Affiliates
Bureau of Islamic and Arabic Education
The Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC), as a leading institute in establishing the American Muslim identity, assigned the Education Council of the ICSC to develop the BIAE as a resource center in 1999. The primary goal of the BIAE is to develop Qur'anic-, Islamic Studies and Arabic Language Education for the New Horizon Schools. By focusing on the production of unique Qur'anic-, Islamic Studies and Arabic Language curricula, it aims to increase the impact of Islam on the daily life of both Muslims and non-Muslims everywhere. To ensure that this primary goal is met, the BIAE offers regular training workshops for teachers in the field of Arabic as a Foreign Language, as well as in Qur'anic and Islamic Studies. The Qur'anic & Islamic Studies Curricula is geared toward the formation of the balanced Muslim identity at three levels: Identity formation, Knowledge, and Application (practical skills). The mission of the Arabic Language Program is to empower the New Horizon students with adequate Arabic language skills to enable them to read and comprehend the Qur'an. The BIAE believes that in promoting the four language skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing), students will be able to understand Islam from its authentic sources and interact actively with Arabic as a living language.
