Virtual Tabadul, Salah Algabli and Soraya Bouguettaya
This Fall semester 2024, the Arabic Studies Program launched Virtual Tabadul, a unique virtual reality program that enables UF students enrolled in Arabic language courses to connect with peers in Morocco and Algeria. This initiative provided more than 82 students at UF at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to enhance language learning experience with regular exchanges with students at Constantine 1 Frères Mentouri University in Constantine (Algeria) and Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra (Morocco). The project was led by Professors Salah Algabli and Soraya Bouguettaya. Each participant accessed a virtual reality platform, allowing them to explore Arabic cities while interacting with Google cardboard,. Additionally, students gained access to Canvas pages with various activities and lessons to support them during this unique experience. By immersing themselves in real-life language practice and cultural experiences, students enhanced their language skills and gained firsthand insights into the diverse cultures of the MENA region.
Choix Goncourt US, Nathalie Ciesco
For the second consecutive year, UF students in French will participate in the Choix Goncourt US, an innovative experiential learning initiative led by the Cultural Services of the French embassy in Washington DC. Implemented by Dr. Alioune Sow in Spring 2024, and led this by Nathalie Ciesco, Choix Goncourt US read, aims to promote contemporary French and Francophone literature within the United States through institutions of higher education. It also develops students’ abilities to read, analyze, interpret, and critique novels in French. At the end of April 2025, one UF student will travel to New York to join student representatives from other universities to deliberate and select the Choix Goncourt US 2025. For this fourth edition, UF will be participating alongside 9 other universities: Columbia, Duke, Harvard, NYU, Princeton, University of Illinois, Yale, UCLA, and the University of Southern California. The 2025 Choix Goncourt novels are: Sandrine Collette, Madelaine avant l’aube; Kamel Daoud, Houris; Gaël Faye, Jacaranda; Hélène Gaudy, Archipels.