Browse Tag
ACTFL
4 posts
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL): A national organization dedicated to improving and expanding the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. (المجلس الأمريكي لتعليم اللغات الأجنبية)
What Happens in Your Brain When You Learn Arabic?
A new Max Planck Institute study explores brain differences when learning Arabic or German. Dr. Matthias Schwendemann discusses how native Arabic speakers' brains adapt to German, offering good news and motivation for adults learning new languages later in life.
Is Arabic a “Foreign Language” in America? Why ACTFL Should Rebrand to ‘World Languages’
This guest article argues the term "foreign language" is problematic in the U.S. due to its historical inaccuracy and marginalizing impact on bilingual individuals, including Arab-Americans. It advocates for ACTFL to adopt "World Languages" to reflect diverse linguistic realities.
The Surprising U.S. Military Origins of a Classic Arabic Language Course
This guest article by Reginald Hefner details the unexpected origins of widely used Arabic language courses. It traces how U.S. military language labs, phonograph records, and "survival language" methodologies influenced early Arabic textbooks.
Teaching Arabic in Germany vs. the US: An Expert’s Take on Methods and Curricula
This guest article features Paula Rötscher, an Arabic teacher in Germany. She compares Arabic teaching methods in Germany and the U.S., discusses popular textbooks like Al-Kitaab, and addresses the challenges and future of Arabic as a foreign language in German schools.
