Explore Modern Languages at CU Denver
A CU Denver faculty member is helping answer a big question with real-world impact: What does strong, sustainable K-12 Arabic language education look like across different countries?
Dr. Elizabeth Huntley in the Department of Modern Languages recently completed a two-year, multi-country comparative study on the state of K-12 Arabic language education. Led by Qatar Foundation International (QFI) in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Study of Arabic Language Programs (SALP) brought together research teams from six countries: Canada, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Mapping Arabic Language Education Across Borders
The resulting global report, titled “Mapping Arabic Language Education: A Global Landscape Study of Policy and Practice”, is one of the first cross-national examinations of pre-tertiary world language ecosystems.
Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, the study looks at:
- How Arabic programs are structured in different education systems
- How Arabic is taught to school-aged learners
- What pathways exist for teacher preparation
- How national policy and local conditions shape access and implementation
Why This Matters for Students, Educators, and Communities
Arabic language programs can open doors to cultural connection, global learning, and career pathways. But like many areas of language education, long-term success depends on clear program models, well-prepared educators, and supportive policies.
The study’s results helps strengthen the field by offering actionable insights and resources for:
- Educators and school leaders planning or improving Arabic language programs
- Researchers identifying gaps and setting research priorities
Policymakers shaping access, funding, and long-term sustainability
The report also documents promising practices and persistent challenges across different national contexts, creating a clearer picture of what’s working, what’s missing, and where investment can make the most difference over time.
CU Denver’s Role in Making Big Research Possible
Huntley led the United States research team and credits CU Denver’s cross-campus support for helping make a study of this scale possible.
“This study wouldn’t have been possible without guidance from the Office of Research Development, who connected me with EUReCA! to support undergraduate research assistants and with the Evaluation Center to discuss sampling strategies,” Huntley said. “It also gave me the opportunity to connect with professors from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the School of Education & Human Development. We have incredible depth and breadth of expertise across this campus, which really pushed an interdisciplinary study like this in directions I couldn’t have done on my own.”
"We have incredible depth and breadth of expertise across this campus, which really pushed an interdisciplinary study like this in directions I couldn’t have done on my own.”
That kind of collaboration reflects what CU Denver does best: bringing people together across disciplines to solve complex, real-world problems in ways that are practical, inclusive, and built to last.