I applied for the CLS Fellowship in Fall of 2016 with hopes of getting a one course release and using the time to focus on my project. With complete focus on using online resources to enhance the teaching of Levantine Arabic, I wrote my proposal, asked for feedback from experienced colleagues, submitted it and kept my fingers crossed. I was very happy to get this opportunity of course, and I knew it was going to be a new phase for my project, one that I had the greatest intentions to make full use of. Little did I know that through this amazing experience I would get the pleasure of being introduced to core concepts of heritage learners and cross-cultural connections through the work of my colleagues Dina Roginsky (NELC Department) and Candace Shorupa (French Department), who were also awarded this fellowship.
Presenting the final project of the CLS Fellowship, Fall 2017.
At the end of the CLS Fellowship, I am happy to say that I have made huge steps in developing my project with four stand-alone-online modules for Levantine Arabic completed, and much more to come. I have also learned a great deal through the work of my colleagues in the fellowship and for that, I am genuinely grateful.
I am also extremely thankful to CLS organizers, namely Nelleke Van Deusen-Scholl, Mary Jo Lubrano and David Malinowski for the bi-weekly meetings in which they provided us with great help and support that continued well beyond these meetings.
The CLS Fellowship has been a great opportunity to work on a specific project, but also to learn about others. Thank you, everyone, for making happen.