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January 1996, pgs. 58, 98 Education
New Materials for Arabic-Language Study
By Betsy BarlowAfter years of dismissing the importance of foreign languages, a new awareness seems to be taking hold that the U.S. can better understand other cultures and can better compete if Americans can speak another language. Fortunately, materials are being developed to support the learning or retention of other languages. Several new materials now are available to assist in learning Arabic, the sixth most common first language in the world. The U.S.-Mid-East Performing Arts Council has just published Peter and the Wolf in an Arabic and English edition. The book comes with beautiful illustrations by Madeleine Toth and an introduction by Oleg Prokofiev, the son of the composer, Sergei Prokofiev. Nazih Girgis has translated the story into Arabic. The book is available through the AET Book Club (see page 78) for $19.95, with the audio recording at $7.95, plus shipping and handling ($2.50 in the U.S., $4.00 in Canada and overseas). The organization also produced an introductory book and audio cassette on the Arabic alphabet, written by Nazih Girgis. The book and tape are designed to begin the study of Arabic, or to improve knowledge and pronunciation and writing. The book is available from the U.S.-Mid-East Performing Arts Council, P.O. Box 96, Oxford, NJ 07863. The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin announces Adventures with Arabic, an exploratory language unit designed for the middle school grades (6-9). It is, however, easily adaptable for the grades immediately below and above the middle-school level. The unit contains 32 lessons in a notebook which is the core of the unit. Each lesson comes complete with content goals outlined; a detailed lesson plan with activities listed, materials to use and steps to take; all necessary student worksheets (reproducible); and teacher answer keys. Sample quizzes, with teacher answer keys, also are included, as are additional suggested activities and supplementary vocabulary lists. The cost of the unit is $110 postpaid, plus tax. Contact Deborah Littrell, Outreach Coordinator, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX 78712-1193, phone (512) 471-3881.
ADC Essay ContestThe American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is offering a $250 prize for the best essay on Arab-American Community History. The deadline is Feb. 29, 1996. Winners will be announced at ADC's national convention in April 1996. Students, parents, researchers, academics, professionals all are invited to submit essays and articles. Submissions by academics and professionals will be judged separately. For further information, contact the ADC Education Department, 4201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20008, phone (202) 244-2990. An annotated index to the publication Syrian World 1926-1932, has been produced by John G. Moses with the assistance of Eugene Paul Nassar. The Syrian World was a "high-level monthly journal in English dedicated to raising the awareness of the English-speaking Arabic community in the United States to their cultural heritage, to issues of the contemporary Middle East, and to generational and social issues of immigrants and their children." Birzeit University graduated 440 students last July 15th, the 20th graduation ceremony since the university began to offer degree courses. The news came in a letter from President Hanna Nasir accompanying the Birzeit University Newsletter. The newsletter also contained information about the new Law Center on campus directed by Dr. Camille Mansour, new publications from Birzeit, and a disquieting account of continued interference with the rights of Gazan students to attend classes at Birzeit. Two months into the first semester of the 1995-96 academic year, no Gaza students have been granted the required permits to study in the West Bank, forcing them to choose between losing the opportunity for education during this semester, or studying "illegally." A delegation of British members of parliament and senior trade unionists expressed alarm and concern at the ongoing violation by Israeli authorities of the academic rights of Gaza students wishing to study in the West Bank. "Israel is very much aware of the importance of higher education," noted British Association of University Teachers executive member Bill Trythall, "therefore they cannot be unaware of the damage they are doing to Palestinian education by preventing students from attending the University." Yet, as the delegates observed, the policy continues.
"To treat individuals—young people—like this is a measure against education itself."Conservative MP Warren Hawksley expressed alarm at what they encountered. "Peace is meant to be here, yet they are developing the border at Gaza. In Northern Ireland, where a parallel peace process is taking place, signs of change are clearly reflected in the relaxing of borders." Labor MP Robert Parry commented that "It has been 11 years since I last visited Birzeit University and—still—conditions of academic freedom and human rights do not seem to have improved." John Bills, president of the British National Union of Teachers, said: "I cannot think of anything that would justify this at all. Nothing. To treat individuals—young people—like this is appalling. It is a measure against education itself." The delegates fully endorsed the Birzeit University and Council for Higher Education's Gaza Students Campaign "Academic Freedom First," and joined in the campaign's call for (1) standardized, transparent procedures when issuing permits; (2) written rejections to enable students to appeal negative decisions in the Israeli High Court of Justice; and (3) special academic permits that will make Gazan students exempt from the many closures of the occupied territories. Birzeit University invites American support of the 350 Gazan students whose education is in peril. Write to the Israeli Embassy, with copies to the president, the U.S. State Department, and your senators and congressperson.
Jewish Settlers Continue Harassment of Hebron SchoolchildrenOther difficulties are being experienced by Palestinians at the K-12 level. Young children on their way to or from school in Hebron regularly have been attacked by Jewish settlers. After several serious outrages, the Mennonite Church organized Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) to escort the young children to and from school. According to a recent CPT returnee, one young kindergartner from Cordoba School had a particularly hard time because she had to pass a settlement in order to get home. The volunteers walked with her to assure her safety. CPT provides training, and hopes for volunteers willing to come for at least three to four weeks. Each volunteer pays $2,000 which covers overseas transport, and meals and lodging while in Hebron. For further information, contact CPT, P.O. Box 6508, Chicago, IL 60680-6508, phone (312) 455-1199. The organization publishes a newsletter called Signs of the Times. For information on current conditions in Hebron, contact by e-mail: CPT@igc.apc.org.
Other NotesThe Council on Islamic Education conducted three successful programs at the annual meeting of the National Council on the Social Studies in Chicago in November. The Council offered a pre-conference clinic for half a day which described ways of using the book Strategies and Structures for Presenting World History, with Islam and Muslim History as a Case Study. The workshop offered additional handouts. The other two workshops covered "Ten Steps to Teach About Islam" (with activities and lesson plans for each step), and "al-Andalus," based on the Council's forthcoming publication. A great deal of interest has been shown in all three publications. According to the evaluations, all programs were very well received. The Middle East Outreach Council has published an updated list of resources available for teaching about the Middle East and North Africa at the K-12 level published by Middle Eastern centers, and educational organizations. Complimentary copies are sent to all members. To join MEOC, send $10 to the treasurer, Ken Perkins, Department of History, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208. The Journal of International Affairs issue for summer 1995
addressed "Continuity and Transformation: The New Middle East,"
with articles by Lisa Anderson, Gary Sick, Andrew Hess, Miriam Lowi,
and Nubar Hovsepian, among others. The cost of the journal is $8.00,
with postage at $3 for one copy. Contact the Journal of International
Affairs, Columbia University, Box 4, International Affairs Building,
New York, NY 10027. |