I. Exploration of Arabic and English Texts

The five week course is an exploration of Arabic and English texts to see the impact of facing the text in two different languages. The readings ranged from Orientalism by Edward Said to Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. The discussions widen the scope and reveal the core of each person’s understanding. Group reading and analysis allows the students to interact with texts without any preconceived goals. The cycle begins with Arabic texts to ease students into the process of engaging with texts and help them regain their relationship with Arabic as a working language.

By Tala Abu Rahmeh

Biographical note

Tala Abu Rahmeh is a young writer based in Palestine, she graduated from the American University in 2009 with an MFA in Poetry. Her work has been published by several magazines and anthologies, the first of which was “25 Under 25”, edited by Naomi Shihab Nye for Harper Collins. She is currently working as an instructor at Bard College’s chapter in Jerusalem.

II. Intensive English Workshop I

A four-week intensive English workshop that aims to bolster project participants’ critical inquiry in English. Through writing, reading and speaking practice, participants should master essential rhetorical skills. This course focuses specifically on formulating critical discussion questions as well as clarity and coherence in project presentations. The course includes debates, field trips, guest lectures, short fiction pieces, and interactive media work.
By Thea Piltzecker & Daniel McKenzie

Biographical note

Daniel McKenzie is a native of Los Angeles, California, and a graduate of Languages and Literature with a focus on Middle Eastern studies from Bard College. He currently teaches at the Al-Quds Bard Partnership, where he coordinates College Writing, the Academic Resource Center and the post-baccalaureate fellowship program. He enjoys montage, the politics of urban traffic and long rides on the servees.

Born in New York City, Thea Piltzecker is a graduate of Bard College in Literature and Human Rights. She is currently a research and teaching fellow at the Al-Quds Bard Partnership. She is interested in post-Soviet nationalism and folk music and dance, and enjoys her social gaffes in Arabic.

III. Intensive English Workshop II

Building on the previous intensive English workshop, this cycle aims to enhance the participants’ reading, writing and speaking skills. They work towards refining their rhetorical skills and focus specifically on presenting their project to different audiences in various styles of writing and oral presentation. The course includes debates, field trips, guest lectures, short fiction pieces, and interactive media work.

By Iman Simon

Biographical note

Iman Simon is a teacher and anthropologist. She graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) with an MA in Anthropology of Development in 2010 and is currently living with her daughter and husband in Ramallah. She has taught students of different age groups in the Maldives, England, France and Spain and now in Palestine. She is also a passionate freelance photographer.

I. Intensive English Workshop III

Building on the previous intensive English workshops, this cycle introduces critical research, writing, revision practices and reinforces debate and presentation skills. Students develop and refine various research methods and revision strategies for publications in the “Collective Dictionary.” They work to advance their rhetorical skills and focus specifically on presenting, criticizing, and defending their projects and publications to different audiences in various styles of public presentations. The course includes debates, field trips, guest lectures, short fiction and non-fiction pieces, and interactive media work.

By Daniel McKenzie