Awsaj Academy impress international conference with dedication to teaching Arabic

Awsaj Academy, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), recently participated in the International Conference of the Arabic Language, in the Lebanese capital, Beirut (pictured).

The conference is the first organized by the International Council for Arabic Language and was set up following a pledge by governments, ministers and organizations related to education and culture to take action to save the Arabic language. The theme for the Conference was “Arab language; international language”.

The conference was organized by the International Council of the Arabic Language in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and focused on research into the curricula and methods of teaching for the Arabic language, as well as the role of supervision in the process and how to empower teachers.

The conference also looked at the efforts of institutions who work to spread the Arabic language in various parts of the world and the relationship between the Arabic language and other languages (in terms of impact and vulnerability). The topics of Arabization and translation, scientific research and the use of technology were also covered.

Suad Al Kindi, Deputy Director and supervisor of subjects taught in Arabic at Awsaj Academy, along with Raja’a Shalabi, Arabic and Islamic Studies Coordinator, presented a joint paper about modern strategies in teaching Arabic.

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Awsaj Academy serves students with learning challenges in grades 1-12. Students are taught in classes of no more than ten students and teachers use evidence-based instructional practices to meet the student’s individual needs. The first part of their presentation focused on the vision and mission of Awsaj Academy and the educational initiatives it is adopting. The second part looked at evidence based strategies for teaching the skills of reading, writing, cognitive content and comprehension in Arabic.

The presentation highlighted that participation in the field is generated by the state promoting the importance and the role of the Arabic language.

Al Kindi noted that the academic language used at Awsaj Academy is English, but that the Academy has a responsibility to focus on the survival of the beautiful Arabic language, and keep it fresh in the hearts and the words of students. She went on to explain that the best teaching methods must be used, and it is important to look for what’s new in the field of teaching in general, and teaching Arabic in particular.

When talking about how the presentation was received, Suad Al Kindi said: “Our presentation was welcomed by senior researchers and those developing the teaching of Arabic language. This reflects the strong credentials that Awsaj Academy has in this area. We have had enquiries from elite schools and institutions about the possibility of training their teachers on what we presented”.

The conference also provided an opportunity for Awsaj Academy’s delegates to meet elite scientific stakeholders in the field who could help the Academy to design unique programs to teach the Arabic language.