Project Type
School Project
Award Project Round
1
Deadline Date

Mentor teacher Claudine Clark at Madison East High School in Madison, WI organized an Arabic Language and Culture Fair with TCLP Arabic teacher Khaled Kenawi. The Fair, held during school hours, tried to recreate the atmosphere of a Middle Eastern marketplace. There were five areas with different interactive activities representing different aspects of Arabic culture: food, clothing, music and dance, culture and geography, and writing. Each area not only taught about culture, but also introduced some language and vocabulary. Parents, community members and the students in this year’s Arabic class manned the booths and gave demonstrations. The fair was very well received and more than 500 students participated, a number well over the anticipated attendance. Looking ahead, Madison East High School has already chosen an even earlier date for next year to allow for middle schools to attend and encourage Arabic enrollment for incoming high school students. Connections made with the community will provide opportunities for increased participation as many of this year’s participants are planning to return and to invite others.