Abdel-Fattah, Nabil (Professor, Arabic School), July 29, 1996

1 audio cassette containing interview with Nabil Abdel-Fattah, Professor of Arabic at the Arabic School.Abdel-Fattah discusses how long he has been at Language Schools; why he intially came to SLS (was a TA and his Prof. was at first Arabic program) and why he kept returning (made friendships/the people who come here, occupied his summers, can teach high-level students, etc.); the strengths of SLS (immersive atmosphere); the issues of SLS (immersive atmosphere makes it fell claustrophobic sometimes, no privacy/no break from learning); the shift towards more colloquial teaching and communicative learning, how textbooks for Arabic SLS are changing; how older Arabic SLS sessions condemned colloquial langauge; average hours of class per day; the varying types of people that attend Arabic SLS (age, background, educational experience); his preference for teaching introductory level classes; dispelling stereotypes, being a cultural representative; ethnic, gender representation amongst Arabic faculty; students coming to Arabic SLS in order to more likely receive study abroad scholarships; student enjoyment during and after SLS; returning students; importance of language school teaching reading skills; limitations in teaching Arabic using advanced technology (E-mail, internet did not accomodate Arabic alphabet at the time), using basic technology (computer programs, videos); culture shock/differences; lamb slaughter; famous visitors to Arabic SLS; Middlebury granting him art of teaching; multi-faceted role of being professor at SLS (can be "athlete," "therapist," etc.); SLS soccer games; and funny moments when introductory level students miscommunicate/make mistakes.