Key research themes
1. How can teaching strategies and classroom practices be adapted to effectively address the needs of Arabic language learners in diverse TAFL contexts?
This theme investigates pedagogical adjustments, differentiated instruction, and the incorporation of learners' backgrounds to enhance Arabic language acquisition. It recognizes the heterogeneous nature of TAFL classrooms and explores methods to motivate students, accommodate varying linguistic competencies, and apply teaching strategies that promote engagement and language use in authentic contexts.
2. What are the prevailing challenges in teaching Arabic as a foreign language, and how do these challenges impact language proficiency outcomes?
This research theme focuses on identifying impediments such as inadequate teacher training, motivational issues, linguistic diglossia, and assessment difficulties that hinder the success of TAFL programs. Understanding these barriers is crucial for devising targeted interventions to improve language proficiency and curriculum effectiveness in Arabic as a foreign language.
3. How can the diglossic nature and linguistic variation of Arabic be incorporated effectively into curriculum design and language instruction for TAFL?
Research under this theme explores the complex sociolinguistic reality of Arabic, characterized by diglossia and multiple regional dialects, and its implications for TAFL pedagogy. It examines integrated teaching approaches, instructors’ beliefs, and curriculum content choices to reconcile Modern Standard Arabic with colloquial varieties, thereby fostering realistic and functional language competence.