Unbeknownst to many, The Ohio State University’s Middle East Studies Center does far more than host public lectures and campus events. Each year, MESC works with the other area studies centers in the Office of International Affairs to provide professional development opportunities for teachers across Ohio, helping educators bring global perspectives into their classrooms.

One upcoming example is a virtual teacher training session with Lamees Fadl, Lecturer in Arabic and English Language and Literature at CUNY’s John Jay College and LaGuardia Community College. Her session, “Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL): Classroom Traditions Across the Middle East,” will take place on October 17, 2026, as part of the 2026–27 K-14 Global Fellowship Program.

Fadl’s presentation will invite educators to compare classroom traditions, teaching practices, and social expectations in U.S. and Middle Eastern educational contexts. Drawing on her work in Arabic language instruction, literature, and virtual exchange, she will share examples from collaborations involving institutions such as the American University in Cairo, MSA University, the University of Oklahoma, and Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt.

The session will also introduce teachers to Collaborative Online International Learning, or COIL, an approach that connects students across countries through structured virtual exchange. Rather than treating international learning as a one-time video call, COIL creates space for inquiry, reflection, and cross-cultural collaboration. Teachers will leave with practical ideas and materials they can adapt for their own classrooms, including videos, handouts, readings, and project models.

This event reflects a broader part of MESC’s mission: supporting educators who help young people understand the Middle East in nuanced, human-centered ways. In addition to annual teacher training sessions with other area studies centers, MESC works directly with teachers in schools and youth programs. The center also conducts training for military audiences, offering context on the languages, histories, cultures, and contemporary issues of the region.

Through these programs, MESC helps build bridges between university expertise and communities across Ohio. Whether working with K-12 teachers, youth-serving organizations, military personnel, or university partners, the center’s goal is to make knowledge about the Middle East accessible, relevant, and useful.

Fadl’s upcoming session continues that work by giving educators tools to teach about culture, language, and global connection in ways that are both academically grounded and classroom-ready. For teachers seeking to help students think beyond national borders, this training offers a practical starting point.