Biography
My name is Ahmed Farahat, and I am the Dorothy Koster Washburn ’67 Endowed Lecturer in Arabic at Oberlin College. I teach Arabic language courses as well as a First-Year Seminar that explores Arabic culture and linguistics.
My research focuses on Arabic linguistics, heritage language bilingualism, L2 acquisition, and language pedagogy. My doctoral research at the University of Michigan examined how structural complexity and morpho-syntax interface shape linguistic competence among heritage speakers of Arabic.
Before joining Oberlin, I taught Arabic at the College of the Holy Cross, Concordia Language Villages, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pittsburgh. At the University of Michigan, my teaching experience included both Arabic language and linguistics courses at both the Middle East Studies and the Linguistics departments.
As a language educator, I am particularly interested in connecting research in L2 acquisition with classroom practice. My teaching philosophy emphasizes communicative proficiency and meaningful language use while helping students develop a strong understanding of the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Arabic-speaking countries.
