Experience Summary
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Arabic Language and Culture Instructor 2011-present
Berlitz Language Learning
Developed lesson plans. Taught adult advanced Arabic grammar and spoken Arabic.
Arabic Language and Culture Instructor 2010
Multilingual Solutions
Developed and executed a personalized curriculum of daily Arabic language instruction for government clients, including listening, speaking and reading skills. Designed lessons to introduce various topics, including cultural differences, government policies, international business, and social issues. Directed student discussions in Arabic presenting various points of view.
Arabic Language and Culture Instructor 2008–2009
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Arabic Undergraduate Flagship Program at the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures the University Of Maryland.
The program focus is to develop advanced proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The curriculum introduces texts and topics intended to expand vocabulary and improve grammar and syntax, while also building students’ awareness of customs and cultural norms.
Courses cover both written and formal spoken Arabic. Written Arabic classes teach Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Spoken Arabic lessons drill students in conversational skills applied to real life situations.
Prepared weekly quizzes, tests, final and mid-term examinations. Developed exercises for practice before every test. Doing a lessons plan.
Arabic Language Instructor 2008
Islamic Saudi Academy, Alexandria, VA
Taught intermediate Arabic grammar, reading, speaking. Compassion and comprehension provided lessons in compassion and comprehension to second and third grade students.
Arabic Language and Culture Instructor 2005-2007
Central Texas College, Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA
Taught basic grammar and how to compose sentences and paragraphs, testing strategies. The course focused on listening, speaking and culture.
Developed lesson plans and conducted classes instructing in basic Arabic phonetics and listening comprehension. Created syllabus topics. Developed assessment tools to evaluate and improve students (Arabic language skills).
Taught Arabic culture by leading class discussions in Arabic on a variety of topics about Arabic society and traditions. Created scenarios for role-playing. Helped students to gain a deeper understanding of Arabic culture.
Freelance – Translator, Editor 2005-2006
Central Texas College
Translated and Romanized Lessons For A Foreign Language Program
Arabic Language And Islamic Religion Instructor 2000-2002
ADAMS Center, Sterling, VA
Taught basic Arabic language, and Islamic roles & history.
Teacher 1996 - 1998
Majed Abu Shara Kindergarten, Damascus, Syria.
Teach students Arabic language the other subjects in Arabic (alphabet, math, and science.)
Private Tutor, Arabic Language 2000 - Present
Personal: U.S. Citizen
28 years Residence in Middle East region, Kuwait and Syria
Teaching Style
Maisoon Shahin, a Virginia-based native of Palestine, holds a BA in Sociology from Damascus University. She is a native speaker of Arabic (Standard-Levantine) with over 7 years of professional experience in teaching and translating Arabic in the United States.
• Strong language background in both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and colloquial Arabic (Levantine and Gulf).
• Taught Arabic language and cultural awareness. Delivered pre-deployment cultural sensitivity training to adult students in a military setting.