Why Study Arabic?
Arabic is the native language of more than 300 million people living in Southwest Asia and North Africa. It is the liturgical language of more than 1.4 billion Muslims around the world and is also commonly used among 3.5 million American and Canadian citizens of Arab descent.
Learning Arabic is a gratifying experience because it exposes students to a rich culture and civilization and enhances their abilities to comprehend the multi-faceted aspects and complexities of the Arab and Islamic worlds. Generally speaking, Arabs tend to be welcoming and hospitable people with a great passion to engage in historic, cultural, and socio-political discussions. For this, students of Arabic should never be surprised by the fact that uttering a simple expression to an Arab like "Marhaba" (hello), "As-salaamu alaykum" (peace be upon you) or "Shukran" (thank you), could lead them to a prolonged conversation or even an invitation to the Arab's home where staple foods, like hummus, falafel, stuffed lamb, and the aromatic Turkish coffee (actually, Arabs like to call it Arabic coffee) are offered.
Learning Arabic also opens tremendous job opportunities and makes applicants competitive both in the private (for profit/non-profit) and public sectors. Currently, students of Arabic, at all proficiency levels, are in massive demand. They can expect to be recruited and later on conduct business and interact with numerous entities, such as multinational corporations, NGOs, many branches of the public sector, the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Conference.
CSUSB students teach Arabic language and culture to fourth graders
On May 5 2016, a group of 4th graders from Salinas Elementary school in San Bernardino, with their teachers and parent volunteers participated in an Arabic language workshop in the Department of World Languages and Literatures. This was part of a larger visit that also included a visit to the Art and Kinesiology departments. Dr. Oraib Mango and students from her ARAB 103 class welcomed the visitors who watched short presentations by the students as well as took part in activities that focused on the Arabic culture, music, reading, writing, iPad activities as well as a dancing lesson by Professor Nabila Land. Special thanks to everyone who made this workshop possible especially to the the Multimedia Language Center that provided the iPads, the school teachers; Mr. William Beshears, and Mr. Brian Zubak as well as the parent volunteers. The Department of World Languages and Literatures looks forward to hosting the wonderful students of Salinas Elementary school in the future.
