Foreign Languages Centre

Skills Centre

Building bridges in language and culture outside the classroom

with the Arab world

Funding

• The Teaching Development Fund which aims to:Enable staff and students to develop, enhance

and share teaching and learning practices.Create opportunities for staff and students to

exchange practice and ideas.Provide funding for projects led by staff and or

students that seek to explore innovative developments in teaching and learning.

Purpose of the event

To broaden the awareness of Arabic Culture to university students and staff.

To promote a better understanding of the social, traditional, and historical aspect of the Arabic Culture.

T o provide a cultural education for all students interested in learning about the Middle East and North Africa region and its rich heritage.

Topics covered

Arabic language and its various forms today.The importance of hospitality and respect.Family values. The role of religion in society. Marriage.The role of women in Arab society. Arab contributions to civilization.

Successes

Gave students a better understanding of the Middle Eastern Culture.

Enrolment to the Arabic classes has increased since the event.

Gave students a new positive perspective on the richness of the Arabic Culture.

Students were successfully involved in organizing the event and making links with my students who are learning Arabic.

Challenges

The event was not greatly publicised amongst a whole range of students.

Talks were too much based on personal experience of the speakers rather than on scholarly research.

What to improve in the next event.

To facilitate more coordination between the Arab society and other students’ societies.

To endeavour to obtain a better balance between personal experiences and scholarly research.