Nancy Coffin

Nancy Coffin is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Arabic Language Program at Princeton University, currently on leave until Spring 2025. Her primary affiliations include the Department of Near Eastern Studies (inferred from context) and the Arabic Language Program. She focuses on teaching Arabic with an emphasis on cultural immersion and practical communication.

Education: Nancy Coffin earned a Ph.D. in Arabic Literature from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in Arabic Language and Classical Arabic and Islamic History from Harvard-Radcliffe College. She spent a junior year abroad at the American University in Cairo, further enriching her expertise in modern Arab cultures and literature.

Research Interests: Her work combines language pedagogy and literary analysis. She explores resistance narratives in Palestinian novels post-1967, integrating postcolonial, feminist, and Marxist theories. Her teaching methods emphasize a communicative approach using al-Kitaab textbooks, prioritizing proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic while contextualizing dialects like Levantine Arabic within cultural frameworks. She advocates for enjoyable language learning, advocating for student engagement through cultural content.

Scientific Awards: None listed in the provided text.

Advising & Grants: While her role involves teaching and directing language programs, no specific grants or formal advisees are mentioned. Her pedagogical contributions include curriculum development for Arabic language courses.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Arabic Language Program at Princeton, she leads efforts to standardize and innovate language instruction. The program collaborates with institutions nationwide to ensure curricular consistency in Arabic teaching materials.