CAIS Director, Amin Saikal and all CAIS staff offer their warmest congratulations to Dr Huda Al-Tamimi for her great achievement in winning the VC's Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Huda Al-Tamimi is a Convenor and Lecturer of the Arabic Program within the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. Huda has a PhD from ANU. Her research project was an investigation of The Changing State for Iraqi Women: Political and Social Mobilisation for Iraqi Women Members of Parliament Post-2003. She also has an MPhil and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Massey University, NZ, a BA in English Literature from Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching from Trinity College, Dublin. Huda is an Iraqi national who has travelled widely across the Middle East and around the world. Arabic is her first language. She also has extensive postgraduate education in Applied Linguistics and Language Instruction.

Huda’s approach to teaching and supporting student learning

My teaching philosophy above all is that university-level language instruction is far more than a job; it offers the opportunity to make an important positive impact on students’ lives by enriching their understanding and appreciation of multicultural concepts.
I employ a variety of teaching strategies to engage, challenge, and inspire students towards sharing my passion for Arab and Islamic culture. Language acquisition represents an important starting point for exploring the cultures and histories that are expressed and passed along in that language across time. Introducing my Arabic students to the rich body of literature originating in that tongue enhances learning outcomes by exposing them to multiple examples of syntax and linguistic devices across literary genres and throughout history. Therefore, to support learning I encourage students not only to learn the most prominent Arabic literature from past to present, but also to pursue additional readings of particular interest to them.
Within the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, I have used my specialist skills to teach courses in Arabic linguistics and literature. My postgraduate education, combined with 20 years of teaching experience, and an extensive depth of understanding of the Arabic language and Arab cultures enable me to design curricula, supplementary resources and comprehensive programs for effective Arabic language instruction.
I have recently published a book nominated for ‘Arabic Creativity Award’, 2015, entitled Arabic Literature through History, Dar Al Saqi Publishers, Beirut, 2015, pp 400. My research includes the teaching of Arabic as a second language as well as a study of the changing role of women in Iraqi politics.
“Huda is an incredibly knowledgeable and interactive teacher, engaging lectures that were both stimulating and informative, definitely my favourite course of the year!”
Student comment
“She gives students a strong understanding of Arabic culture and passion for the Arab way of life, and conducts lectures with utmost professionalism, teaching experience and charisma that surpasses that of many lecturers.”
Student comment