47667

   Loweland  Terrace,  Sterling,  VA  20165   Turfa  Al  Sibai  Shamma  

 
Phone  #    571  331  5785    USA   turfashamma@mac.om  

Objective
To obtain a teaching position in Arabic as a second or as a foreign language

Profile
A highly energetic and enthusiastic teacher. Able to work on own initiative and as part
of a team. Dedicated to teaching and to helping others meet their language objectives.
A background in psychology, linguistics and teaching compatible with teaching Arabic
and English as second or foreign languages.

Status
Native Arabic speaker
UK/EU Citizen
Marital Status: Married

Education & Qualification

TESOL Certificate LinguaEdge accredited it by ITAA May 2010
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology, concentration in Learning
Difficulties, University of Luton, UK GPA 3.5 (2001)
15 credit hours of postgraduate for Master’s in Developmental psychology at George
Mason University, USA (2003-2008) as follows;
• Cognitive Basis of behavior psyc701 3 credits
• Biological Basis of behavior pscyc702 3 credits
• Foundation Clinical Neuropsychology psyc592 3 credits
• Descriptive Linguistics ling520 3 credits
• English Composition and writing 3 credits

BTEC (Business & Technology Education Council Diploma) in Art and Design
University of Hertfordshire, UK (1995)

Teaching Experience
Vienna Arabic Language Sunday School, USA(2003- present),
http://www.vals.us/
Arabic language teacher and a curriculum developer
Preparing Arabic language lesson plans and assignments.
Devising lessons to serve as basis for acquiring language in a naturalistic setting.
Adapting lessons to fit students’ interests and needs as well as personalizing the
learning experience to motivate students and maximize learning.
47667    Loweland  Terrace,  Sterling,  VA  20165   Turfa  Al  Sibai  Shamma  
 
Phone  #    571  331  5785    USA   turfashamma@mac.om  

Helped with textbooks choices and the curriculum with consideration to the
cultural background of students applying the latest methods for teaching
catering for the four language skills; speaking, reading, writing and listening. A
sample of both lesson plans and assignments is available upon request.

Critical language center, Mclean, VA (2009-present),

http://www.clclanguage.com
Arabic language teacher
Preparing lesson plans and assignments for young elementary school students
(ages 5-7 years old). Each lesson includes games, videos, songs, and variety of
activities to ensure children’ motivation while accommodating for the different
learning styles and therefore to maximize the learning experience. Teaching
methods include task-based activities like cooking, painting projects and
constructing and assembling toys or art objects.

Tutoring privately (2008-present), https://www.wyzant.com/tutor/

• Teaching ESL privately for new comers and students who have just arrived to
the country to study or to live.
• Tutoring freshman students who are taking Arabic language elective course.
• Arabic language tutor for Arab/American school age students (6 -18 years)
teaching an average of 15 hours per week. (2002-present)
• Will be running my own Arabic language summer camp for children aged
between 5-12 years. Flyer is available upon request.

Letchmore road elementary school, Stevenage UK 1992-1996

• Volunteered in my sons’ classes and helped children with learning challenges in
reading and math.

Research Experience
North Hertfordshire Autistic Center for adults Watford, UK 1999.
Produced two life biographies and profiles of two autistic adults who attended the
center. The assignment involved collecting all their medical data and evaluation
records for the center’s internal use. I interviewed the patients’ doctors, parents,
friends, relatives, teachers and as many persons as I could get in touch with.

Other experience
2002-2008 mural and faux finish artist, www.turfa.us
Painter and designer

Professional Development
Seminars and workshops;
Present; I am enrolled to start in June at NOVASTARTALK Powering Up Your
Language Courses with Technology, a technology-enhanced professional development
course for LCTL teachers.
47667    Loweland  Terrace,  Sterling,  VA  20165   Turfa  Al  Sibai  Shamma  
 
Phone  #    571  331  5785    USA   turfashamma@mac.om  

1998- present; Teaching skills & class management at my sons’ school the local
colleges.
2008 Passed the VCLA, Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment with score
of 491 to obtain my teaching certificate in Virginia State.

Skills
Certified by Microsoft in Word, Excel, PowerPoint , SPSS, a statistical package for
social studies, computer proficient, Excellent skills in communication.
Bilingual, Arabic and English

Affiliation/Memberships
Member of the British Psychological Society

Interests & Hobbies

Reading, painting, traveling and learning about other cultures.
Involved in and support cultural awareness between the middle–east and the United
States http://www.syrianembassy.us/worldbank.htm
Active volunteer to serve the community and involved in fundraising to help victims of
war and natural disasters. Hold fundraising dinners and activities in my house to
support refugees in the near east with UNRWA (United Nation Relief and Works
Agency). http://www.friendsunrwa.org/
Involved in fundraising events for BASMA , A Syrian charity organization to support
treatment for children with cancer at St. Jude facility.http://www.basma-syria.org/
Always involved in developing and updating my skills on a personal and professional
level.

References
Mrs. Wahiba Boukadoum, Ex-principle of VALS
Cell #703 217 4537,
Vienna, Virginia, USA
Email address; ouahiba@cox.net

Heba Barazi,, PhD, a parent of one of my tutored students

National Institute for Health
Email; baraziho@mail.nih.gov
Phone # 571-423-8094

Ms. Ghada Samaha, director of CLC, Critical Language Center,

http://www.clclanguage.com
Mclean, Virginia USA
Phone # 571-278-7800