The 4th Biennial Arabic Language Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Conference
Translanguaging and Linguistic Diversity in Arabic
Thursday, 18th April, 2024, University of Cambridge
Presenter Biographies PDF Download
Presenters at the 2024 Conference
Prof. Christine van Ruymbeke
University Libre de Bruxelles
Professor Van Ruymbeke is the Ali Reza and Muhamed Soudavar Professor of Persian Literature and Culture, as well as co-Chair of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge (UK) and Head of its Middle Eastern Department. Christine is a literary critic working on classical (medieval and pre-modern) Persian literature, with a special focus on its medieval non-mystical narrative production. How can we engage today with these classical Persian texts in a meaningful way? She also looks at calligraphy and illustrations in medieval and pre-modern Persian manuscripts.
Listed alphabetically by personal (first) name:
Dr Afaf Bataineh
The American University of Dubai
Dr Afaf is a professor of Arabic at the American University in Dubai. She served as a faculty member, Arabization project manager, and Associate Dean. Dr Afaf’s most recent publications focus on translanguaging, linguistic landscapes and language policy and planning. She published Language policy in higher education in the United Arab Emirates: Proficiency, choices and the future of Arabic in Language Policy (2021). In collaboration with Kay Gallagher, she published two articles on translanguaging in children’s literature. As a novelist, Afaf published Al-‘Ighwā’ Al-‘Akhīr and Khārij Al-Jasād. She translated Democracy and Democratization: Processes and Prospects in a Changing World by Georg Sorensen and Linguistic Criticism by Roger Fowler from English into Arabic.
Dr Al Tubuly
Al-Maktoum College for Higher Education
The University of Edinburgh
Dr Al Tubuly holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Essex. She read the acquisition of Arabic. She is a fellow of Advance HE and completed the PG Certificate in Academic Practice in HE from University of Dundee. Before joining AL- Maktoum College, she worked at the Language and Linguistics Department at the University of Essex. Much of her publications focused on Arabic and linguistics. She is the secretary of the BATA and a member of the AATA, as well as other associations. She recently became a teaching fellow and a course organiser at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Amer Sultan
Al Salam University Company
Amer embarked on their academic journey at the University of Mosul, Iraq, where they earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1989. Subsequently, they pursued advanced education, reaching the pinnacle of academic achievement in 2005 by completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in modern history and political thought. Amer possesses profound knowledge of Iraqi and Arab history, coupled with an understanding of contemporary developments and social movements in the region. Amer has held several esteemed academic positions, including Dean of the Education School at Kirkuk University. From 2015 to 2018, Amer assumed the vital role of serving as a Ph.D. Mentor in the School of History at Bangor University. Since 2018, Dr Amer Sultan has served as the head of the Peace Center at Al Salam University Company.
Ms Amira Mills
King’s College London
Amira Mills is the deputy team leader of Arabic and Middle Eastern languages, lecturer of Arabic, as well as the senior tutor at the Language Centre, King’s College London. Amira is a graduate from University of Ain Shams in Cairo, Egypt, in French Literature and Linguistics and obtained her Masters in Linguistics and Phonetics. Her main areas of interest are curriculum design, comparative grammar, training and development, as well as diversity and inclusion. Amira has been nominated for several awards for teaching excellence and students' diversity and inclusion.
Dr Attia Youseif
Indiana University
Attia Youseif, a Senior Lecturer and Director of Tutoring in the Arabic Flagship program at Indiana University, brings over 27 years of impactful teaching experience across renowned institutions. With four books, seven articles, and presentations at 30 conferences, he's a prolific researcher. Beyond academia, Attia excels in leadership, directing the Tutoring Program for the Arabic Flagship and founding a tutoring community for flagship languages programs in the US. His passion lies in modern pedagogical methods and integrating AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) in Arabic language instruction, exploring the intricate relationship between language, culture, and identity. Attia's career epitomizes dedication to advancing Arabic linguistics and fostering global academic collaboration.
