A class of eight students sits in a semi-circle listening intently as their instructor proclaims “Ahlan wa Sahlan” and motions for them to repeat. The students collectively recite the phrase, which means “welcome” in English. The Arabic program at Texas State University-San Marcos wants to welcome students to a foreign experience this spring. Amjad Mohammed, coordinator of the Arabic program, says because of globalization, the great interest in Arabic and Arabic culture in the United States and the involvement with Iraq, students should give a second thought when choosing how to fill their foreign language requirement. Not to mention the great business opportunities in the Middle East. “Many students take Spanish,” Mohammed said. “I think they should try something different. The world is becoming a small village... people need to be informed about other cultures. America's involvement in the Arab world requires people to be informed.” The program promises a spectrum of cultural education and activities in addition to Arabic language and grammar. It also features a Middle Eastern culture club that is planning a host of events. The Arabic language will be useful to those who are majoring in international studies and have an interest in the Middle East. It is also important to students studying business, history and many other topics. “Students will not only learn about the language, but also about different cultural aspects including food served in the Arab world,” Amjad said. “We also learn about Eastern dance and belly dancing.” In higher-level Arabic, students will be trained to improve their four major skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Because the class is offered through the office of extension, people can take the class without being a student of the university. Amjad encourages community and ROTC members who are military personnel to attend, like Howard Cook, 28.“I’m not a student here, but I work for the National Guard,” Cook said. “I’m taking this class to become familiar with the Arab language and culture incase I have to go back to Iraq.” Amjad says the language is not as difficult as most assume, and many of his students do very well. Andy Cotton, international studies junior form Cypress, is one of those students. He says like most foreign languages, studying is the key to success. “It has been difficult to learn but it’s starting to make sense now,” Cotton said. “This is my first Arabic class, so having a good teacher like Amjad has been helpful.” Amjad does not believe in the total immersion method of teaching. His introductory classes are taught half in English and half in Arabic. He has taught Arabic at the University of Texas for five years and says compared to other schools, Texas State’s Arabic program is relatively small. He attributes this to the lack of its exposure. “I use the latest teaching methods to help students grasp the language faster. If students put in the time and effort they will excel,” he said. Amjad has confidence that the program will become as competitive and popular as programs at other schools. “My teaching methods were received well at UT,” he said. “I’m sure the program has the potential to grow and become more successful and competitive than the UT program.” Amjad says the students and staff at the office of extension have aided the growth of the program. “I would like to thank the chair of the department of modern languages Robert Fischer and the director of the offices of extension James Andrew, including the wonderful staff and student workers for their continuous support,” he said. Amjad grew up in Madaba, Jordan, and immigrated to the United States when he was 24. He completed his master’s degree at the University of Colorado and became motivated to help others learn the Arabic language as American interest in the language emerged.

“I love teaching Arabic for all levels,” he said.

For more information about the Arabic program contact Amjad at arabicclass@txstate.edu or call (512) 245-1745, or visit www.modlang.txstate.edu/arabic.shtml.

