Arabic Language Initiative

Dr. Ahmad Alswaid received his PhD from Cornell University in 2020. 

As an educator, he is deeply passionate about guiding students through the immersive journey of Arabic language learning. He offers a wide range of courses designed to meet all proficiency levels, from beginners to advanced learners, ensuring that every student can confidently develop their skills. His enthusiasm extends beyond the technical aspects of language, thriving in the dynamic interplay between modern Arabic language, literature, and film, where language comes alive through culture and storytelling.

His scholarly work focuses on contemporary Arabic narratives and experimental texts, exploring how modernity, identity, and history shape the language we use. His recent book, Reading Mawsim al-Hijra ilā al-Shamāl, is a 400-level Arabic textbook, carefully crafted to deepen students’ understanding of modern Arabic culture and literature while advancing their language proficiency.

In his classroom, he creates a vibrant, interactive environment that emphasizes practical speaking skills, engaging discussions, and real-world language use. Drawing on his experience growing up in Syria, he brings authentic cultural insights to every lesson, encouraging students to not only master the language but to experience it. Through active participation and immersive activities, he guides students in developing the linguistic confidence to communicate fluently and connect with the broader cultural narratives of the Arabic-speaking world.

Dr. May George holds a doctoral degree in education from the University of Arizona with a focus on bilingual education. After receiving her Ph.D., she has held two prestigious post-doctoral fellowships, an Andrew Mellon Fellowship and a Fredrick Douglas Fellow, to support her continued research on bilingual education.

Dr. George has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education nationally and internationally. She has also worked with the United Nation Missions in Kurdistan Iraq to educate women. Dr. George’s research interests center on curriculum theory design, classroom pedagogy, and language acquisition.

Mohamed ElSawi Hassan is a senior lecturer at the Dept. of Asian Languages and Civilizations at Amherst College. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Ain Shams University, Egypt in 2008.

His research interests focus on Systemic Functional Linguistics, Critical Discourse Analysis and Discourse theory. He is a contributing editor of Metamorphoses, the Journal of the Five College Faculty Seminar on Literary Translation. Recent translations include articles for Wasla magazine in Egypt and co-translating African Folklore: An Encyclopedia into Arabic.

Nahla Khalil received her PhD in literary studies in 2008. Before joining the Dept. of Comparative Literature at UMass Amherst, Nahla taught at Amherst College, Smith College and The Five College Center for the Study of World Languages. Nahla teaches language classes at all levels in addition to literature and culture classes. Nahla’s research interests include Arabic and Arab American literature, foreign language pedagogy, translation, cultural studies and women and minority studies.

John Weinert received his bachelor's degree from Bard College and went onto complete his master's degree in Arabic Language and Literature at the University of Texas at Austin.  He has worked as Director of Program Operations at the Subul Assalam Centre for the Arabic Language in Fez, Morocco, and in 2010, he was awarded a year-long fellowship from the Center for Arabic Study Abroad for advanced studies in Damascus, Syria. 

Before joining Smith College, he taught at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of New Haven, and the United States Naval Academy.  John's research interests include Arabic language pedagogy, dialects, code-switching, and shifting patterns of language use in Arabic-language media.