MAJOR PROJECTS
MONTASTIC ARABIC​
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Levantine Arabic class has been offered to the local community of Missoula for free. The class has been offered for two years (4 terms: Fall 2015 – Spring 2017). I, along with my friend Eamon Ormseth, have taught spoken Levantine Arabic at the novice and intermediate levels. Those who regularly attended the classes typically progressed from novice low to an intermediate level of language proficiency over the course of at least two terms as measured by the OPI. The class involved communicative activities and games, with a focus on interaction with native Arabic speakers from the community.
In order to create sustainability at the end of the class, a training has been conducted for the American students of Levantine Arabic and some Arab refugees in the community on the basics of teaching/tutoring skills. My Professor Irene Appelbaum and I did the training, which aimed at matching the students of Arabic with the refugees to help each other with the language learning through practicing the language.
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The class’s name comes from combination of Montana, momtaaz (means excellent in Arabic), and fantastic. This name created a fun and positive language learning environment for all.
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In the News: http://www.kpax.com/story/31147029/um-graduate-student-wants-to-teach-you-arabic
Language and Intercultural Training Program Manager 2010 - 2014
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For four years (2010 - 2014), I managed the immersion language & intercultural training program for Peace Corps Jordan. I recruited, managed and supervised teaching staff teaching and about 35 U.S American Peace Corps Volunteers. In addition to managing the language and intercultural training program, I also monitored and supported Volunteers' community integration and continued language learning throughout their 27 months of service, advising on language learning, and intercultural communication and community integration issues. As part of the training team, I coordinated with the programming unit to advise on language training and intercultural issues, collecting and reporting on training data as required.
During Pre-Service Training (PST), Peace Corps Volunteers live with Jordanian host families and attend language classes six hours daily in addition to the projects and voluntary work activities they do. These training events aim at immersing them with the local language and culture in an authentic fashion. Students who attended these events usually went from Novice Low to Intermediate Mid after three months of language and culture immersion.
LANGUAGE​ TRAINING OF TRAINERS (LTOT) - PEACE CORPS 2008 - 2014
For six years (2008 - 2014), I have participated in two LTOTs as a Trainee and five major LTOTs as trainer. Each LTOT aims at training Jordanian language instructors to teach Levantine Arabic and Jordanian culture to Peace Corps Volunteers during their Pre-Service Training (PST), which lasts for 12 weeks in a local Jordanian village while they live with a Jordanian host families.
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I have received training to be an LTOT trainer in many workshops in Jordan, Morocco, Thailand and Cambodia.
Some of the areas covered in the training:
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 Using the Experiential Learning Cycle (ELC) to Debrief the Homestay Experience
 How Adults Learn Languages
 Communicative Language Teaching
 Analyzing Language for Teaching
 Introduction to Cross-Cultural Communication
 Clarifying Meaning, Form and Use of New Vocabulary (Jul-2013)
 Vocabulary Practice Activities
 Introduction to Language Lesson Planning
 Planning a Vocabulary-Focused Lesson
 Clarifying Meaning, Form and Use of New Grammar
 Teaching Pronunciation
 Grammar Practice Activities
 Grammar Lesson Planning
 Responding to Student Language Errors
 Classroom Language
 Language Learning Strategies
 Checking for Understanding
To see more or discuss possible work let's talk >>
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