Barbara Michalak-Pikulska – författare

Publication entitled The Contemporary Arab World. Literary and Linguistic Issues was designed and written by the members of staff of the Department of Arabic Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. It shows results of the research linked to their scholarly and didactic interests. It is a collection of six papers dealing with selected issues in the field of Arabic language and literature, focused on phenomena and processes taking place in contemporary Arab world.Teaching Arabic as a foreign language faces many methodological challenges connected with the specificity and complexity of the sociolinguistic situation in the Arabic world. They mostly concern the necessity for considering different types (registers) of the language, distinguishing, understanding and using which makes it possible for learners to achieve full communication skills.The end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century brought above all a new look at the didactic process, forcing revision of the traditional grammar–translation method in teaching foreign languages. Higher education schools must cope with new problems connected with their functioning on the broad market of formal and informal education, which is determined by the term “success on the job market”. Needs and expectations of learners change. Which direction will development of Arabic Studies take then? How to bring together the mission of higher education institutions and pragmatic needs of the market, or current needs of “consumers” and guidelines of central curricula. Is such compromise possible?

The authors of this book present a study of the first Arab novels that dealt with the Arab Spring in the period 2011-2013. They show the rapid reaction of Arab novelists to what happened in their countries at that time. Dozens of narrative works have been published that heralded the advent of change and the victory of popular movements, glorifying the rebellious uprisings against tyrannical regimes. Few predicted the outbreak of the revolution before the occurrence of these major events. They also presented a comprehensive picture of what was going on in Arab societies during that difficult period. The revolutions left many victims, and for this reason pessimism and despair permeate some texts, but others paint a bright picture of the future of the Arab Spring, which may lead to the realization of the dream of freedom and democracy.The young generation, which by means of the internet and social media contributed to the outbreak of the revolution, is ready to fight for its own ideals and freedom. Its representatives are fascinated by the power of revolution and the rapid course of events. They boldly face death in the hope that the sacrifice of their lives will bring about a better future for their children. It was young people, not politicians and party leaders, who planned the revolution demanding freedom, dignity, equality and justice.