AUS faculty research highlights AI’s role in Arabic education and computational linguistics

Dr. Ahmed Allaithy, Professor of Translation and Head of the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies at American University of Sharjah (AUS), is harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance Arabic language instruction and linguistic analysis. His recent research, published in collaboration with other leading scholars from AUS and the region, examines advanced AI tools used to generate reading materials for Arabic learners, which has led to the development of a tool to analyze the intricate structure of Arabic verbs. 

The first paper, titled “Evaluation of AI-Generated Reading Comprehension Materials for Arabic Language Teaching,” co-authored with Dr. May Zaki, Associate Professor of Arabic and Translation Studies at AUS and a speaker at the inaugural Sharjah International Conference on AI Linguistics, which will be held on October 17–18, 2024 at AUS, explores how AI tools can generate reading comprehension materials for learners of Arabic. The study evaluates the performance of five leading AI systems—ChatGPT, Gemini, Co-Pilot, JAIS and Diffit—by analyzing their ability to produce educational content that is both linguistically accurate and pedagogically valuable for intermediate-level Arabic students. The research was published in the Scopus-Indexed, top one percent journal Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations, Volume 23, Issue 1, 2024.

“Our research seeks to evaluate the capabilities of AI in generating Arabic reading materials, focusing on how well these systems meet the linguistic and educational needs of students. We found that while AI tools like ChatGPT and Co-Pilot demonstrate immense potential, they still present challenges regarding linguistic accuracy, which can affect their effectiveness in language instruction,” said Dr. Allaithy.

This study provides a first-of-its-kind evaluation of AI-generated Arabic learning materials, highlighting both the strengths and limitations of these technologies. Dr. Allaithy emphasized that while AI tools have the potential to enhance the teaching process by providing personalized and adaptive learning materials, they still require further refinement to meet educational standards and ensure linguistic and cultural accuracy.

“Teachers can use these tools to create exercises tailored to their students, which saves time and boosts student engagement. However, we must ensure rigorous quality control to avoid linguistic inaccuracies and cultural mismatches,” he explained. 

The second paper, titled “A Computational Tool for Arabic Trilateral Abstract Geminate Verbs Morphology,” co-authored with Dr. Wafaa Kamel Fayed, Professor of Arabic Language at Cairo University, involved the development of a new AI-based tool specifically designed to analyze the morphology of Arabic trilateral geminate verbs. This means the tool can be used to study the structure and patterns of Arabic verbs that are made up of three root letters, where two of the letters are the same. The tool automates what has been a complex analysis process, offering a more efficient and accurate approach to studying these verbs. This research, also published in Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations, Volume 23, Issue 1, 2024, represents a groundbreaking achievement in the field of computational linguistics.

“This computational tool is a first in its kind, providing unprecedented insights into the complex morphology of Arabic trilateral geminate verbs,” explained Dr. Allaithy. “By automating the linguistic analysis of these verbs, we’re able to significantly speed up research processes, offering linguists a powerful tool for more in-depth studies.”

The significance of this tool lies in its potential applications beyond traditional linguistic research. 

“We’ve built a resource that not only accelerates linguistic research but also has the potential to enhance AI language models and improve Arabic language education. The tool simplifies the study of intricate verb forms, which can benefit both linguists and educators. This is a major step forward in the automation of Arabic linguistic analysis,” said Dr. Allaithy. 

Dr. Allaithy’s contributions to both AI-enhanced language teaching and computational linguistics highlight the innovative research emerging from the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies at AUS. These studies not only serve to advance the field of Arabic language education but also open new avenues for applying AI technologies in language learning and linguistic research. 

To learn more about the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies at AUS, visit www.aus.edu/cas/department-of-arabic-and-translation-studies.