Alef Ba Call-Out

Dear Language Students,

Interested in using your Arabic language skills and connecting with the Bloomington Community?

The Center for the Study of the Middle East and Center for the Study of Global Change are looking for volunteers to help with the Bridges: Children, Languages, World project for Arabic.  Volunteers will work with a variety of community partners to teach Arabic to K-12 students and to build a greater awareness of Middle Eastern and North African cultures in the local community.

Susan Garcia and the Bridges staff administer a K-12 program that focuses on the advocacy of less commonly taught languages and bridging people together through exposure to another language and culture.  The Arabic language program, Alef Ba, is in its sixth year running and is held at the Monroe County Public Library as well as other community settings in Bloomington.  Volunteers who participate in the Alef Ba program receive pedagogical training that is designed to help you feel comfortable in the classroom and an opportunity to work closely with Bridges language coordinator on lesson planning.  Arabic classes are held one time per week, with two trained instructors, and assistants to help engage students in language lessons and activities.  For more details see the attached file.

This is a great opportunity for students to share their interest in the Arabic language, get involved with the community, and engage with a variety of Bridges partners on and off campus.  Interested?  We would love to have you volunteer!

For more information you may contact Liese or Katie at the Center the the Study of the Middle East at csme@indiana.edu.

About Alef Ba

The Alef Ba program was created in 2006 under the direction of IU-Bloomington’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC) and what was formerly the Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies Program and is now under the direction of NELC and the Center for the Study of the Middle East. Alef Ba was designed not only to promote Arabic instruction within the community of Bloomington, but also to mentor IU-Bloomington students in teacher training and professionalization. From the beginning, Alef Ba has partnered with the Monroe County Public Library’s Children Services to provide curriculum based Arabic instruction for pre-K through 2 learners. Since 2010, the Alef Ba program has expanded to include classes at the Knee High Day Care Center and in 2011, Alef Ba began partnering with Banneker Community Center to deliver after school programming at Fairview Elementary School for grades 4 through 6.

You can learn more about the Bridges program, of which Alef Ba is a part, from their website.

The same website also includes archived language learning materials that you can print out and use at home!