Former Logan County High School language teacher Lhouie Guerwane has earned some major honors from Western Kentucky University where he teaches Aarabic language.
Tops on his list would be becoming a husband and father since leaving LCHS. Other honors follow.
First he was named the top teacher of the year in the Potter College of Arts & Letters. Potter is a houses many of WKU’s most popular departments, including Art & Design, Communication, English, Folk Studies and Anthropology, History, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Sociology & Criminology, Theatre & Dance, Media, and Interdisciplinary Porgrams. To receive Potter College's Faculty College Award for Excellence in Teaching is a significant distinction.
Next, came a huge honor for the Gatton Academy for its languages program.
The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky’s STEM + Critical Languages program has been nationally recognized by the America’s Languages Guide. America’s Languages is an initiative of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences designed to showcase exemplary language education programs across the USA. The development of the guide is overseen by the American Councils for International Education.
The Gatton Academy is one of the first five educational programs in the nation to be recognized.
America’s Languages Guide was initiated in 2017, and the Guide to Exemplary Programs and Practices in U.S. Language Education section launched in 2020. The intent of the America’s Languages Guide is to identify exemplary programs focused on improved practices. To be included in the Guide, The Gatton Academy’s STEM + Critical Languages program was vetted through a nomination process, a written application, and a peer review that identified the program as a national exemplar.
Through the STEM + Critical Languages program at The Gatton Academy, small cohorts of admitted students opt in to take Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, or Russian. STEM + Critical Language students commit to take four semesters of consecutive language study in addition to their rigorous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum.
Critical languages are designated by the U.S. Department of State as those in high demand to address national economic or security opportunities, but little taught in United States classrooms. The Gatton Academy’s STEM + Critical Languages program addresses this critical national need by preparing future STEM professionals ready to collaborate globally.
To date, 77 Gatton Academy students have graduated from the program’s languages tracks (44 Mandarin Chinese, 21 Arabic, and 12 Russian). Another 56 Gatton Academy students are currently enrolled in the 2020-21 academic year (22 Mandarin Chinese, 22 Russian, and 12 Arabic).
The STEM + Critical Languages program engages students beyond the classroom. The Gatton Academy hosts STEM + Talks each semester, designed to foster community amongst the language cohorts, increase exposure to instructors, and guide students on high school, undergraduate, and career opportunities available to learners of critical languages.
Arabic instructor Lhousseine Guerwane encourages students to get involved in one of four Arabic speaking or debate clubs.
By students forming such linguistic and cultural communities, Guerwane sees a compounding benefit. “They educate others in the community such as their friends and families,” he said. “And after my students return from their study abroad trips and competitions, they are usually interviewed by the university media and local newspapers.” These reports, Guerwane said, “help battle ignorance and spread respect in the community.”
Next, WKU is promoting its VAMPY program by featuring Lhouie’s expertise. Here’s the press release the college is using:
Students studying Arabic language and culture at the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY) will have scholarship opportunities to attend camp thanks to a grant from Qatar Foundation International (QFI). The grant provides $31,000 for students demonstrating financial need. Over the past four years, QFI has generously provided a total of $121,000 to support students taking Arabic at VAMPY.
VAMPY is a three-week residential camp held June 20-July 10, and offers high-ability students who have finished grades 7–10 the chance to spend six hours a day in a challenging academic environment each weekday while providing opportunities for sports, games, arts, and socialization in the evenings and on weekends. Classes are taught by highly motivated WKU faculty and area high school teachers who are thrilled to have equally highly motivated students.
Moroccan native and WKU Arabic instructor Lhouie Guerwan provides expert guidance to campers for his eighth year teaching at VAMPY. Students will study the Arabic language, songs, culture, and geography of Arabic countries.
Past VAMPY Arabic students often remark that the course opened up the world to them. Olivia Moore said, “It’s cool to have a language that isn’t provided in my school. I may study Arabic in college and then travel or do study abroad.”
Applications for VAMPY and the QFI scholarship can be found at www.wku.edu/gifted/vampy.
Contact: Jesse Knifley, 270-745-3014 or jesse.knifley@wku.edu.