Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy

PhD, MA, M.Sc, BA

Affiliations

Arabic Language and Muslim Cultures (Teaching and Research)

Faculty of Arts, School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures: Arabic Language and Muslim Cultures

Contact information

sherif.elsharkawy@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

ORCID

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Preferred method of communication

sherif.elsharkawy@ucalgary.ca

I'm looking for...

Research partners

Seeking funding opportunities and partnerships to support research in Arabic studies, and language pedagogy.

Background

Educational Background

PhD Arabic Language and Literature, AinShams University, 2016

M.Sc. Multidisciplinary Studies, Education Tech core, State University of New York, 2018

Master Degree Arabic Language and Literature, Higher Institute of Islamic Studies, Cairo, Egypt, 2013

Diploma General Education and Special Needs Education, Alexandria University, Egypt,

B.A. Arabic Language and Literature , Alexandria University, Egypt,

Biography

Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy is a scholar-practitioner in Arabic studies and applied linguistics, specializing in Arabic pedagogy, sociolinguistics, classical Arabic scholarship, literature, and culture.

Areas of Expertise:

Arabic Pedagogy and Curriculum Design (heritage and non-heritage learners)
Digital Humanities, EdTech, and AI Integration in Language Education
Sociolinguistics and Second Language Acquisition
Teacher Training and Language Assessment (ACTFL OPI Certified)

Courses

Course number	Course title	Semester
ALMC 202	Arabic Language & Muslim Culture courses	Fall 2025
ALMC 331	Arabic Language & Muslim Culture courses	Fall 2025

Projects

Teaching from the Margins: Equity and Professional Conditions of Arabic Language Instructors in Canada

National Program Teachers’ Access to Leadership in GCC International Schools

Bridging Cultural Gaps through Modern Arabic Literature in AF/SL Classrooms

Digital Arabic Heritage Language Curriculum (Mitacs Accelerate – In Progress)

Awards

ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) PD Grant, (QFI), USA . 2025
The Conference of ENTA-7, hosted at SOAS, University of London. Travel Grant., (QFI), USA . 2025

Publications

National program teachers’ identity in international schools: A systematic review in the global south with a particular focus on GCC countries. In I. H. Amzat & M. Khalifa (Eds.). Elsharkawy, S. S., Adly Gamal, M., & Mahgoub, M.. Handbook of teachers’ voices in the global south: Wellbeing, development & identity.. (2025)
Smart Arabic language application to learn prepositions and postpositions. . Fazza, H. A. G., & Elsharkawy, S. S. . Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings, 4, SSAHPP900.. (2021)
Ibn Malik’s evidences from the Hadith in the chapter of explaining the word and speech. . Elsharkawy, S. S.. Annals of the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University. 102–123.. (2017)

More Information

Adjudicator, Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), University of Calgary (2025–present)
External Judge, Qatar Foundation International (QFI) Arabic Speaking Competition (2025- present)
University Teaching Awards Committee, University of Calgary (2023–2024)
Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Awards Adjudicator, University of Calgary (2024)
Academic Coordinator, Horizon Academy Institute, Canada (2018–present)
ACTFL OPI Full Tester Training (2026)
Teaching License, Alberta Education (Interim Professional License) (2025–present)
Reviewer, Interchange: A Quarterly Review of Education (Springer) (2023–present)
Carnegie Mellon University, LearnLab, 2017. advanced training in computer-supported collaborative learning.
Co-Principal Investigator, Arabic Prepositions Smart App Project, Georgetown University in Qatar (2015)