QFI Champions Arabic Language Education at ACTFL 2025

New Orleans, LA (November 2025) – Qatar Foundation International (QFI) participated in the 2025 ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, held in New Orleans from November 21–23. The event brought together language educators from across the United States to build community, access resources, and explore emerging trends and challenges in language education.

QFI has been an ACTFL participant for more than a decade, underscoring its long-standing commitment to advancing Arabic language teaching and learning at the primary and secondary levels. The Convention provides a vital platform for QFI to strengthen Arabic educator networks, support teacher professional development, and engage stakeholders on key issues shaping the field. As part of this investment, QFI sponsored a booth in the Exhibit Hall to connect with educators and share resources, hosted a welcome breakfast to foster community, provided travel support so that educators could present at the Convention, and delivered workshops focused on critical areas of Arabic language education. QFI also actively participated in meetings of the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NADSFL) and the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL), reinforcing its role as a leader and convener in Arabic language education.

Julia Sylla, QFI Director of Programs, stated, "ACTFL is a cornerstone event for world language educators, and QFI is proud to champion a strong and visible Arabic presence. QFI seeks to empower educators. By investing in professional development, fostering collaboration and creating spaces for dialogue, we are building access to a sustainable ecosystem for Arabic education in US schools."

QFI’s exhibitor workshops focused on:

• Aligning Project Based Learning with Language Learning Standards
• Empowering Learning through Social Emotional Learning, Language, and Culture
• Arabic for School-Aged Learners: Comparative Six-Country Analysis
• Motivating Students through Culture, Competitions, and Creativity

Feedback from QFI-supported attendees at ACTFL highlighted the importance of this event:

• Layali E.: “The presentations organized by QFI were very informative and relevant. The introductions and connections made with fellow Arabic educators are invaluable.”
• Zahra Y.: “The 2025 ACTFL convention was a great professional and comprehensive experience. The sessions on proficiency-based instruction, storytelling for vocabulary, and technology integration were excellent and applicable to my classroom. I connected with many Arabic teachers from other states, shared best practices, and exchanged ideas, resources, and materials.”
• Maria K.: “The ACTFL conference was overall a strong and valuable experience. The Arabic sessions offered practical strategies for teaching Arabic, showcased engaging classroom activities, and highlighted ways to connect culture and language learning. The presenters were knowledgeable and provided useful resources that I can apply directly with my students.”

QFI’s engagement at ACTFL 2025 reinforced its commitment to increasing the visibility of Arabic in U.S. education, empowering Arabic educators as leaders in world language instruction, and positioning QFI as a key driver in advancing Arabic teaching and learning. To learn more about the event and sessions, click here.

Interested in presenting at ACTFL in 2026? If you are considering presenting at ACTFL 2026 Annual Convention & World Languages Expo, which will be held in San Antonio, TX, from November 20-22, 2026, the Call for Proposals submission deadline is January 19, 2026, at 11:59PM ET.

About Qatar Foundation International
Qatar Foundation International (QFI), based in Washington, DC, is dedicated to advancing the teaching and learning of Arabic as a global language.