University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

An investigation of issues associated with teaching and learning Arabic for U.S. students

Zouhir, Abderrahmane

Content Files
Zouhir_Abderrahmane.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/18518

Description

Title
An investigation of issues associated with teaching and learning Arabic for U.S. students
Author(s)
Zouhir, Abderrahmane
Issue Date
2011-01-21T22:44:14Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Dressman, Mark A.
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Dressman, Mark A.
Committee Member(s)
  • Abd-El-Khalick, Fouad
  • Davidson, Frederick G.
  • DeNicolo, Christina P.
Department of Study
Curriculum and Instruction
Discipline
Secondary & Continuing Educ
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2011-01-21T22:44:14Z
Keyword(s)
  • Arabic as a Foreign Language
  • Arabic in U.S. Universities
  • Arabic Diglossia
  • Arabic Instruction Challenges
  • History of Arabic in USA
  • Arabic Pedagogy
Abstract
Arabic is gaining ground in U.S. Universities and new Arabic programs have been established. American Students’ registration in Arabic classes has increased rapidly in recent years. Through my participation for several years as a teaching assistant in the university where this research is conducted and lecturer of Arabic in other American institutions, I have noticed that American students face major difficulties in learning Arabic as a foreign language. There are striking conceptual and structural dissimilarities between Arabic and English. Arabic presents certain types of phonological, morphological and syntactical difficulties to the English-speaking students. Not enough research has explored the factors influencing learning Arabic and the teaching materials used in class. To this end, this study investigates the challenges that American students face in learning Arabic and explores the factors influencing learning Arabic in reading and writing. The data of this study was collected in a Midwestern university. A teacher and six American students learning Arabic were interviewed and observed in class to see the difficulties they face in learning Arabic and the factors that impact their learning. Students’ tests and homework were assessed. The study critically assesses the teaching and learning of Arabic, and provides some recommendations that are peculiar to the study setting as well as to the general field of teaching Arabic as a foreign language in the United States. Findings suggest that extra curricular activities should be promoted in teaching and learning Arabic in U.S. universities.
Graduation Semester
2010-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18518
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2010 Abderrahmane Zouhir

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Education
Dissertations and Theses from the College of Education