Students learn Arab language
Arabic has an estimated 186 million speakers, and is now on its way to becoming a new JMU club
By Rachel Bishop, contributing writer
Posted on April 20, 2006

Interested in learning about the Arabic language and culture? No room in your schedule for Arabic classes?  Look no further than the Arabic Club.  Not yet recognized as a club by JMU, though it will be this fall, the Arabic Club wants to break misconceptions people might have about the Arab world.

According to the club’s president junior Sarah Abubaker, “We act like we know more than we do. North Africa and the Middle East are so important, and we need to stop bad decisions over there and educate people.”

Arabic is spoken in 24 countries, including Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Many people learn the language for religious purposes, but knowing Arabic can also come in handy with teaching, business, nonprofit organizations, the military and other government jobs like embassies and the CIA. Arabic isn’t as hard to learn as many may think.

“It’s phonetic,” says Arabic and French professor Ouijdane Absi.  “What you say, you write. It’s one of the most logical languages. There’s a reason for everything.” Learning the alphabet is the hardest part, but everyone agrees the language is a lot easier than people think.

“The Arabic program seems to be very successful. The teacher, Ms. Absi, is great with the students, she makes the students love the language,” said head of the foreign language department Giuliana Fazzion. “She will also be teaching Arabic in May sessions, offering the intense first year Arabic. I am sure Arabic will continue to be famous and get stronger.”

The Arabic club meets every other Tuesday for movies or food or other fun activities, focusing on spreading the culture.  Next fall, once they are officially recognized as a club, they plan to have frequently have speakers speakers educate the club.

The Arabic Round Table, a separate entity from the club, meets every Thursday in Market One to practice speaking Arabic.  Even students who know very little about the language can learn a lot from the experience. 

Arabic classes are currently offered through the university through the intermediate level. There’s also the summer intensive program that combines Arabic 101 and 102 so students can enter the intermediate level in the fall. Arabic, though rapidly growing in popularity, is not yet available as a major or minor, but will reach minor status in fall 2007, and major status in the near future.