Incorporating MOOCs in Teaching a Pre-A1 Arabic University Course

DOI: 10.24833/2949–6357.2024.GEO.1 УДК: 811

Mutnasir F. Al-Hamad
PhD, Associate Professor, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar;
email: m.hamad@qu.edu.qa

Abstract
The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) system emerged as a practical and validated academic solution for individuals and institutions. Acknowledging the demand, Qatar University (QU) developed the first Arabic course for non-native speakers (ArMOOC) on edX in 2022. ArMOOC demonstrated a significant demand for online language learning, attracting over 32,000 participants [Al-Hamad and Ibrahim n.d.]. This paper aims to address the following key questions regarding the integration of the Arabic course on edX: How does this course align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standards? Can integrating the course enhance the achievement of learning outcomes (LOs)? What is the optimal approach to integrating the course within the curriculum? What design challenges need to be considered to effectively achieve the course goals?

Keywords: AFL (Arabic as a Foreign Language), Arabic, ArMOOC, MOOC.

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