Arabic is a language of growing economic importance in the Middle East-North Africa region, but its influence doesn’t stop there. In the western world, educational and public institutions are also reporting growing popularity for the language’s study, with speakers finding all manner of practical uses for their multilingualism.
CBS News reports that Denver public school North High School’s Arabic language class is growing in popularity, expanding from one session to three by the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. Taught by Dr. Mohamed Moghazy, who grew up in Dubai, the program sprang from a surprising job listing following Moghazy’s completion of a master’s program that led to a doctorate.
"And then I start to search. And then I see Denver North High School wanted an Arabic teacher," Moghazy told CBS News. "At the beginning, we thought it was a scam because how come in Denver you need an Arabic teacher."
According to CBS News, the class began with a mere 18 students in a single Arabic 1 session. Now the program boasts three sessions, with 25 students taking Arabic 1, 22 in Arabic 2, and 15 in Arabic 3. Moghazy teaches the language through total immersion, including cultural education. Students learn how to make Arabic coffee and tea, practice proper sitting, and avoid cultural faux pas that could create discomfort or awkwardness when traveling as guests in Arab-speaking countries.
What’s more, when students enter Moghazy’s classroom, English is turned off like a linguistic light switch. Students are encouraged to communicate solely in Arabic, adding to the immersive nature of Moghazy’s approach.
"Our classroom is 100% Arabic,” he told CBS News. “There is no English. We are not here to learn English. They are here to learn the Arabic language.”
Excitement for the Arabic language extends to higher education, too. In January, nonprofit distance-learning institution University of the People, which has no campus due to its online-learning focus but is headquartered in Pasadena, California, announced the launch of the first American, online MBA degree program in Arabic.
“The language barrier has long been an obstacle for many Arab students to earn a college degree, but with the use of online technology, we are able to take a major leap forward in achieving educational equity and increased access for people in the Arab world,” said Dr. Gabriel Hawawini, professor of business administration at UoPeople.
“Online learning eliminates the need to travel for students who want to study at an American university,” he added. “They do not need to leave their country, their family, or their job to earn a degree from an American university.”
The programs’ success could be a bellwether for the Arabic language’s economic importance in the decades to come. From professionals seeking employment in Gulf Cooperation Council countries to military men and women seeking to better communicate and serve as cross-cultural ambassadors, the reasons for learning and learning in Arabic are as diverse as the individuals themselves. U.S. Air Force Capt. Nahima Hoque, for instance, studied Arabic to promote a better understanding of Middle Eastern culture.
“My family is Muslim, and I grew up reading the Quran, studying religion, and learning about the Islamic Golden Ages, but I did not know what I was reading,” said Hoque. “I wanted to have the ability to communicate and was very intrigued by the people, history, and cultures in the Arab world — a region often misunderstood.