Welcome to the Arabic program at Wesleyan University!
مرحبا بكم الى برنامج اللغة العربية في جامعة وزليان
An official language of the United Nations and a semitic language that enjoys a very rich, varied and vast literary heritage dating back to the pre-Islamic era, classical Arabic derived from Aramaic, much like its sister languages Hebrew and Amharic, and is used throughout the Arab world from Morocco in the West to Bahrain in the East (about 400 million people), both as the language of instruction, in Arabic broadcast media, in all written publications, government business and the legal system, as well as the liturgical language for about a billion and a half Muslims around the world. The vernacular version of classical Arabic (or Modern standard Arabic) known as ‘3aamiyya or Lahja or Darija depending on the region, is spoken in the street by everyone, differs at varying degrees form a region to another, is not written nor is it taught in schools like Modern Standard Arabic, and is naturally acquired as the mother tongue.
The Arabic program at Wesleyan University offers five semesters of Modern Standard Arabic (known as Fus7a, i.e the eloquent or pure) going from beginner to advanced level and is in the process of offering new possibilities for further study of the language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaH5_6rlJ1I
In addition to adopting Al Kitaab fii Ta3allum al 3arabiyya as the main book, a whole slew of material for teaching Arabic is used, including Tales of kalila wa Dimna, an Anthology of Arabic literature, culture and thought, Media Arabic, Children’s stories form the Middle East, Arabic for Business as well as material developed by Wesleyan’s Arabic faculty. Alongside regular curricular offerings, every year the Arabic program hosts a Fulbright scholar from a different Arab country, who contributes greatly to the Program by offering teaching assistant sessions, a language table, one on one tutorials and by helping organize cultural events such as Arabic dinners and Arabic movie nights. Furthermore, the Arabic program has a tradition of celebrating the end of each semester by going on a field trip to a local Middle Eastern restaurant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOVCUZenvJQ
Many students of Arabic at Wesleyan University take part in Arabic Study Abroad programs in Morocco and Jordan, while a few others earn scholarships such as Fulbright scholarship, and internships where they get to employ and further develop their language and culture skills.