ALECSO: A unified framework for Arabic language teaching

The meeting was held remotely at ALECSO invitation. The meeting discussed the plan for forming working groups and tasks to implement the "Developing a Common Reference Framework for Teaching Arabic: Teaching, Learning, and Assessment" project.

International expertise

The meeting was attended by the heads of the scientific committees participating in preparing the framework, as well as a number of experts and specialists from various Arab countries.

The meeting, held on Thursday, was opened by His Excellency Professor Dr Mohamed Ould Amar, Director General of ALECSO, who emphasised the importance of this unique project in unifying educational references for teaching Arabic and aligning them with the needs of educational institutions in the Arab world and the world.

The meeting was attended by Dr Issa Saleh Al Hammadi, Director of ALECGS, and Dr Rami Iskandar, Director of the Education Department at ALECSO, along with a group of academics and experts, including Professor Mahmoud Al Sayed, Vice President of the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus; Dr Wafi Al Haj Majid, Head of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the International University in Beirut; Dr Magdi Haj Ibrahim, Head of the Arabic Language Centre for Non-Native Speakers at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO); Dr Ali Al Naim, Director of the Khartoum International Institute of the Arabic Language; Dr Kamal Al Hajjam, ALECSO expert; Dr Hasab Al Rasoul Abdullah, Professor of Arabic Language at the University of Khartoum and expert in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers; and Dr Hidaya Hidaya Al Sheikh Ali, Associate Professor at the Saudi Electronic University - Department of Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers.

Identifying tasks

During the virtual session, the formation of the project's working teams of international experts was discussed, distributed among five main components. The tasks of each team were reviewed, the scope of work was defined, and the expected timeframe for completion was discussed. The project in its various stages. The attendees offered constructive comments and recommendations that enriched the document and reflected the diverse experiences and expertise of the participants.

Building a unified Arab system

The meeting concluded with the participants unanimously agreeing on the importance of the project as a foundational step toward building a unified Arab system for teaching the Arabic language, based on a comprehensive reference vision, contributing to the development of curricula and assessments, and enhancing the efficiency of educational practices inside and outside the classroom, in Arab and international educational environments alike.

First achievement in the field

In this context, Dr Issa Al Hammadi pointed to ALECGS efforts in developing educational frameworks, most notably the Reference Framework for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers, which represents the first achievement in the field, contributing to the development of Arabic language teaching and learning while taking into account the unique characteristics of the Arabic language.