Arabic classes all over!

Arabic classes at Anne Arundel Community College are becoming more and more popular.

Professor Gordon Witty teaches students Arabic at Temple University

According to the Modern Language Association, Arabic enrollment at the university level more than doubled from 2004 to 2008. The number of institutions offering programs grew from 264 to 466 over those four years. Those 466 programs enrolled about 23,874 students according to the MLA survey. That's a 77% increase!

    “America’s involvement in the Arab world is drawing an increased attention to this field of study,” said Khaled Sayed, Arabic professor at AACC.


     There are 1,020 colleges today that offer Arabic classes according to the U.S College Search. This is more than ever before.

     Some students are taking Arabic to help them with their careers.

    “I chose to take Arabic because it will be helpful for me in the future,” said Erica Bingham, an ex-student of Sayed’s. “I’m thinking about becoming an interpreter and Arabic is one of the hottest languages right now.”

  
   But Arabic isn't an easy language to learn. Difficulties include: 

• Pronunciation 
• Knowing which letters connect to others and which don't. 
• Learning the various forms of one letter

    For information on Arabic classes at AACC,  you may contact Janet M. Paulovich, director, at 410-777-1192 or jmpaulovich@aacc.edu.