Sawsan Askoul

Sawsan Askoul is a highly experienced Arabic language educator with over fifteen years of teaching at leading institutions across the UK. She is passionate about helping learners develop proficiency in all four language skills—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—through dynamic, communicative, and learner-centred approaches. 

Throughout her career, she has designed and delivered innovative courses tailored to students of all levels, from absolute beginners to professionals, ensuring that each learner builds confidence, fluency, and cultural understanding. Known for her supportive and inspiring teaching style, Sawsan has also led numerous workshops for both students and teachers, sharing effective strategies to make learning Arabic engaging and accessible. 

Her dedication, expertise, and ability to connect with learners have made her a respected figure in Arabic language education.

• Current Research Student, University College London (UCL)
• MA in Applied Linguistics and Communication, Birkbeck, University of London
• MA in Bilingual Translation, University of Westminster
• Certificate in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, SOAS, University of London
• BA in English Language and Literature, Damascus University, Syria.

• 2024–present: City, St George’s, University of London
• 2012–present: Regent’s University, London
• 2020–2025: Brunel University
• 2016–2025: King’s College London
• 2021–2024: University of Sussex
• 2019–2020: Imperial College London
• 2009–2016: Kingston University

• Askoul, S. (2017). An Acoustic Analysis of the Production of Word-Initial Stop /p/ by Late Arab Bilinguals. The Language & Communication Quarterly Journal (International Language Association), 1(4), 74–90. 
• Askoul, S. (2018). EU Immigration in the British Press: How Was Immigration Reported Immediately Prior to the EU Referendum. The Language & Communication Quarterly Journal (International Language Association), 2(2), 71–85. 

Sawsan Askoul’s research focuses on second language acquisition, with a particular emphasis on second language speech acquisition, phonetics and phonology, and the sound systems of languages. 

She investigates how learners produce and perceive the sounds of a new language, how these processes impact intelligibility, and the factors that influence accurate and comprehensible pronunciation. 

Her work also explores the interaction between learners’ first language and target language sound systems, aiming to better understand the challenges of acquiring new phonetic patterns and to inform effective teaching strategies in second language contexts.

• Member, British Association of Academic Phoneticians (BAAP)
• Member, British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL)
• Member, British Association of Teachers of Arabic (BATA)

Sawsan Askoul has developed a comprehensive range of Arabic language courses for learners from A1 to C1 levels, in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Her work includes designing advanced academic programmes and specialised courses for business and professional learners. 

She has extensive experience creating curricula that respond to diverse learner needs and integrate authentic linguistic and cultural content. In addition to Modern Standard Arabic, Sawsan has designed and delivered courses in Levantine dialects, helping students communicate effectively and confidently in real-world contexts. 

She has also developed and led pronunciation workshops for both teachers and students, focusing on the production and perception of Arabic sounds to enhance intelligibility and communicative confidence. Her course development reflects a strong commitment to pedagogical innovation, practical application, and meaningful learner engagement.