About the Ghassan Zakaria Language Center

For the past 19 years I have worked at San Diego State University, as well its Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC), Grossmont- Cuyamaca college and The National University. My teaching portfolio includes Elementary Arabic I and II, Intermediate Arabic I and II, Advanced Arabic I and II, Conversational Arabic, Online Conversational Arabic, Distinguished Level Arabic for highly proficient students, Arabic Culture and Arabic Civilization, Arabic for Native Speakers, and Levantine dialect courses.

Over the years, I have developed Arabic-language materials for LARC and for The University of Maryland. In 2013 the students voted me Faculty of the Year at the college of Arts and Letters at SDSU that includes hundreds of faculty members from various departments.

My education has prepared me to be successful in this role. My Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from San Diego State University focuses on second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, teaching the four skills and grammar, creating materials, functions of languages, and computer and language learning. Many of my research paper for my graduate classes focused on the Arabic language. I have an Advanced Certificate of Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) which helps me understand the needs of diverse students learning Arabic.

Cultural awareness is one my strengths. My first job in the USA was at the United Nations in New York in the Arabic translation department. The valuable experience opened my eyes to different cultures and views. Having lived in the USA and in the Middle East for a long time, I feel at ease in both cultures. A great understanding of diverse cultures helps me build bridges in the diverse community of San Diego.