Instructor is Author of First English Volume of Palestinian Proverbs

Nasser Isleem, who teaches Arabic courses at Meredith, is the author of “Popular Proverbs, An Entrance to Palestinian Culture,” the first volume of Palestinian proverbs compiled in English.

“[The book] represents a significant contribution not only to Arabic language pedagogy, but also to general knowledge of Arab culture among English speakers,” Isleem said.

According to Isleem, “Popular Proverbs” is written with a pedagogical purpose in mind. Rather than just being a dictionary of proverbs and sayings, it offers cultural background, stories, and information on usage. Such information is practical and geared for language instructors; it can also be useful for scholars researching local Arab culture.

Isleem, a native of Palestine, teaches Arabic language courses at Meredith, Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.

In the book’s introduction, Isleem wrote “Because of the integral role that proverbs play in Palestinian life, and indeed in all Arab cultures, they are a unique window into the beliefs and values shared among Arabs.”

Isleem uses the proverb book in his Meredith classes “to support vocabulary learning in the main textbook and to integrate more culture in my language class. Students find it very interesting.”
Among their assignments is a proverb duel, which is proverb memorization competition.

“Honoring the guest lasts for only three days” is Isleem’s favorite proverb.

“In Palestinian society, the host gives a hospitable reception to the guest for the first three days,” Isleem explained. “On the third day, the guest is given permission to leave or to stay; if he decides to stay, he stays as if he is one of the inhabitants of the house. If the proverb is said by a female guest, it means that she is interested in offering help with housework to the other ladies in the house.”

Isleem is also the co-author of another new book, “Perspectives, Arabic language and culture in film.” His co-authors are Zainab Alwani and Mbarek Syrfi. It is designed for students of Arabic of Arabic language and culture at the intermediate to advanced level. It may be used as a primary textbook in a culture, conversation or film course or as an enriching supplement to any existing language program.

Visit www.alucen.com for more information on both books.

Education Faculty Member’s Book Focuses on A+ Schools

Monica McKinney, associate professor of education, is a co-author of a new book, “Creating and Sustaining Arts-Based School Reform: The A+ Schools Program”. Her co-authors are George W. Noblit, H. Dickson Corbett and Bruce L. Wilson.

The book’s back cover describes it as a publication that offers “a model for implementation as well as evaluation that can be widely adapted in other schools and school districts … [the book] will inspire arts educators to move from advocating more arts to advocating the arts as a way to reform schools.”

The book project began in 1995.

“The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts engaged our team to conduct a four-year evaluation of a new arts-based program being introduced in 25 schools across North Carolina,” McKinney said. “These four years of data collection and formative reporting was followed by two years of light fieldwork and the generation of a series of final reports.” 

McKinney entered the project during its first year as a graduate student research assistant but assumed the role of director of research the second year. She held this position until 2001, when the initial study was completed.   

“What makes [the A+ Schools] program fairly unique is that while participating schools agree to adhere to these core commitments, there are no mandates from above as to how to accomplish them,” McKinney said. “Schools adapt the program to suit their particular local contexts and needs.  Implementation has taken many forms, and schools have created varying levels of identity-affiliation with the program.”

McKinney has been able to apply this experience to her classroom conversations.

“My experiences with this program have impacted conversations about school culture, school reform, No Child Left Behind, and the North Carolina ABC’s program and more with my EDU 232 (Foundations of Education) and EDU 620 (Education and Society) students. Lessons learned about the research process have informed my teaching in EDU 630/631 (Educational Research),” McKinney said. 

“Many of the activities that I use in my classes and the examples that I share to illustrate concepts come from years of classroom observation and conversations with teachers and students across the state. This project has been a part of my professional life for more than 10 years; it has impacted my teaching in countless ways.”

Click here for more information on the book.

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