Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language in the UK: Strand 1 Research: How Arabic is being taught in schools - Review commissioned by the British Council November 2015 (original) (raw)

As part of the Arabic Language and Culture Programme, this report was commissioned by the British Council Arabic Language and Culture Programme in March 2016 and finalised in December 2016. The research team, which comprises of a consortium based at Leeds University, Edinburgh University and Goldsmiths, University of London, collates and presents data to reflect how Arabic is taught in schools in the UK. This report expands on a limited body of research in relation to Arabic teaching and learning, and focuses on how Arabic is taught including teaching methodologies, resources and learning strategies currently employed in teaching Arabic as a foreign language (TAFL) in schools. Specifically looking at the teaching of Arabic in UK schools has not previously been investigated, making this research of vital importance to teachers of Arabic, school leaders, teacher educators and policy makers. The research project aims to find answers to the following questions: 1. How is Arabic being taught in UK schools today and how it can be improved? 2. What varieties of Arabic are being/should be taught and to what extent is attention being paid to the diglossic nature of the language? 3. What are the challenges faced by Arabic learners and teachers which may have an impact on the efficiency of Arabic learning and teaching?