Two Arabic PhD Students Are Awarded for Achievements in Applied Linguistics

The Arabic Special Programs team is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our Arabic PhD students, Mourad Abdennebi and Issam Rian, in the field of Applied Linguistics. Mourad earned the first place at the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held in Denver on March 17 and 18, 2025, breaking down complex research into an accessible and engaging presentation. Meanwhile, Issam received the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Graduate Student Award in March 2025, recognizing his innovative inquiry into how AI tools can help language learners understand and monitor their progress.  

Mourad Abdennebi is a doctoral candidate in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (SLAT) Graduate Interdisciplinary Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Mohammed V University in Morocco and a master’s in Applied Linguistics from Texas Tech University. Mourad currently serves as an Arabic instructor for the Arabic Flagship Program at the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MENAS). His doctoral research focuses on the cognitive processes that support adult language learners in acquiring vocabulary, with a particular focus on the role of visual stimulation in enhancing vocabulary retention. He also investigates the relationship between working memory and language acquisition and development. After his victory across universities in WAGS, he will be participating in the national 3MT competition in Washington D.C. this December that will be hosted by the Council of Graduate Schools.  

Issam Rian is also a PhD candidate in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (SLAT) Graduate Interdisciplinary Program. He earned his BA in Linguistics from Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Morocco and his MA in TESL from the University of Arizona. Growing up in a multilingual environment sparked his passion for empowering language learners through research-driven practice. Currently, he explores the role of AI-generated feedback in fostering metacognition and self-regulation, work that merges classroom-based research with cutting-edge educational technology. Issam also serves as a tutor and instructor for the Arabic Flagship Program in MENAS. His Graduate Student Award was the culmination of extensive data collection and collaboration with educators and peers, and underscores his commitment to impactful, inclusive research that bridges theory and practice in language education. By investigating how AI-driven insights support learner autonomy, he continues to broaden the potential of second language teaching and inspire others to harness emerging technologies for more effective and equitable learning experiences. 

Congratulations to our Arabic graduate students for their outstanding achievements and for representing the Arabic language and North Africa with distinction!