The University Star

November 8, 2007 Volume 97, Issue 34

Texas State University

Language Lessons

University Seeks to launch full-scale Arabic Program

By Sean Batura

News Reporter

Universities nationwide are scrambling to offer Arabic courses in response to increased interest in the language. The rapidly growing demand for Arabic speakers by both the public and private sector is often cited as a reason for the surge in enrollment in Arabic courses. Texas State officials have expressed the desire for a full-fledged Arabic program. But they need more students to enroll in the Arabic courses already offered and enrollment would have to stay high over the course of several semesters. A May report published by the Modern Language Association identifies a “current language crisis that has occurred as a result of 9/11.” “MLA data show that college and university enrollments in Arabic nearly doubled between 1998 and 2002, from 5,505 to 10,584,” the report stated. The report claims “the nation’s language deficit” grew evident “as language failures of all kinds plagued the United States’ military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq and its efforts to suppress terrorism.” The report takes note of the availability of “new federal funds for language study,” most of which are “tied to defense and security needs.” In a 2006 State Department briefing, officials announced the creation of the National Security Language Initiative. Its purpose is to “dramatically increase” the number of Americans proficient in “critical need foreign languages.” Arabic is at the top of a list that includes Chinese, Russian, Hindi and Farsi. “An essential component of U.S. national security in the post-9/11 world is the ability to engage foreign governments and peoples, especially in critical regions, to encourage reform, promote understanding, convey respect for other cultures and provide an opportunity to learn more about our country and its citizens,” the State Department said. “To do this, we must be able to communicate in other languages, a challenge for which we are unprepared.” A National Security Language Initiative online fact sheet describes the expansion of the National Flagship Language program. “National Flagship Programs, administered by the National Security Education Program in the Department of Defense, are designed as strategic partnerships between the federal government and U.S. Institutions of Higher Education focusing on the implementation of advanced instruction in critical languages,” according to the fact sheet. The fact sheet lists the University of Texas Arabic program as one of four operational programs receiving funds by the federal government under the Department of Defense-administered initiative. Program faculty member Amjad Mohammed is spearheading an effort to increase enrollment in Arabic courses at Texas State. Amjad brings his experience from the University of Texas Arabic program to Texas State, where he hopes an even better program could be established. But he said it may be a while before that can happen. “At this point we don’t really have the numbers, that’s why we need to get the word out,” Amjad said. “Hopefully then the numbers will increase over time. It will take us about a year from now to see how things are going to work. Definitely we are looking forward to opening a full Arabic language program at Texas State. Some of the (current) students are interested in majoring in Arabic, but we’re not there yet.” He said Americans proficient in the language have an advantage over non-citizens. “The government is looking for anybody who speaks…Arabic,” Amjad said. “It pays a lot of money. (The government) is not willing to hire people who are not citizens; therefore those students (who are citizens) will have the opportunity to get those jobs.” Amjad said job opportunities for Arabic speakers abound in both the public and private sectors. “The opportunity is wide open,” Amjad said. “You could be a translator heading to Iraq helping the troops, you could be working with the government here (and) you could be teaching Arabic. You could actually head to the Middle East and do business. There are a lot of places like Dubai in the United Arab Emirates that are very rich. A lot of Americans head there, and it’s very useful to have basic Arabic skills — and cultural skills, too.”

Robert Fischer, modern languages department chair, explained his approach to determining what courses are offered. “I don’t know that we would offer languages just because they are immediately or temporarily important,” Fisher said. “My goal for the department is that we offer a variety of languages for students to take. Arabic being important, we want to offer it.” Amjad described the experience students can expect to have in the Arabic courses he teaches. “One of the functions of the class is to introduce the Arabic culture to the students, as part of the language skill,” Amjad said. “A lot of times we will be talking about different cultural aspects: weddings, music, bands (and) food. Also we touch on religion because there is a connection between Islam and the language.” Shaun Payne, pre-international studies freshman, said he is taking an Arabic course because his study emphasis is in the Middle East, and he would like to eventually work in the region with an organization involved in peace work. He said learning the language has been enjoyable. “The language is a lot more fun than I thought is was going to be,” Payne said. “Just the whole writing it and speaking it — everything about it is a lot of fun. Their culture is very interesting. I like it a lot.” Payne contrasted what he had learned so far about Arabic culture with mainstream American values. “In America, we are a lot about helping ourselves — making ourselves better,” Payne said. “But in Arab culture, they’re all about sharing — they’re very communal. It’s pretty cool.” Jennifer Bland, pre-international studies freshman, said learning Arabic is easier than she expected. “It’s actually easier,” Bland said. “I find it easier than Spanish. I can write better in Arabic than I can in Spanish.” Bland described her experience studying in the Middle Eastern country of Yemen. “I signed up for a school over there,” Bland said. “I went there by myself, I didn’t know anyone and when I got there I just met people from all over the world. It was awesome. I met people from Spain, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Russia (and) Mexico.” Bland said she will probably work for the U.S. government after graduate school, though working for the United Nations is her main goal. “I know I’ll probably end up working for the government at some point,” Bland said. “Probably the State Department. I’ve always wanted to work for the U.N.”