EDUCATORS SHARE IDEAS ABOUT HOW BETTER TO TEACH ARABIC TO TODAY’S YOUTH

(MENAFN- Qatar Foundation ) Doha, Qatar, 25 February 2023: Teachers, educators, and experts from across Qatar have come together at a Qatar Foundation forum to exchange methods and strategies for teaching the Arabic language – and engaging the nation’s youth in recognizing its place at the heart of their national identity.
The third edition of the Education Forum on Heritage and Identity, organized by the Education Development Institute of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education and the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies – Tarsheed, held a study day where innovators and specialists shared their insights on effective pathways for Arabic learning in schools.
The event at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies also hosted a series of interactive workshops, delivered by Arabic teachers and covering an array of topics – from teaching how to write Arabic and making Arabic classes inclusive to those with learning challenges, to how technology, music, drama, and electronic platforms can support Arabic teaching strategies.
Speaking at the forum, Abeer Al-Khalifa, President of QF’s Pre-University Education, described the event as “an opportunity to discuss issues related to Arabic and heritage education, and to share ideas about the importance of the language and our efforts to promote it”.
“We all know that the Arabic language, with its rich history and culture, is among the most important languages in the world, as it is the cornerstone of Islamic civilization, and an essential component of Arab heritage in general and Qatar in particular,” she told participants.
“The Arabic language is a vital part of our identity, and it is our responsibility to preserve it. This is because a person’s sense of belonging to their society, and their adherence to the values, traditions, and history of this society, begins primarily with language; and because language is closely related to identity. Teaching the Arabic language is therefore crucial, so that students understand its complexities and nuances.”
Ms. Al-Khalifa explained how QF is a custodian of the Arabic language, saying: “We recognize the importance of creating an integrated environment that encourages and supports the learning of the Arabic language, and this includes extracurricular activities that integrate the language into cultural events and competitions, as these activities contribute to presenting the Arabic language in a fun and engaging way, and develop students’ sense of pride and belonging to their heritage.”
Samia Bishara Rizeq, Managing Director of Tarsheed, said the event represented “a dialogue between teachers, experts, and specialists, united by a love for the Arabic language, that indicates the importance of developing it and of keeping pace with modern methods in education”.
Speaking about the partnership between Tarsheed and EDI, she said: “With solidarity, processes and efforts become integrated, and we move closer to the learning we hope for.”
And she also explained that fostering interest in Arabic is at the core of Tarsheed’s work, saying: “We believe that interest in the Arabic language does not start or end with the school day.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Hanadi Dayeh delivered a talk that focused on the concepts of originality and renewal in teaching Arabic, and how this impacts on the way learners acquire the language, where she invited participants to examine and reflect on practices and approaches for teaching Arabic and to search for new and original ways of doing so.
“Maybe we derive these practices and approaches from the first roots that establish learners in the land of their culture and identity, and learn from other forms of creativity that open learners’ linguistic and cognitive horizons and prepare them for life,” she said.
More than 300 teachers from government and private schools in Qatar participated in sessions presented by experts in teaching Arabic from different Arab countries, focusing on topics that included teaching written expression, communication, linguistics, the mentality of questioning when learning Arabic, and critical reading.
The study day also included workshops presented by a group of teachers from Qatar addressing the methods and strategies they use to teach different Arabic skills. The event provided participants with the opportunity for dialogue and the exchange of experiences on how the teaching of Arabic can be enhanced and students’ attitudes toward learning it can be developed.
• Through a partnership between QF and TED, the flagship TEDinArabic Summit will take place in Doha on 18-19 March 2023, welcoming TED speakers from across the Arabic-speaking world to share their stories and ideas in the Arabic language. For more details on the summit and to register to attend, please visit

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