It is the dedication of its faculty to excellence in teaching that Gisele El Khoury likes most about St. Lawrence University.  “Students are eager to learn and the faculty are eager to give and to help,” says El Khoury, who teaches Arabic at SLU. “SLU students are fully engaged; they are active participants in the classroom and not just a passive audience.”

El Khoury joined the department of modern language and literatures this fall to start the Arabic language program. She teaches two sections of Arabic 101, an entry-level course.

El Khoury says Arabic is one of the world’s most important languages and it is critical to learn about the cultures and religions of Arab people. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about the Arab people and their lifestyles,” she notes. “Our courses give students the opportunity not only to learn the language spoken by Arab people but also to better understand their culture, their thinking and their way of life.”

According to El Khoury, “Since 9/11, discussion about the Arab world has become very intense.” Interest in Arab peoples, Islam and its believers is growing and many journalists and write about topics they do not understand, she asserts.

Before St. Lawrence, El Khoury taught at the University of New Hampshire and SUNY Potsdam. Her parents have been teachers for over 30 years. “My hope is to be able to follow in their footsteps and be a great teacher just like them,” she concludes.