Connecting Research and Practice in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language
The University of Oslo – Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages In Collaboration with Leiden University Institute for Area Studies Announce "Connecting Research and Practice in TAFL"

Photo: Colourbox
Call for abstracts
Connecting Research and Practice in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language addresses all important issues pertaining to research in Arabic language learning and teaching and its relation to the practice of teaching Arabic to non-native speakers at undergraduate and graduate levels. The conference also examines how engaging with research affects teachers’ professional development. It aims to bring together academics, researchers, and language instructors in Europe and beyond to share their views, empirical work and discuss the gains and challenges at the levels of AFL pedagogy, assessment, linguistics of the Arabic language, language acquisition, and teacher training as they shed light on future possibilities and needs.
Mahmoud Al-Batal is a Professor of Arabic at the American University in Beirut. He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Arabic Linguistics from the University of Michigan. He taught Arabic at Emory University in Atlanta, and at the University of Texas, Austin (UT) and also served as director of the Emory Language Center, director of the Middlebury College Arabic School, director of the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA), and director of the Arabic Flagship program at UT.
Dr. Al-Batal is co-author of Al-Kitaab Arabic textbook series, and has published on various aspects of TAFL and Sociolinguistics. His most recent publications include Arabic as One: Integrating Dialect in the Arabic Curriculum, an edited volume published by Georgetown University Press(2018), and تقرير حالة اللغة العربية ومستقبلها published by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth (2021).
Dr. Al-Batal will hold the pre-conference workshop on December 15th. More information coming soon.
Conference themes:
The conference encourages submissions on research that has implications for teaching and learning Arabic as a foreign language, and on teaching projects that are linked to research on the following areas:
- Action research and classroom research.
- Language use and communication.
- Arabic as a World Language.
- Teacher education and training.
- First and second language acquisition.
- Pedagogy for native and non-native speakers.
- (Online) curriculum and syllabus design.
- Resources for Arabic language teachers and learners.
- Arabic linguistics in TAFL.
- Assessment in TAFL.
- Best practices in TAFL.
Important Dates
Abstract Submission deadline: Aug. 1, 2022
Notification of acceptance: Sept. 15, 2022
Program available online: Oct. 15, 2022
Registration open: June 15, 2022
This conference is made in cooperation and ENTA with co-chair Hossam Ahmed from Leiden University.
For any questions, please contact co-chair and organizer Zehad Sabry Mohamad Zehad.