CPaCE News

PHOTO (L-R): CTLA board member Margaret Peterson, ALI instructor Dr. Layla Bahar Al-Aloom, and CTLA board members Betsy Basom and Ronit Ron-Yerushalmi at the CLTA Awards Brunch at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, CA, in March 2024

A longtime instructor for the American Language Institute (ALI), Dr. Layla Bahar Al-Aloom was honored this year with the Outstanding Teacher Leader Award from the California Language Teachers' Association (CLTA). The award exemplified Dr. Al-Aloom’s work teaching Arabic and English as a Second Language (ESL), which she began with ALI in 2011.

“This award is a tremendous honor to me, and it serves as a milestone that encourages me to continue striving for excellence in my teaching career,” said Dr. Al-Aloom, who was nominated by colleagues and formally recognized at the CLTA Awards Brunch in March.

Helping students to achieve the personal and career-related benefits of becoming bilingual, Dr. Al-Aloom draws upon teaching methods that focus on grammar and language acquisition theories while combining academic studies, educational training, and professional experience. She holds a PhD in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction for Teaching English as a Second Foreign Language, and a TESOL/TEFL certificate.

“Teaching ESL and Arabic has been a rewarding experience, seeing the progress of my students within a short period of time,” Dr. Al-Aloom said. “Providing them with the necessary skills and support to thrive in their language has been a wonderful journey.”

As a teacher of both online and in-person classes for ALI, Dr. Al-Aloom described how each format has advantages for different learning needs. While online sessions provide flexibility and convenience, in-person classes benefit from a more structured environment with direct human interaction.

“What I appreciate most about ALI is the team I work with,” she said. “The program represents professionalism, which is reflected in our teaching and the students' learning.”

“Working with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds has enriched my teaching practice,” she continued. “This experience has increased my empathy and deepened my understanding of student frustrations and successes.”

Click here to learn more about the American Language Institute at CSULB.