Makda Weatherspoon

Makda Weatherspoon is a Senior Lecturer of Arabic in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, where she has taught since Fall 2008. She maintains dual affiliations with the Africana Studies and Research Center and teaches across all levels of Arabic language instruction, including Elementary through Advanced Arabic, Arabic Language through Film, and Intensive Arabic programs.

Her research centers on Second Language Acquisition, Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL), and innovative pedagogical methods. She specializes in Corpus Linguistics applications for curriculum design, integrating film for cultural immersion, and leveraging technology to enhance language learning. Her conference presentations address practical challenges such as Arabic alphabet instruction and corpus-based curriculum development.

Her publication trajectory reveals a sustained focus on accessible Arabic pedagogy, exemplified by the 'Arabiyyat al-Naas' textbook series covering Egyptian and Levantine dialects. The series demonstrates systematic integration of cultural context with linguistic instruction, while her 2021 humor-focused chapter highlights her commitment to engaging classroom dynamics. Collectively, her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical classroom implementation.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• Sophie Washburn French Instructorship award (2023), granted to only two College of Arts & Sciences faculty annually for language teaching excellence

She serves as faculty advisor for the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association (ESSA) and volunteers with the Cornell Prison Education Program at Auburn Correctional Facility, where Arabic students function as teaching assistants. This prison education initiative represents a significant service commitment beyond standard academic responsibilities, though specific grant funding details remain unmentioned in available materials.

Her Auburn Correctional Facility work constitutes a dedicated teaching team involving incarcerated learners, Cornell student TAs, and correctional staff. This program exemplifies her applied research interests by implementing language pedagogy in non-traditional educational settings while advancing accessibility to Arabic studies.