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Abstract:
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As more second -language acquisition research is published about the optimal age to begin foreign language instruction , and the best methods for teaching foreign languages , many colleges and universities are seeking to create intensive immersion programs which would prepare prospective students for the rigors of their language programs and serve as a productive language -learning environment . One such program , the Middlebury -Monterey Language Academy , is based on the highly successful summer language schools model .
This research isolates the components which would help create successful , intensive Arabic immersion programs . Specifically , this thesis asks : How can an institution create a successful Arabic immersion learning environment for high school students ? To answer this question , this thesis reviews current literature in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA ) , includes personal observations about the program and analyzes responses to surveys administered to two groups of stakeholders , namely students , and teachers /resident assistants . After the descriptive section , the thesis proposes a curricular framework which encompasses the main components of the curriculum (including goals , teacher and learner training , instructional materials , and native versus target language use ) . This framework is presented as a model to help teachers and other administrators as they try to set up new Arabic programs for high school students . |