Arabic Teaching Certification Program

Certificate Page

Engaging and supporting teachers with an in-service certification program for Arabic

Partnering with the American University of Beirut, our program offers a comprehensive pathway toward becoming a certified expert in Arabic language education.

Whether you're a seasoned educator looking to enhance your Arabic teaching capabilities or a newcomer eager to make a difference in the classroom, our program offers the knowledge, skills and resources for a dynamic and enriching learning experience.

The Arabic Institute of Excellence at The American Community School of Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Department of Education at the American University of Beirut, offers a 9-month (40 hrs) in-service Arabic Teaching Certification Program for teachers of Arabic in elementary and secondary schools. Co-created and delivered by ACS and AUB faculty, the program covers a range of courses that cover topics in child development and language acquisition, best practices in teaching and learning of Arabic and leading innovation in Arabic programs.

About the Program

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Program Modules: Throughout the course of the six program modules, participants will acquire and apply innovative teaching methodologies and approaches for Arabic instruction. They will have access to high-quality resources and delve into the realm of applied linguistics research, with a specific focus on Arabic language acquisition and pedagogy studies. Within each module, participants will be assigned a task designed to integrate their newfound knowledge at both the theoretical and practical levels. The culmination of their journey will be the creation of a Learning Portfolio that showcases their progress throughout the program.

Practicum: After the completion of the program modules, participants will engage in a 10-hour practicum. The practicum is designed to provide the teachers with an opportunity to put their new learning into practice. Based on their learning journey as reflected in the Learning Portfolio, teachers will choose an area of focus and design an action plan to impact change in their teaching practices. They will receive coaching sessions to guide them through the phases of implementation. Two classroom observations will be conducted by coaches to provide feedback and refine the implementation of the designed innovative practices. At the end of the practicum, teachers will share their action plans and learning journey. Instruction will be delivered by ACS and AUB faculty/instructors. 

For a detailed description of the program modules and practicum, please click below to download the program brochure.

Completion of the Certification Program

Successful completion of the 6 modules and practicum necessitates full attendance of the modules activities and a passing grade on the Portfolio. Upon completion, candidates receive:

● A Certificate in Teaching Arabic signed by the ACS Arabic Institute of Excellence and the Education Department at the American University of Beirut.

The validity of the certificate is for 3 years. The goal is to keep the holders of the certificate up to date with new research-based strategies and approaches to language teaching. A refresher module will be required to renew their certificate. A tier-two certificate might also be an option.

Eligible Candidates

  • Teachers of Arabic in Elementary and Secondary schools, who currently are working at a school during the certification program. An approved participation letter from the school administration is required.
  • Holders of a BA in Arabic or Education (or any related field).

We encourage school teams to join. The program is designed for teachers to engage in developing and implementing innovative initiatives in the field of teaching Arabic. Joining the program with your school team enhances the collective efficacy and leads to a more effective implementation.

Although the language of instruction in the courses is Arabic, candidates should have a working knowledge of English to be able to access some course resources written in English.

SCHEDULE

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  • A one-day orientation to the program (onsite in Abu Dhabi)
  • 6 (5 hr) modules: Each module will be delivered on 2 Saturdays (2.5 hrs each Saturday), usually the first and third Saturday of every month starting in September. 
  • Estimated course work (readings and assignments) during the week is 3-4 hours.
  • A practicum of 10 hours of class observations and coaching sessions.
  • A two-day conclusion of the certification program (onsite in Abu Dhabi) in June.
  • A detailed schedule with the dates will be published in April 2025.

Registration is Open

The program’s capacity is 20 participants per cohort. Registration to 2025-2026 cohort is open.  

Please complete this form to express your interest. Eligible candidates will receive an invitation to apply and upload the required documents. Be on the lookout for an email from us within 15 working days from the date of submission of the interest form.

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2025.

 

Cost and Fees

Cost per Participant: $1620

Cost covers: 
6 online modules, coaching sessions and office hours during practicum work and 2 observation visits per participant (online or onsite)

It does not cover:  
Flights, Accommodation, or transportation to attend the 1 orientation day in September and 2 certificate completion days in June at ACS campus.

FAQ-The Arabic Teaching Certification Program