Creating Peace: Creating Peace: Creating Effective Creating Effective Teachers of Arabic Teachers of Arabic

in Bahrain in Bahrain Dr. Hanada Taha-ThomureDr. Hanada Taha-Thomure

Language Acquisition Language Acquisition Resource Center at San Resource Center at San Diego State UniversityDiego State University

Arabic Programs at LARCArabic Programs at LARC

Teaching Arabic language.Teaching Arabic language. Developing Arabic language instructional Developing Arabic language instructional

materials.materials. Training teachers in student-centered and Training teachers in student-centered and

communicative language approaches. communicative language approaches. Outreach through after school Arabic Outreach through after school Arabic

programs and teacher training. programs and teacher training.

Bahrain Teachers Bahrain Teachers CollegeCollege

An autonomous College within the University of Bahrain.An autonomous College within the University of Bahrain. Train all new teachers and upgrade the skills of existing Train all new teachers and upgrade the skills of existing

teachers, head teachers, and selected specialists.teachers, head teachers, and selected specialists. Under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education Under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education Ensure programs are consistent, relevant, of an appropriate Ensure programs are consistent, relevant, of an appropriate

quality and comprehensively address teachers' needs. quality and comprehensively address teachers' needs. Extensive support from The National Institute of Education Extensive support from The National Institute of Education

(NIE) in Singapore, a leading international provider in teacher (NIE) in Singapore, a leading international provider in teacher training. training.

The Case of Arabic The Case of Arabic LanguageLanguage

Training Arabic language teachers by proxy.Training Arabic language teachers by proxy. 135 public schools Arabic Observed.135 public schools Arabic Observed. Teacher-centeredTeacher-centered Textbook dominatedTextbook dominated Rote learning. Rote learning. No concept of reading. No concept of reading.

StatisticsStatistics

According to UNESCO, there are 40 million According to UNESCO, there are 40 million children who do not attend school in the Arab children who do not attend school in the Arab world. world.

In Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunis, In Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunis, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Syria, and UAE = 80%Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Syria, and UAE = 80%

Libya and Saudi Arabia < 70%Libya and Saudi Arabia < 70% Morocco, Sudan and Yemen< 60%Morocco, Sudan and Yemen< 60%

Boys SchoolsBoys Schools

Girls SchoolsGirls Schools

The Result?The Result? High drop out rates.High drop out rates. Lack of proficiency in the language.Lack of proficiency in the language. Teachers who are out of touch.Teachers who are out of touch. Heyneman in 1997 found that 13 year old Jordanian students Heyneman in 1997 found that 13 year old Jordanian students

had so much less basic knowledge of reading, writing and had so much less basic knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic than those who are 14 in another country. In 1995, arithmetic than those who are 14 in another country. In 1995, the National Research Center administered Arabic language the National Research Center administered Arabic language tests for 4908 students in 4th grade in 205 schools in Jordan tests for 4908 students in 4th grade in 205 schools in Jordan and found that the percentage of correct answers given was and found that the percentage of correct answers given was 54%. 54%.

51% for boys, and 57% for girls51% for boys, and 57% for girls

What are we doing?What are we doing?

Introduce the concept of classroom libraries Introduce the concept of classroom libraries (MEPI & Scholastic).(MEPI & Scholastic).

Train teachers through intensive summer Train teachers through intensive summer institutes starting this summer. institutes starting this summer.

Teacher TrainingTeacher Training