BZU Conference “Arabic Language in Palestinian Universities: Between Reality and Ambition”

Participants in the November
10, 2012 conference entitled Arabic
Language in Palestinian Universities: Between
Reality and Ambition indicated that the Arabic
language curriculum in universities needs greater attention, particularly in
light of the ldquo;information revolution.rdquo;nbsp; University requirements should be reviewed,
they asserted, and theoretical aspects integrated in the
applied side of Arabic language
teaching in universities.

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The conference, organized by the
Department of Arabic Language and Literature at Birzeit
University, hosted Arabic language professors from various Palestinian universities. BZU
President Khalil Hindi opened the conference, emphasizing the importance of research in the development of
teaching Arabic, including the specialized
knowledge that students in Arabic departments obtain, job
skills related to the language that the non-specialized
students acquire, and contemporary issues such as the relationships
between language and media, information technology, social
networking, and programming languages.

Arabic Language and Literature Department Head and
Chair of the conference Ibrahim Moussa emphasized the need
to renew interest in the Arabic language,
especially in light of globalization and
changing lifestyles. We aim
through this conference to characterize the state of Arabic language in
Palestinian universities in an accurate scientific manner,
and provide careful
consideration of the mechanisms
for developing Arabic language teaching in
universities, he said.

The conference comprised three sessions. The first featured the reality
of Arabic language in higher education institutions while the second discussed
Arabic language and communication. The third and final session presented the
various challenges facing the Arabic language and pedagogical recommendations
in that regard.