Maryam Borjian explores the issues around language and the perceptions of English as “suspicious” within Iranian society. The indigenization movement, together with anti-Western and anti-imperialist sentiments, has continued to dominate the political and educational discourse of post-revolutionary Iran for the better part of the past three decades. Yet, despite the state’s 30-year-long constant efforts, the existing system of English education in Iran is not entirely indigenized. Rather, it is marked by two diverging forms of English: (1) the indigenized model that is used by the state-run education programs, and (2) the internationalized or Anglo-Americanized model, which is used by private-run education programs throughout the nation. The latter model is the one currently in vogue and most demanded by Iranians.

Prodf. Maryam Borjian, a Columbia University’s Teachers College alumna, is the Coordinator of the African, Middle Eastern and South Asian Language Programs in the Department of African, Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Literatures (AMESALL) at Rutgers University where she also teaches courses on the politics, economics and sociology of African, Middle Eastern and South Asian languages.

Prof. Ofelia Garcia will offer remarks. She teaches in the PhD Program in Urban Education as well as Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Languages at the Graduate Center, CUNY.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 6:30-8:00 PM

Room 9204

Free & Open to the Public

Beirut: The Scent and Music of its Past Architecture

Architect and Artist in NYC. He worked for major international architectural offices in NYC and Boston. Presently in private practice and teaching at PARSONS, The New School for Design. Member, American Institute of Architects.

Simone Kosremelli:

Old Souks: Past Glories and Present Tragedy

Architect and urban planner in private practice in Beirut since 1981. She is senior Lecturer, American University of Beirut, School of Architecture. Recipient, AUB Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Distinguished Alumna Award, 2007.

Abdul-Halim Jabr:

DysFUNctional Beirut: Post-War Revisited

Beirut‐based architect, urban designer and part‐time faculty at the American University of Beirut, School of Architecture. His professional experience includes local, Middle Eastern and international projects, as well as several collaborative projects in the United States.

Nancy Kricorian:

Bourj Hammoud, the Last Refuge? 

Author of Zabelle, Dreams of Bread and Fire and All the Light There Was. Her next novel will focus on Bourj Hammoud.

Arpi Mangassarian:

Bourj Hammoud, Longing to Breathe

Architect and urbanist in Beirut. She is Chief of Technical and Urban Planning, Office of Bourj Hammoud Municipality. Renovated an older Bourj Hammoud structure and created Badguèr, a cultural center.

MODERATOR

Miguel Robles-Durán

Director, MS Design and Urban Ecologies Graduate Program, PARSONS, The New School for Design. He recently co‐edited/authored the book, Urban Asymmetries: Studies and Projects on Neoliberal Urbanization.

CLOSING REMARKS

Aseel Sawalha

Associate Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University, and author of Reconstructing Beirut: Memory and Space in a Postwar Arab City.

Thursday, November 7, 2013 6:30-8:30 PM

Martin E. Segal Theatre

Free & Open to the Public