Biography
I was hired in 1988 to design BYU's first intensive Arabic program, which was based at its Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. I have been running domestic and overseas programs ever since. My main research focus has been on intensive language study for over a decade. I served from 2002 to 2015 as director of the National Middle East Language Resource Center. The surveys of over a thousand students, site visits and interviews we conducted led to the creation of Project Perseverance, an effort I lead to assist students to develop a growth mindset and become more effective learners. I direct BYU's federally-funded Arabic Flagship Center which exists to assist students to achieve professional-level proficiency, an amazing accomplishment for an undergraduate.
Research Interests
second language acquisition, positive psychology, study abroad, history of ArabicTeaching Interests
Arabic, Old and New Testament, sociolinguisticsHonors and Awards
- Creative Works Award, BYU Creative Works (2014 - 2014)
- Distance Education Course Award (K-12), University Continuing Education Association (2010 - 2010)
- Access to Language Education Award (2008 outstanding language learning website), Computer-Aided Language Instruction Consortium (2008 - 2008)
Professional Citizenship
- Committee/Council Member, Modern Language Association (2011 - 2014)