Dr Cristina Solimando
Roma Tre University
Cristina Solimando is associate professor of Arabic Language and Literature at University of Roma Tre. She studied Linguistics at Sapienza University and obtained her PHD in Islamic Civilization, History and Philology. She worked mainly on the Arabic linguistic tradition, in particular between VIII and XII centuries. Beside the history of Arabic grammatical thought, she is author of contributions focused on contemporary Arabic with particular interest in linguistic variation, word-formation in Standard Arabic, Arabic in CMC (Computer Mediated Communication) and in the teaching of Arabic as Foreign Language. She is the author of course books and several contributions on Arabic Linguistics.
Ms Eman Ismael
King’s College London
Eman Ismael is a lecturer at King’s College London with more than 17 years of experience teaching Arabic in both the UK and abroad. Eman has an MA in Teaching Language (Arabic) from London Metropolitan University (2017), a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Arabic from SOAS University (2011), and a BSc (Hons) in Business Information Technology from Westminster University (2008). She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguistics, and a member of the British Association of Teachers of Arabic (BATA). Her research interests lie in the areas of classroom interaction, different effective methods of feedback provision, Arabic linguistics, and comparative literature.
Ms Farida El Keiy
The University of Cambridge
Farida is an Associate Professor in Arabic, Year Abroad Coordinator, Director of Studies and Fellow Tutor at Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge. She is a teacher-trainer with extensive experience of teaching higher education level Arabic in UK and Middle Eastern Universities. Before joining Cambridge in 2014, Farida was a Teaching Fellow in Arabic at the University of Edinburgh and an Arabic Instructor at the American University in Cairo. Farida taught Arabic at the British Council in Cairo, and headed the Arabic department from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, she co-founded 'Kalimat Language and Cultural Centre' in Cairo, Egypt.
Dr Fatima A. Alkohlani
King Abdulaziz University
Associate Professor with a Ph.D. in Arabic linguistics from Georgetown University, and an MA in Arabic Grammar and Morphology from Umm al-Qura University. Faculty member at King Abdulaziz University's Arabic Language Institute for Speakers of other Languages, teach Arabic to non-natives and Arabic linguistics in TAFL MA program. Head of the Academic affairs Unit, and member in the institute’s program designing and curriculum developing committee. Published several papers in TAFL and sociolinguistics, initiated a "Language Partner Program," and participated in the executive committee of the immersive program at King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language.
Dr Ghada Badawy
New York University
Ghada Badawi is a Clinical Associate Professor of Arabic language at New York University in New York. Prior to being appointed at NYU, Ghada taught Arabic language at Tufts University, Harvard University and Columbia University in the City of New York. Ghada has more than twenty-five years of experience in teaching both English and Arabic as foreign languages, in addition to teaching other courses like Phonetics and Phonology, Translation (from and into Arabic/ English) and TOEFL. Ghada’s research interests are Foreign Language Assessment inside and outside the classroom, Foreign Language Testing and Using Technology in Teaching Languages for non-native speakers.
Dr Hazem Osman
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
Hazem Osman has extensive experience in teaching English as well as Arabic to foreigners in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. He earned a master’s degree in teaching Arabic as a foreign language at Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Later on, he earned a doctor's degree in Multicultural Education and majored in Second Language Acquisition. His dissertation focused on investigating teachers' perceptions of intercultural communicative competence in the preparatory program at King Saud University. He currently works as an associate professor and a chair of an Arabic department at the Defense Language Institute.
Dr Hossam Abouzahr
The Living Arabic Project
Hossam launched The Living Arabic Project in 2013, an online multi-dialect Arabic database which now includes over 200,000 entries for Standard Arabic and seven dialects. From 2012-2022 he worked in the Washington, DC area and abroad on human rights, development, and political analysis. He currently works as a grant writer on applied AI grants at the University of Michigan. He has a master’s in Middle East Studies and a second Public Policy and is a graduate of the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad (CASA).
Ms Iman Saad El Din Nahla
American University in Cairo
Iman Saad El Din Nahla is a Senior II Arabic language instructor at the Department of Arabic Language Instruction (ALI) at the American University in Cairo. She obtained her MA in TAFL from the American University in Cairo in 1997 and has been since then teaching at the ALI. Currently, she serves as the director of the Arabic Language Intensive Program. She co- authored Al-Murshid, a book on teaching Arabic grammar to intermediate-level students. She has instructed courses in Modern Standard Arabic, Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, Media Arabic, Listening and Speaking, Grammar, and Writing to students of varying levels of proficiency.
