Looking Back, Moving Forward: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice

As QFI reflects on nearly two decades of advancing Arabic language education, we continue to celebrate educators, students, schools, researchers, and partners along with the work that has strengthened our community.

This week, we explore resources that examine how research and collaboration can strengthen Arabic language teaching, foster program growth, and contribute to the broader field. Featuring podcasts, blogs, educator stories, and collaborative initiatives, these resources highlight how educators and researchers can learn from one another to strengthen classroom practice, professional learning, and the future of Arabic language education.

Journey of an Arabic Educator: Dr. Rolla Elsaiary

QFI's Journey of an Arabic Educator series celebrates the experiences that bring Arabic educators to the classroom. Dr. Rolla Elsaiary, an educator, researcher, and assistant principal, brings together classroom experience and research to explore how stronger connections between educators and researchers can support K–12 Arabic language education. Through her experiences, she highlights how classroom-based research, educator-researcher partnerships, and collaborative inquiry can help inform teaching, support program development, and advance the field.

Read Rolla’s Story here.

Podcast: Two-Way Dialogue: Advancing Researcher–Educator Collaboration in Arabic Language Teaching

This episode of All Things Arabic explores how stronger connections between research and classroom practice can support Arabic language education.

Hosted by Caroline Sibley, the episode features Dr. Carine Allaf, QFI Senior Director of Research, and Arabic educator Heather Sweetser as they discuss research-practice partnerships, QFI's research agenda, and collaborative approaches that make research more accessible, actionable, and responsive to the needs of educators and learners.

Watch the episode above or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Blog: The Sweet Spot Where Research Meets Practice in Arabic Education

In this blog, the author reflects on how the QFI Research Travel Grant helped bridge the gap between research and classroom practice in Arabic language education. Through experiences at the Arabic Language Conference at the American University in Cairo, she explores the value of collaboration among researchers and educators, highlighting how research-practice partnerships can strengthen teacher learning, inform professional growth, and advance Arabic education.

Read the full blog here.

Oxford QFI Research Forum 2025

How can research better support what happens in the language classroom?

The Oxford QFI Research Forum 2025 brought together educators, researchers, and practitioners to explore that question through collaborative discussions focused on Arabic language education.

This interactive overview captures the Forum's key themes, research priorities, and practical insights, along with presentations on topics such as:

• Balancing Local Realities with a Global Vision
• What Can We Learn From the Chinese Experience?
• What Does It Mean To Be a Research-Informed Professional?

Explore the Forum overview here.