necessary to advance international dialogue in the private, academic or government sectors, and build upon the foundations developed through person-to-person relationships while abroad. Through his participation in the program, Struck will serve as a citizen diplomat while developing the skills necessary to be a leader in the global community. NSLI-Y is administered by American Councils for International Education in cooperation with AFS-USA, American Cultural Exchange Service, Americans Promoting Study Abroad, AMIDEAST, iEARN-USA, Legacy International, and Russian American Foundation. Applications for 2014-2015 NSLI-Y programs are expected to be available at http://www.nsliforyouth.org in the early fall. For information about U.S. Department of State-sponsored exchange programs visit http://www.exchanges.state.gov . |
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