Dr Imene Medfouni
Middle East University, Jordan
Imene Medfouni completed her PhD in languages and applied linguistics from the University of Portsmouth, UK. Prior to this, she earned a MA in Applied Linguistics and TEFL and a BA in Linguistics from Larbi Ben M'hidi University, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria. Imene has undertaken various research and translation roles in the UK and held teaching positions in Jordan. Currently, she holds the position of Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Department of English Language and Literature in Middle East University, Jordan. Her research interests include English as a medium of instruction EMI, translanguaging, language politics and attitudes, with particular focus on Arabic and French in Algeria.
Mr Jonathan Featherstone
The University of Edinburgh
Jonathan Featherstone has taught Arabic at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Defence School of Languages and more recently at the University of Edinburgh. He has over 30 years of Arabic teaching experience. He is also a teacher trainer and has delivered intensive five-day workshops in Communicative Arabic Teaching the in the UK, UAE, and USA Jonathan is also the author of a number of Arabic course books, including BBC Talk Arabic, and co-author of Arabiyyat al-Naas fi Masr, Arabiyyat al-Naas Book 2 (Routledge) 2022. Jonathan has a particular passion for the teaching of Arabic dialects, in particular Egyptian Arabic and Levantine Arabic.
Dr Jumana Ghannam
Nottingham Trent University
Dr Jumana Ghannam is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and the University Language Programme leader. As well as the Arabic subject leader. Jumana has MA in ELTD from the University of Nottingham, Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching English Overseas, and CELTA from Cambridge University. She is a qualified teacher trainer from the University of South Carolina in the USA. Jumana’s interests span any and all aspects of second language acquisition and applied linguistics. She is a member of the Editorial Board of TESOL International Journal and occasional reviewer for leading international journals (e.g., Journal of English for Academic Purposes, Elsevier).
Dr Khaled Al Masaeed
Carnegie Mellon University
Khaled Al Masaeed is Associate Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Arabic Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. He has published widely on second language pragmatics and multilingual translanguaging, and his work has appeared in peer-reviewed venues such as Applied Linguistics and The Modern Language Journal. At Carnegie Mellon University, he mentors graduate students in SLA and teaches courses in Arabic Studies, SLA, and Applied Multilingual Studies. Khaled serves as the general editor for Routledge’s book series Topics in Arabic Applied Linguistics.
Dr Laila Al-Sawi
American University in Cairo
Laila Al-Sawi is a senior instructor II of Arabic as a foreign language in the Department of Arabic Language Instruction (ALI) at The American University in Cairo. She has been teaching Modern Standard Arabic, reading, writing, listening, speaking and media, in addition to Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, at various levels in ALI since 1981. She participated in several material development projects and publications, including co-authoring Media Arabic for Beginners, Kalaam Gamiil and Al-Murshid. She also participated in a number of conferences and workshops; her last presentation was entitled Way beyond Enjoyment: Brining Movies inside the AFL Classroom. Laila Al-Sawi was the recipient of the 2006 CASA Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Dr Lama Nassif
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
Lama Nassif is Associate Teaching Professor of Arabic Studies at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. Her research interests include noticing and attention in second language (L2) development, sociolinguistic development in L2 Arabic acquisition, and the interface between L2 research and pedagogy, and her work appears in peer-reviewed, international journals. Her most recent project is a book manuscript entitled Teaching Grammar in the L2 Arabic Classroom: A Focus on Form Practice. Under contract with Routledge, it combines noticing and attention in SLA research with pedagogical practices in the teaching of L2 Arabic grammar.
Dr Letizia Lombezzi
The University of Bologna, Italy
Letizia is Arabic Adjunct Lecturer at The University of Siena and Bologna in Italy, and holds a PhD dual degree in Arabic language. She has carried out two post-docs on Arabic literature, the first focusing on identity and representation in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, and the second on the short story of the Gulf area. She occasionally works as translator and community interpreter. She has published her monograph titled Contents and Methods for Teaching Spoken Arabic within the series Colección Estudios de Dialectología árabe issued by The University of Zaragoza Press, in 2019. A list of her publication is available at https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5962-9418
Ms Luma Hameed
Goldsmiths, University of London
Luma Hameed is the founder and author of the ‘Yalla Arabi’ active books and other curriculum resources. She is associate lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London and the leader of the Arabic Teachers’ Council in London and Southern England. She holds BEd, PGCE & MA in Education (Language, Culture, and Identity). Luma has delivered teacher training across a wide range of topics, nationally and internationally. She is also a principal examiner at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. She taught Arabic and German language at secondary schools and is passionate to promote engaging creative language learning & intercultural understanding.
