Qatar Professional Development Fellows Program For Current and Future Teachers of Arabic

Through a generous grant from the Qatar Foundation International, the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota in collaboration with Teacher Seminars at Concordia Language Villages, Minnesota, are able to offer the Qatar Professional Development Fellows Program for current and future teachers of Arabic.  This project will bring together K-16 Arabic language teachers from across the United States in an exciting three-step professional development program beginning during the summer of 2012 and ending during the summer of 2013.

What will you get from this program?

Current and future teachers of Arabic will get:

• the latest in research-based information and practical resources from a summer institute at CARLA:
• two graduate-level credits from the University of Minnesota for successful completion of a summer institute assignment;
• the opportunity to try out new techniques in their classroom during the following academic year while receiving feedback and support from the program leaders and other Fellows;
• a unique internship at the Arabic Language Village where teachers can experience first-hand the magic of Concordia Language Villages; and
• the chance to grow professionally within a cohort of other motivated teachers of Arabic!

What is included in the program?

The program is divided into three distinct parts:

PART ONE: The participants will choose from among three courses offered during the CARLA Summer Institutes (see CARLA website for description of courses) offered during the week of July 16 - 20, 2012:  Culture as Core in the Second Language Classroom; Developing Assessments for the Second Language Classroom; Developing Classroom Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages.  As part of the course requirements at CARLA participants must design a standards-based thematic unit. Two graduate-level credits from the University of Minnesota will be awarded to those Fellows who successfully complete the course assignments. (NOTE:  Graduate credit is not available for Developing Classroom Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages.)

PART TWO:  Following the completion of a CARLA course, participants will return to their home schools to implement what they have learned.  Throughout the academic year, the participants will share ideas through a WikiForum. Five times during the academic year, there will be online discussions led by instructors from CARLA and Concordia Language Villages to provide further support to the participants as they implement instructional changes in their classrooms.  Each discussion is one hour in length. 

PART THREE:  Participants will complete a ten-day internship at Concordia Language Villages, Bemidji, Minnesota, July 21 - 31, 2013.  During this seminar, the participants will observe the Language Villages in action, prepare lesson plans and assessments, and co-teach activities and language learning groups at the Arabic Language Village of Concordia Language Villages.  As part of the seminar, the participants will attend daily discussion groups to share successes and challenges related to teaching Arabic to American youth.  They will also read and discuss Doing foreign language:  Bringing Concordia Language Villages into language classrooms (2005) by Heidi Hamilton, Cori Crane, and Abigail Bartoshesky.

What does the program cost?

All of this professional development is practically free! The selected Qatar Fellows will be awarded scholarships valued at up to $5000. 

Specifically, the scholarships include:

a) CARLA Summer Institute 2012 initial registration fee-You will need to pay $350 in order to register for the course you select.  You will be reimbursed for this fee upon completion of all three segments of the program in 2013.   If you do not complete the three components (CARLA, online discussions, Concordia Language Villages), you will not be reimbursed for this registration fee.

b)  CARLA Summer Institute 2012 tuition and fees to take the summer institute for 2 graduate-level credits if you choose. (Please note that the LCTL Material Development institute is not available for credit.) The cost of Graduate credit will be paid directly to the University of Minnesota after you register for credit. 

c) Lodging and meals stipend during the CARLA Institute.  You make your own arrangements for lodging and meals.  You will be reimbursed up to $700 (max.) upon presentation of detailed receipts for meals and lodging after completion of the week-long summer institute.

d) Travel stipend to the CARLA Institute-You will pay for travel to Minneapolis.  You will be reimbursed after your completion of the week-long long summer institute up to $500 (max.) upon presentation of detailed receipts for tickets or mileage log.

e) Concordia Language Villages Summer Internship for 2013 in Bemidji, MN. Includes daily seminars, Doing Foreign Language textbook, lodging and meals-You will not be required to pay anything up front.

f)  Travel stipend to Concordia Language Villages-You will pay for travel to Bemidji. You will be reimbursed up to $500 (max.) upon presentation of detailed receipts for tickets or mileage log upon completion of your ten day internship at Concordia Language Villages.

What are the responsibilities of the Qatar Fellows?

• Fellows are required to fully participate in all three parts of the program (CARLA summer institute, online discussion, Concordia Language Villages internship).

• Fellows must make their own travel arrangements and submit detailed receipts for reimbursement according to the guidelines outlined above.

• Fellows are required to share what they learn with other teachers of Arabic by giving a presentation or workshop locally or at a state, regional, or national workshop or conference.

• Fellows must register and pay for their choice of one of the three CARLA summer institutes offered July 16 - 20, 2012. The registration fee will be returned to the Fellows if they complete all three parts of the program.

Next steps for applying to the program

1. Fill out and submit application form.
2. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by May 15, 2012.
3. Applicants will submit a signed copy of the acceptance letter indicating that they agree to the terms of the Fellowship.