Arabic course offerin allows students to pursue interests
Jonathan Wolinsky '10
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Features
Until this year Wheaton students would have had to take Arabic off campus in order to learn the language at places such as Brown or any number of Boston schools. Since adding the language to the curriculum this year, reaction from the campus has been favorable.
Twenty-three students signed up to take the class this semester, enough to warrant two sections being made; a very promising sign, said professor Safaa Shaheen.
Professor Shaheen, who has previously taught at the American University in Cairo, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Tufts University and Middlebury, called Wheaton's offering of Arabic "a daring step forward."
Although the only type of class currently offered is a language class, Professor Shaheen includes cultural and historical elements that she hopes will eventually become its own class once Arabic gets more of a foundation on campus.
Adena Spadaro '10 was planning on taking Arabic at Brown but was thrilled to find that she could stay on campus. She described the course as challenging but finds it fulfilling "to learn a language that is so different than the norm and being able to apply it to other courses." She plans on traveling to Egypt for her year abroad and is also hoping to use the course in a connection.
Shaheen anticipates that enough momentum will build to create an Arabic Department. As it stands now, the class is offered under Hispanic Studies. "It is a fruitful idea to start teaching Arabic," Shaheen said in reference to it spawning more avenues for students to learn about the Arabic world.
The Arabic course currently offered is designed for students who will complete on par with students who take a similar class at any university. This will allow Wheaton students to pursue Arabic related careers such as translators and government jobs, domestic or abroad, in a world where Arabic culture is undeniably connected to our own.
Twenty-three students signed up to take the class this semester, enough to warrant two sections being made; a very promising sign, said professor Safaa Shaheen.
Professor Shaheen, who has previously taught at the American University in Cairo, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Tufts University and Middlebury, called Wheaton's offering of Arabic "a daring step forward."
Although the only type of class currently offered is a language class, Professor Shaheen includes cultural and historical elements that she hopes will eventually become its own class once Arabic gets more of a foundation on campus.
Adena Spadaro '10 was planning on taking Arabic at Brown but was thrilled to find that she could stay on campus. She described the course as challenging but finds it fulfilling "to learn a language that is so different than the norm and being able to apply it to other courses." She plans on traveling to Egypt for her year abroad and is also hoping to use the course in a connection.
Shaheen anticipates that enough momentum will build to create an Arabic Department. As it stands now, the class is offered under Hispanic Studies. "It is a fruitful idea to start teaching Arabic," Shaheen said in reference to it spawning more avenues for students to learn about the Arabic world.
The Arabic course currently offered is designed for students who will complete on par with students who take a similar class at any university. This will allow Wheaton students to pursue Arabic related careers such as translators and government jobs, domestic or abroad, in a world where Arabic culture is undeniably connected to our own.
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