Dr Mahmoud Azaz
University of Arizona
Mahmoud Azaz is Distinguished Fellow, Director of the National Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and Associate Professor of Arabic & Second Language Acquisition (SLA) at the University of Arizona. He holds a PhD with Distinction in Arabic SLA, and his scholarship focuses on applied linguistics of Arabic from linguistic and sociocultural perspectives. His academic production includes around 20 peer-reviewed articles and a book monograph with Routledge Press. His current national leadership includes the Executive Director of the Arabic Linguistics Society in North America and a member on the Executive Committee of the Applied Linguistics Forum at the Modern Language Association.
Dr Mahmoud El Shehawy
TAFL Centre Alexandria University
Instructor of Arabic language and literature at the TAFL Center at Alexandria University, and Academic Counselor in Arizona State University - ASU Prep Digital. He works as a professor of Arabic for Speakers of Other Languages at the Applied Languages Program at the Faculty of Arts of the same university. He obtained a Ph.D. degree in Arabic language and literature from the same faculty and is a certified OPI Tester from ACTFL. He participates in training newly graduated language teachers to qualify them to be familiar with the basics of the communicative approach in teaching Arabic. He has published several research papers including https://lnkd.in/dPSc_TdH, https://search.mandumah.com/Record/1146018 and https://advance.sagepub.com/articles/preprint/know_your_level_in_Arabic_a_linguistic_ca psule_in_the_concept_of_Arabic_proficiency/21893856
Ms Marwah Khost
The American University in Cairo
Marwah holds a Masters degree in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language at the American University in Cairo, and a Bachelor’s Degree in PR from the American University in Sharjah. Her latest research paper explores the influence of one salience feature - bolded keywords - over reading speed and comprehension amongst Heritage+ Learners of Arabic. Marwah is currently the Communications Manager, Digital Platforms & Content Specialist at Google in MENA, and has over 8 years of experience in the field of communications. Marwah also leads the language quality for Google’s regional external content in Arabic.
Dr Melissa Towler
The University of Leeds
Melissa Towler worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the University of Leeds investigating Arabic teaching in UK schools (2022-2023). Melissa achieved her PhD for Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language at HEIs in England (University of Winchester, 2021), which focuses on the approaches to teaching Arabic at English universities through mixed-methods research to investigate including regional variation in the curriculum. Previously, she was the Principal Researcher on the British Academy’s Language Mapping Pilot Project: Arabic Language Provision in the UK (2018), and worked on a British Council project investigating the teaching of Arabic in UK schools (2016).
Dr Mohammed Abouzahr
University of Michigan
Mohammed obtained his Ph.D. in Philosophy and Master's in Computer Science at Wayne State University, and his Bachelor's in Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University. As the founder of the non-profit Open Social Resources, Mohammed employs model development, analysis, and software implementation for public benefit. Such projects range from developing dialect analysis tools to helping local businesses increase their web presence. He currently works as a senior full stack developer for the University of Michigan's School of Information. Mohammed's hobbies include spending time with family and friends, logic puzzles, and cooking challenges.
Mr Mohamed Firgany
The American University in Cairo
An Arabic language lecturer at the American University in Cairo, he earned his TAFL MA from AUC. His range of experience is wide and unique. He taught 2000+ students from over 70+ different nationalities for more than 11,000 hours. His teaching experience includes individually, in small groups, and in big classrooms, in both face-to-face and online formats. In addition, he published papers and gave insights at multiple conferences in Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.
