The Outreach Center recently hosted the teaching staff of the Arabic Summer Academy, a five week intensive language program held in July at Charlestown High School. Seven teachers gathered in the conference room to learn how to teach using student-centered methods and student-generated textbooks. The teachers developed lessons using non-traditional materials like pipe cleaners, fridge magnets, Tic Tac candies, and tee shirts.

"Arabic teaching is growing rapidly in public and private high schools across the country," said program director Steven Berbeco. "It's thrilling to work with the next generation of high school Arabic teachers."

The Arabic Summer Academy is funded by a grant from the STARTALK program, part of the National Security Language Initiative. This year the Arabic Summer Academy offers three levels of instruction at no cost to 60 high school students from the greater Boston area. Students graduate with a $500 college scholarship and credit for a year of high school language study.

Contact the Outreach Center if you are interested in Arabic language instruction in area high schools.