CEFR-based TAFL. Syllabus, Lexicon, Variation

This chapter explores the integration of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) into Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL). The authors argue that focusing exclusively on Modern Standard Arabic (fusha) is incompatible with the CEFR's communicative, action-oriented approach, which requires learners to handle real-life socio-communicative tasks. Due to the diglossic nature of the Arabic language, the chapter advocates for an "integrated approach" that teaches both fusha and a colloquial variety simultaneously. This method fosters true diglossic competence and authentic linguistic proficiency. Additionally, the authors emphasize the need for a corpus-based syllabus and lexicon to properly address contemporary linguistic variation and the continuous slippage between written and spoken Arabic codes.