Folktales, Children’s Literature and National Identity in the United Arab Emirates

  • Rida Blaik Hourani Emirates College for Advanced Education

Abstract

This article describes research that explores how UAE folktales may be used to promote specific cultural and behavioural guidelines for and with UAE lower primary school students. By analysing the content of these folktales, and their relevance and appropriateness in children’s literature, the possible ways for language arts subjects to promote literacy through the narration of folktales are considered, particularly in terms of how those folktales are constructed within the UAE cultural index.

Author Biography

Rida Blaik Hourani, Emirates College for Advanced Education
Dr Rida Blaik Hourani earned her Ph.D. in Policy and Management from The University of Melbourne. Dr Blaik Hourani has worked at various higher education institutions, has taught and authored diverse courses in both education and social sciences disciplines, and she lectures within the realm of education leadership, school management, curriculum and instruction, peace studies, school reforms, cultural studies and sociology of education.  She has recently assumed the position of Division Head of Educational Leadership - Arts and Humanities at Emirates College for Advanced Education, after holding the position of Division Head for Arts and Humanities at that institution for several years. Dr. Rida Blaik Hourani has numerous publications; her research focus is in policy and leadership, school reforms and innovation, sociology of education and cultural studies.  She is an author of a book, What Palestine do we teach?: the History curriculum for Palestinian Arabs, 1861 - 1999.
Issue
Vol. 18 No. 1 (2015)
Section
The Tortoise's Tale
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