Teaching English

Overview

The Arab American University is keen to provide equal opportunities for its students to learn and gain knowledge that take into account individual differences in personality of the learner and different characteristics to be a good citizen for himself, his family and his community. To achieve this purpose emerged the need to qualify future teachers. This program is designed to prepare elementary English teachers (Grades 1-10) to be skilled, innovative and challenging. The in-depth preparation in teaching writing and literature includes an emphasis on process-centered writing approaches; theory-centered literature methods; collaborative classroom activities; and knowledgeable multi-cultural teaching approaches. English Education classes are designed to acquaint students with best practices in the teaching and learning of English, with a special focus on rhetorical, performance, and technological approaches.

The program acquaints students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to teach English as a foreign language. Courses offer a combination of advanced work in language with training in current approaches of language teaching.

The program combines the academic study of language with practical training in English language teaching (ELT). It prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities from Education (e.g. teaching of English as a foreign language) and research in language and acquisition to publishing, media, and different government and nongovernment institutions require language knowledge.

Goals

In this program, students will gain adequate background in English Education that prepares them for teaching from (1-10) English grade levels. As such, we plan to achieve the following goals:

1. Prepare students for English language teaching careers as certified teachers for elementary school levels (1-10), 
2. Understand current theoretical issues and paradigms in modern FL education.
3. Build strong theoretical background for students with the aim of helping them to assess problems and local issues in the field of FL education.
4. Gain the skill to use latest technologies and to write effectively and to provide vigilant and updated analysis to the field of FL education and research centers and policy-makers.
5. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of content-specific skills and/or concepts and apply that understanding to the construction of meaningful learning activities for all students.
6. Advocate skillfully for the achievement of all students by helping them learn how to construct meaning and apply that understanding to solve problems through the use of verbal, numeric, and symbolic language and through technology.
7. Address the diverse needs of all learners through the application of principles of adolescent and cognitive development to the establishment of positive learning environments and design of appropriately challenging curricula, pedagogical strategies, and assessments.
8. Demonstrate promise as leaders and agents for organizational change in their classrooms, schools, and society. 
9. Exhibit the capacity for professional growth by developing questions about their work as educators, by engaging in inquiry and reflection to address their questions, by applying their understanding to improve learning, teaching, and school organization, and by participating in professional development activities.
10. Promote equity and democracy in their classrooms and schools based on a complex understanding of social inequities, an understanding of and respect for students' cultures and communities.
11. Develop the students’ skill in using technology to improve their teaching.
12. Develop student’s proficiency in the English language.