Assistant Professor of Professional Practice; Program Head, Arabic Language Studies
Rana Issa teaches Arabic language and culture, including courses such as Arabic, Arabic Speaking Countries, and Media in the Arabic World. She has extensive experience coordinating language programs, translating documents, and working in a professional Arabic-speaking environment.
Rana has received the Commandant Coin of Excellence for superior dedication to teaching and curriculum development in the Defense Language Institute.
ARLA 8410
CivilSociety&Activism-in MENACourse Description
Welcome to ARLA 8410 A, Civil Society and Activism in the MENA Region!
In the post-World War I era, the Arab world has experienced widespread and profound changes propelled by interrelated political, economic, societal/cultural and environmental events and processes.
Throughout this period, numerous activist movements have emerged: pushing forth social agendas,
demanding freedom and equality, toppling repressive regimes, and responding to a range of crises and conflicts. From issues of anti-colonialism, Arab nationalism and the Arab Spring to gender rights and globalization, activists have played a critical role in shaping the contemporary Arab world.
ARLA 8410 A offers analytical tools with which students can question, unpack and analyze the contexts for specific grassroots activist movements, the issues addressed, end goals, strategies employed and outcomes achieved.
Terms Taught
DPPG 8616
Independent PracticumCourse Description
Students will choose a focal topic or challenge that is relevant to their degree. Under faculty member’s guidance, students will then implement a suitable plan of activities to shed significant light on this topic. Final products may take many forms including a traditional research paper, a guide or manual for practitioners, a video product, or alternative deliverable that would be of value to a well-defined audience of practitioners. Students must identify a faculty sponsor who has consented to supervise the project in order to enroll in this class. Work can be taken on-campus or in field settings. Credit is variable (4 or 6 units) and depends upon the scope, complexity and rigor of the project.
The B section is 3 credits and is only open to joint IEM/MPA students.
Terms Taught
Arabic language, Arabic culture.
| by Jessie Raymond
At the Human Rights Forum held at the Institute in October, language studies students, speaking in their nonnative languages, presented their research on current human rights issues, while teams of student interpreters relayed the presentations into multiple languages.
| by Eva Gudbergsdottir
Middlebury Institute Professor Rana Issa recently hosted an improvised cooking lesson in Arabic, celebrating Lebanese culture and cuisine with students and their families, utilizing WhatsApp, colored pens, and pantry staples.
