Rasha Soliman

Professor Rasha Soliman is a Professor of Arabic Pedagogy and Linguistics and currently serves as Deputy Head of the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds. She has held various academic leadership roles, including UG Admissions Lead for Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Lead for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Director of the Leeds Centre for Excellence in Language Teaching. She earned her PhD in Arabic Applied Linguistics from the University of Leeds in 2015, an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Southern Queensland, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Second Language Teaching from the same institution.

• PhD in Arabic Applied Linguistics – University of Leeds
• MA in Applied Linguistics – University of Southern Queensland, Australia
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Second Language Teaching – University of Southern Queensland

Her research centers on Arabic Applied Linguistics, with a focus on diglossia, language variation, mutual intelligibility, and pedagogical approaches to teaching Arabic as a second language. She investigates how dialectal variation can be integrated into curricula, the cognitive role of speaking activities in grammar acquisition, and the application of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) to Arabic language teaching. Her work emphasizes the need for cross-dialectal comprehension skills in learners.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward standardizing Arabic language education through CEFR alignment, improving grammar instruction via communicative methods, and enhancing learner comprehension through cognate recognition and dialectal awareness. She has pioneered research on integrating variation from beginner levels and developing a multi-dialectal vocabulary profile for Arabic.

She has received research funding from the Qatar Foundation International and has published in journals such as the International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, Critical Multilingualism Studies, and edited volumes on Arabic teaching. Her work has appeared in both English and Spanish, indicating international reach.

• External Examiner for University of Edinburgh, Goldsmiths, Nottingham Trent, Coventry, Cambridge, Manchester Metropolitan, and UNILANG
• Keynote speaker at the First Conference for The Spanish Association for Arabic Teachers, American University of Cairo, and UNESCO Arabic Language Day 2022
• Organizer of international conferences on Arabic teaching in the UK and abroad

She advises on academic programs and has contributed to national research initiatives, including a major British Council-commissioned study on Arabic teaching in UK schools. She supervises scholarly work through editorial roles, including the Leeds Language Scholar, and collaborates with researchers across the UK and internationally. Her professional memberships include BAAL, UCFL, and AULC, reflecting her engagement with language education communities.

She leads a research agenda focused on creating a CEFR-aligned Arabic vocabulary profile and advancing multiglossic teaching models. She is actively involved in curriculum reform and teacher development, advocating for pedagogical innovation that reflects the real-world variability of Arabic.