Mr Mohamed Hassan
Amherst College
Mohamed Hassan is a senior lecturer in Arabic at the Dept. of Asian Languages and Civilizations, Amherst College, USA. His current research interests include critical discourse analysis, critical sociolinguistics and discourse theory. He was a visiting scholar at the Linguistics Department, UMass Amherst and taught at UMass Amherst and Smith College. He is a contributing editor of Metamorphoses, the Journal of the Faculty Seminar on Literary Translation. He is a co-translator of African Folklore: An Encyclopedia into Arabic. His book chapter “Religious Minority Representation in Arabic Language” in The Routledge Handbook of Language and Religion (Routledge) is forthcoming in 2024.
Mr Mohammed Muqbel
New York University Abu Dhabi
Mohammed Muqbel is an NYU Abu Dhabi graduate with a BA in Social Research and Public Policy and minors in Psychology and Teacher Education. His commitment to locally grounded education led him to research initiatives with the Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Foundation, focusing on education in the UAE. Mohammed contributed to the development of content for a new Arabic language learning website at NYU Abu Dhabi. Currently an assistant instructor at NYU Abu Dhabi, he designs, conducts, and manages meaningful experiential learning programs and activities for Arabic language students, demonstrating a passion for linguistic diversity and translanguaging in language education.
Dr Nada Nasser Bin Ghali
King Saud University
Nada Nasser Bin Ghali, assistant professor at the English language skills department at CFY at King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). She earned her MA in TESOL from Southampton University, UK (2014) and received her PhD in Applied Linguistics from Newcastle University, UK (May 2023). She has taught EFL for over seven years at KSU and elsewhere and has participated in many local and international conferences. She is interested in multilingualism and the use of translanguaging in teaching languages, discourse analysis and sociocultural theory of learning. She also looks at foreign language anxiety and willingness to participate in the classroom
Prof. Nasser Abdullah Bin Ghali
Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Arabic Linguistics
Nasser is Professor in sociolinguistics, a member of the Scientific Council at King Saud University, and the former Dean of the Arabic Language Institute. His main research interests focus on the Arabic language in its social context. The topic represents the centre of his research and studies, encompassing multiple axes that are integrated with each other to discuss language in its social context that include but are not limited to the social aspect of language, discourse analysis, Arabic language in international organisations, and teaching language through cultural contexts.
Dr Orieb Masadeh-Tate
University of Manchester
With over 20 years of experience at UK institutions teaching translation studies and Arabic language, Dr Orieb Masadeh-Tate currently holds the post of Director for the Language Centre’s Language Experience for all programmes (LEAP) and senior language tutor of the Arabic UG courses at the University of Manchester (UK). She holds a PhD in Translation Studies from the University of Durham and MA degree from SOAS University. In addition to her academic expertise, as a professional translator, Dr Masadeh-Tate provides translation and interpreting services to a wide range of local and international institutions, most recently the British Red Cross. For full information, please visit Dr Masadeh-Tate’s web profile.
Dr Osama Othman
The American University in Cairo
Osama Othman is an Arabic as a Foreign Language teacher, holding a degree in Arabic Literature from Cairo University. As a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at the University of Notre Dame in the US in 2022 and an intern instructor at Leiden University in the Netherlands in 2022/2023, he demonstrated his commitment to cross-cultural education. Currently pursuing an MA thesis on strategies to overcome reading difficulties in Arabic, expected in May 2024, Osama has also contributed as a TA to the prestigious CASA program at the American University in Cairo and taught Arabic courses at the same university.
Dr Peter Konerding
University of Münster (Germany)
Peter Konerding read Arabic, Spanish and Islamic Studies in London (SOAS), Tunis (IBLV), Basel and Paris (INALCO). He completed his PhD (2019) with a thesis about Modern Arabic Fiction at Bamberg University, for which he received the Rotary Club Bamberg-Schloß Geyerswörth Doctoral Award. Having been a lecturer at Bamberg University until 2022, he now serves as academic managing director of the newly found Centre for the Arabic Language at Münster University (Germany). His research focusses on contemporary Arabic literature, Arabic language acquisition and Maghrebi language practices. Additionally, he has completed a five- year teacher education degree (‘Staatsexamen’, 2022) in French and Spanish at Bamberg University.
