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Harper College Community Education seeks a knowledgeable and engaging Arabic Instructor specializing in Levant dialects to teach non-credit, non-transferable courses for adult and community learners. The instructor will create an inclusive, practical learning environment that develops students' ability to communicate in spoken Arabic as used in the Levant, including Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Responsibilities
Duties of Position
- Plan and teach non-credit Arabic courses focused on Levantine spoken dialects at beginning, intermediate, and/or advanced levels.
- Develop course content that emphasizes practical listening comprehension, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary, and everyday conversational skills.
- Introduce learners to regional linguistic variation, with particular attention to commonly used Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Syrian expressions and pronunciation.
- Incorporate cultural context into instruction, including customs, music, food, travel, family life, media, and social etiquette as appropriate to course level.
- Prepare lesson plans, handouts, activities, assessments and other instructional materials aligned with course descriptions and Community Education guidelines.
- Facilitate interactive instruction through conversation practice, role-playing, listening activities, group work, and authentic materials.
- Adapt instruction for adult learners with varied educational backgrounds, language-learning experience, and goals.
- Maintain accurate attendance and submit required course documentation by established deadlines.
- Communicate professionally and promptly with Community Education staff regarding course needs, scheduling, materials, and student concerns.
- Support a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive classroom environment.
Work Schedule
Courses may be offered weekday evenings, weekends, and/or during daytime hours. Instruction may be scheduled in person, online, or in a hybrid format based on program needs.
This role is part-time and course-based. Course assignments are contingent upon enrollment, program needs, and instructor availability. Harper College is an equal opportunity employer.
Qualifications
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required in any field, preferably related to linguistics or Middle East studies.
- Native or near-native fluency in Arabic, with demonstrated proficiency in one or more Levantine dialects required.
- Demonstrated proficiency in English required.
Experience Requirements
- Prior teaching, tutoring, training, or facilitation experience in Arabic language instruction preferred.
- Experience teaching adult and/or children, continuing education, community education, or non-credit learners preferred.
- Knowledge of communicative language-teaching methods and adult-and/or children learning principles preferred.
- Experience creating culturally responsive instructional materials and using authentic Arabic-language resources preferred such as the Arabiyyat al-Nas curriculum.
- Familiarity with online, hybrid, and/or in-person instructional formats is desirable.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to explain linguistic differences between Modern Standard Arabic and spoken Levantine Arabic in an accessible manner.
- Ability to teach dialect variation respectfully without presenting one regional form as inherently superior or "standard."
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to engage learners with diverse motivations, including travel, heritage-language learning, professional communication, and personal enrichment.
- Comfort using learning technologies and audiovisual materials in support of instruction.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally informed teaching practices.