This guide clearly and succinctly presents the basic tenets of teaching foreign languages specifically for Arabic teachers. Consolidating findings from second language acquisition (SLA) research and applied linguistics, it covers designing curricula, theory and methods, goals, testing, and research, and intersperses practical information with background literature in order to help teachers improve their teaching of Arabic as a foreign language (TAFL). Karin C. Ryding, a well-regarded scholar of Arabic linguistics and former president of the American Association of Teachers of Arabic, frames the discussion with SLA literature and suggests practical and effective ways of helping students learn. Ryding discusses issues at the core of Arabic teaching effectiveness and the achievement of communicative competence, such as the teaching of pronunciation, speaking, reading, listening, and writing; teaching mixed-level classes; creative classroom organization; corrective feedback; and use of activities and exercises, with plenty of examples from Arabic and tips for teachers. She also covers materials development and proficiency testing, providing study questions and recommended readings for each chapter. This guide, which can be used as a textbook, is the first of its kind aimed specifically at TAFL, and should be of interest to Arabic instructors-in-training, academics, graduate students, linguists, department chairs, language coordinators, and teacher trainers. It also serves as a resource for teachers of other less commonly taught languages (LCTLs), who struggle with similar issues.
Table of ContentsForewordRoger Allen Introduction Part I: Fundamentals of Foreign Language Pedagogy1. Some Pedagogical Principles2. Theory and Practice3. Professionalism and Professional Standards Part II: Approaches to Foreign Language Teaching4. Traditional Methods and Approaches for Language Teaching5. Newer Methods and Approaches Part III: Programmatic Issues6. Learning Goals, Curricula, and Syllabi7. Materials, Resources, Technology 8. Assessment and Testing Part IV: Planning and Managing the Elements of Teaching9. Pedagogical Practice: Classroom Management 10. Learning Styles, Strategies, and Affective Factors11. Mixed Classes and Heritage Learners Part V: The Pedagogy of Comprehension12. Comprehension and Arabic Input: Overview13. Reading Comprehension in Arabic14. Listening Comprehension in Arabic Part VI: Teaching Productive Skills15. Teaching Arabic Pronunciation16. Teaching Spoken Arabic17. Writing in Arabic Part VII: Teaching Core Competencies18. Teaching and Learning Vocabulary19. Pedagogical Grammar20. Teaching Arabic Culture Appendices References Index