Dr Rafaah Kayali
University of Bristol
Dr Rafaah Kayali is a linguist specializing in Arabic language education, adept at teaching both foreign and mother tongue learners. With a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Essex and extensive experience spanning over two decades, she has crafted innovative approaches, utilizing social media to enhance Arabic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Currently teaching at the University of Bristol's School of Modern Languages, she excels in course design, assessment creation, and personalized support. Dr. Kayali's current main area of interest and expertise extend to utilizing social media platforms in teaching Arabic language, tailoring instruction to individual needs, fostering proficiency from beginner to advanced levels while making learning enjoyable and engaging.
Dr Rasha Soliman
The University of Leeds
Rasha Soliman is an Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Linguistics, and Deputy Head of the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds. She started her career in Teaching Arabic as a Second Language (TASL) in 1995. She has an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Southern Queensland in Australia and a PhD in Arabic Applied Linguistics from the University of Leeds. Her current research and scholarship interests include language variation in the Arabic classroom, teacher training, approaches to grammar teaching and the application of the CEFR to TASL.
Dr Ruba Khamam
The University of Leeds
Dr Ruba Khamam is an Associate Professor of Arabic Language & Linguistics and Translation at the University of Leeds. She is currently the Director of Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern. She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She leads the core Arabic Language modules at final and third year and oversees the provision of the Arabic Year abroad. She has received the prestigious fellowship of the Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence for her outstanding project for 2020-2022 on Civic partnership and employability in a language curriculum. Dr Khamam worked on different cutting-edge research activities.
Dr Saleh M. Alnusairat
Saleh earned his Doctorate in Foreign Language Education (curriculum and Instruction) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He served as Deputy Director at the National Center for Curriculum Development in Jordan. He worked as language instructor and professor of Arabic as a foreign language and curriculum studies for more than 39 years at several Arab and American universities. He authored and co-authored several book on methods of teaching Arabic, teacher training, communication in Arabic language, in addition to many articles on education reform, standards for Arabic language curriculum. He also trained teachers in the USA, Jordan, Qatar, South Africa and the UAE.
Dr Saussan Khalil
University of Cambridge
Dr Saussan Khalil is Senior Teaching Associate in Arabic at the Faculty of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge UK, and Founder & Managing Director of Kalamna, a social venture providing Arabic language classes to children in the UK and worldwide. Saussan is the author of Arabic Writing in the Digital Age: Towards a Theoretical Framework, and the creator of the Kalamna Phonicsä Toolkit. She holds a PhD in Arabic sociolinguistics from the University of Leeds, UK, a Certificate of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language from SOAS, London, and a BA English Literature from Alexandria University, Egypt.
Ms Sayonara Tomoum
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Sayonara Tomoum is a learning coordinator at a resettlement organization in Massachusetts, U.S. She is also an instructor of Arabic and Middle East History at the Judaic and Near Eastern Studies - University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently pursuing a PhD, ABD status, in the Language, Literacy and Culture concentration - College of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is specialized in ethnographic research and co-taught PhD level ethnography classes over 2 years. Previously, she has earned two master’s degrees from The American University in Cairo; Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language and Journalism and Mass Communication. Tomoum has taught collegiate Arabic at renowned higher education institutions in Egypt and the U.S. She has also freelanced to write for the Egyptian newspaper, Akhbar El-Adab, Huffington Post Arabic, and as interpreter with the Washington Post.
Dr Shahira Yacout
The American University in Cairo
Shahira Yacout is a Senior II Arabic Language Instructor in the Department of Arabic Language Instruction (ALI) at The American University in Cairo. She is the Arabic language unit director responsible for undergraduates and graduates’ requirement courses. She received her PhD in Curricula and Teaching Arabic Language Methodology. She has presented research papers in several national and international conferences. She has experience in immersion programs; as she taught in Middlebury School for several years and in Japan summer 2016. Her latest publication was an article released in 2020 entitled Are Badawi’s Levels of Contemporary Arabic Reflected in Facebook?
Ms Tanya Linaker
King's College London
Tanya Linaker has been the Team Leader for Slavonic and Middle Eastern Languages at King’s Language Centre since 2016. She is also the Department Education and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead. In the past few years, she has been successful in securing grants for action research projects in Widening Participation, Reducing Attainment Gap for Ethnic Minority Students and Decolonising Language Teaching Curriculum for less commonly taught languages. Her research interests include educational leadership and language teacher identity construction.
