Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Alessandro Columbu In brief Date - 15 January 2024 Guest speaker - Dr Alessandro Columbu (University of Westminster) Title - Decolonising Arabic Language Teaching Format - Talk, Q&A and reception. This is a hybrid event: you can attend in person or online. Joining online? Email Farah Aboubakr for Zoom details About the event The increasing popularity of Arabic as a foreign language since the early 2000s has coincided with the spread of Arabic language textbooks designed and printed in the United States, such as al-Kitab, Arabiyyat al-Nas and Ahlan wa Sahlan. This talk looks at these textbooks and their political and pedagogical implications within the framework of the decolonisation of the curriculum to propose a critique of their content and methodology. About the speaker Dr Alessandro Columbu is the Senior Lecturer in Arabic at the University of Westminster. His latest publication is 'Zakariyya Tamir and the Politics of the Syrian Short Story' edited by IB Tauris. He completed his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2017 with a thesis on the evolution of gender representations in the short stories of Zakariyya Tamir. About the seminar series This seminar series critically employs the concept of decoloniality, a term coined by sociologist Anibal Quijano. By questioning the boundaries of knowledge production, agency and representation more specifically within the curriculum in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the series will bring together a diverse range of perspectives on historical and contemporary topics, interrogating some unexamined framings that shape our understanding of the Middle East. Seminars will be interdisciplinary, covering diverse themes, such as: Arabic teaching pedagogy; archiving and the production of history during and after the British Mandate in Scotland, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia; Saudi Arabia’s progressive narratives; the role of libraries and librarians in the UK. The series also explores new avenues in the study of the region, reflecting on its positionality within Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and by looking into consolidating interdisciplinarity and dialogue with other fields. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. All talks are followed by a reception. No booking is required if you would like to attend in person, on campus. If you would like to attend online, please contact Dr Farah Aboubakr for a Zoom link and passcode. Joining online? Email Farah Aboubakr for Zoom details Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present. Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Jan 15 2024 17.00 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Alessandro Columbu Join us on campus or online for a seminar by Dr Alessandro Columbu (University of Westminster) on decolonising an Arabic curriculum in light of the rising popularity of Arabic and publications of textbooks. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square Joining online? Email Farah Aboubakr for Zoom details
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Alessandro Columbu In brief Date - 15 January 2024 Guest speaker - Dr Alessandro Columbu (University of Westminster) Title - Decolonising Arabic Language Teaching Format - Talk, Q&A and reception. This is a hybrid event: you can attend in person or online. Joining online? Email Farah Aboubakr for Zoom details About the event The increasing popularity of Arabic as a foreign language since the early 2000s has coincided with the spread of Arabic language textbooks designed and printed in the United States, such as al-Kitab, Arabiyyat al-Nas and Ahlan wa Sahlan. This talk looks at these textbooks and their political and pedagogical implications within the framework of the decolonisation of the curriculum to propose a critique of their content and methodology. About the speaker Dr Alessandro Columbu is the Senior Lecturer in Arabic at the University of Westminster. His latest publication is 'Zakariyya Tamir and the Politics of the Syrian Short Story' edited by IB Tauris. He completed his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2017 with a thesis on the evolution of gender representations in the short stories of Zakariyya Tamir. About the seminar series This seminar series critically employs the concept of decoloniality, a term coined by sociologist Anibal Quijano. By questioning the boundaries of knowledge production, agency and representation more specifically within the curriculum in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the series will bring together a diverse range of perspectives on historical and contemporary topics, interrogating some unexamined framings that shape our understanding of the Middle East. Seminars will be interdisciplinary, covering diverse themes, such as: Arabic teaching pedagogy; archiving and the production of history during and after the British Mandate in Scotland, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia; Saudi Arabia’s progressive narratives; the role of libraries and librarians in the UK. The series also explores new avenues in the study of the region, reflecting on its positionality within Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and by looking into consolidating interdisciplinarity and dialogue with other fields. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. All talks are followed by a reception. No booking is required if you would like to attend in person, on campus. If you would like to attend online, please contact Dr Farah Aboubakr for a Zoom link and passcode. Joining online? Email Farah Aboubakr for Zoom details Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present. Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Jan 15 2024 17.00 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Alessandro Columbu Join us on campus or online for a seminar by Dr Alessandro Columbu (University of Westminster) on decolonising an Arabic curriculum in light of the rising popularity of Arabic and publications of textbooks. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square Joining online? Email Farah Aboubakr for Zoom details
Jan 15 2024 17.00 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Alessandro Columbu Join us on campus or online for a seminar by Dr Alessandro Columbu (University of Westminster) on decolonising an Arabic curriculum in light of the rising popularity of Arabic and publications of textbooks.
