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Student-Led Projects: Engaging Students in Arabic Immersion Programs
Abstract by Mr. Adil Elkhiyari On Session VI-30  (Experimental Pedagogies)

On Friday, November 3 at 4:00 pm

2023 Annual Meeting

Abstract
This paper offers practical guidelines for including student-led projects in Arabic immersion programs, highlighting potential challenges and conditions for success. Student-led Projects represent the culmination of successful study abroad programs. A project with a well-defined goal allows learners to work collaboratively, use their new language skills in real-world contexts, demonstrate their improved confidence, and engage with the local community. Collaborating on projects prepares students for internships, volunteering, and employment in the Arab world. By assuming a project role, learners leap from comprehension to application to critical thinking, all while being immersed in the target culture. From an Institutional perspective, student-led projects involve training project facilitators for leadership and coordination skills. As a result, the traditional one-directional structured transfer of knowledge between teacher and student turns into a partnership with the potential to have a significant impact on the student and the local community. For the best possible outcome, Projects are introduced at the initiation of immersion programs. Students, teachers, and coordinators meet to define objectives and milestones, assign responsibilities, devise a project plan, and schedule follow-up meetings. Projects bring energy and purpose to immersion programs. This paper recommends practical guidelines that can be implemented at the student, instructor, and institutional levels to ensure their success.
Discipline
Language
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Maghreb
Mediterranean Countries
Morocco
Sub Area
None