Meet our amazing Arabic Language faculty!
Assistant Professor, Summer Intensive Arabic Language Coordinator
Abdelkader Berrahmoun hails from Oran, Algeria in North Africa. After completing a B.A. in Philosophy from Oran University in 1991, he left Algeria to pursue a master’s degree at Creteil University in Paris, France.
Following his studies in France, Abdelkader arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, where he began his career as a language professor- teaching both French and Arabic throughout the greater Boston area. He taught at Boston University, Emmanuel College, the Boston Language Institute, Bunker Hill Community College, Salem State University, and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. From 2009 to 2013, Abdelkader served as Lecturer in Arabic at Smith College, Amherst College, and Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts. There, Abdelkader worked actively to expand students’ awareness of Arabic language, culture, history, literature and current events, through traditional and innovative teaching approaches. Among his accomplishments, Abdelkader initiated projects including an Arabic blog, video podcasting, digital storytelling, an Arabic film series, and a schedule of panel discussions and guest lectures. Abdelkader also launched “Oasis” – a live Arabic radio show broadcast by students. In 2013, Abdelkader organized the first-ever Arabic Cultural Festival at Smith College – an event that drew hundreds of students and community members to the campus.
Arabic Language Specialist, has a BA in English Literature from Tishreen University in Syria, an MA from Ohio University in Applied Linguistics and a translator’s diploma (English-Arabic,Arabic-English) from Tishreen University. Before joining GWU as an Arabic Language Specialist in 2007, she taught Arabic at the University of Beloit Center of Language Studies, Ohio University and in the Middlebury College Arabic Language Center’s summer immersion program. She has also taught English at University of Damascus Languages Institute. While at Ohio University, she also earned the Dean’s Outstanding Graduate Teaching award.
Graduated from Ain Shams University in Cairo in 1993. Obtained a Master’s degree in teaching Arabic as a foreign language from the American University in Cairo. Received his Ph. D in Arabic linguistics in 2005 from Radboud University, the Netherlands. Taught Arabic and linguistics in Bayreuth University in Germany, The American University in Cairo, Brown University, and Wayne State University in the United States. Published extensively on the history of Arabic and its development in both Arabic and English. Among his publications are: The Linguistic Conquests, The Ecology of Arabic, and Arabicization in the First Century of the Islamic Era. In addition, translated several books on linguistics from English to Arabic.
