Dr. Rasha ElHawari

I am a Professor of Arabic and Coordinator of the Semitic Languages Program at Concordia University. Over the years, I have taught Arabic language and literature in the Arab World, Canada, and the United States, working with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

My teaching and research interests include Arabic language pedagogy, heritage-language learning, second-language acquisition, and the connections between language, culture, and identity. I am also passionate about Arabic literature and have developed and taught courses on modern Arabic fiction, Arab women writers, and the literature of the Arab world.

A particularly rewarding aspect of my work has been curriculum development. I have introduced new multidisciplinary courses that highlight the rich cultural and literary exchanges of the Mediterranean world, such as Medieval Tales in the Mediterranean: Arabic, Italian, and Spanish Traditions . These courses invite students to explore the interconnected histories, narratives, and intellectual traditions that shaped the medieval Mediterranean and continue to influence contemporary cultures.

I am the author of Teaching Arabic as a Heritage Language (2020), a widely used resource for educators and researchers in Arabic language pedagogy. I remain committed to creating engaging, inclusive learning environments that help students connect language study with broader literary, historical, and cultural perspectives.

Education

Ph.D. Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, Institute of Applied Linguistics,Alexandria University, Egypt.
M.A Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Centre for Applied Linguistics (CAL), Warwick University, United Kingdom.
Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics, Alexandria University, Egypt.
B.A in English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, Egypt.    

Languages

I am a bilingual speaker of both Arabic and English, and a fluent speaker of French. I also have basic communication skills in German.

Recent Courses

    2025-2026

MARA310³/ RELI 398B      Introduction to the Literature of the Arab World (cross                                               listed with the Religion Department)

MODL398³/ RELI 398A      Poetic Voices of Medieval Iberia: Arabic, Hebrew, And  Castilian Traditions(cross listed with Religion Department & co-taught with Hebrew and Spanish Programs)                                

MARA240⁶                                Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic

MARA200⁶                                Introduction Modern Standard Arabic I                                                                                   

2024-2025

MARA206⁶                                Introduction Modern Standard Arabic II

MARA320³                                Modern Arabic Fiction

MODL398³                                Medieval Tales in the Mediterranean: Arabic, Italian, and Spanish Traditions. (co-taught with Italian and Spanish Program)  

MARA240⁶                               Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic    

Earlier courses taught include

MARA398³/ENGL398        Arab Women Writers (cross-listed with English                                              Department). 

MARA203³                              Modern Standard Arabic - Heritage 1

Other Teaching Experience

Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Arts, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Middlebury Arabic Summer School, Middlebury- Vermont, USA

Teaching Arabic as a Heritage Language; Publisher : Routledge;  2020

A resource for instructors, researchers, and students in the fields of TAFL and TASOL, as well as linguists interested in Heritage language learning and teaching.