IS ARABIC FOR ME?

Thinking of learning Arabic? 

There’s never been a better time to do that. As you’re reading these words, the Arab world is undergoing momentous change from its easternmost country, Oman, on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to Mauritania and Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean to the West. Name any country on this large swath of land, and you’ll find its structure has been impacted by what came to be known as the Arab Spring in small or large ways. As a University of Wyoming student, a citizen of this country and a global citizen, you get to hear about changes there through traditional media and hearsay. For you to be able to monitor these changes through acquiring knowledge of Arabic firsthand has a flavor of its own. The Global & Area Studies program and the University of Wyoming are guided by an internationalization vision, of which Arabic learning is part and parcel.

Why learn Arabic?

Arabic is one of the United Nations six working languages and is spoken by over 300 million people in its Standard or dialectal forms.  It is the language of religious ritual for over 1.6 billion people, roughly 23% of the world’s population. Learn Arabic and you will open a window into this world, its history, literature, popular culture, humor, and current affairs. Call this an exercise in intellectual enrichment. Expand the limits and call this a project of bridge building.

What else do I gain as I learn Arabic, other than knowledge of language and exposure to the culture?

If you’re only too pragmatic about your academic pursuits, studying Arabic will at the very least help you meet your UW language requirements. Beyond this, as much as knowledge of English or Spanish is vital in the US, knowledge of Arabic is your ticket to employment opportunities in a wide range of fields: translation, diplomacy, business and commerce, petroleum, defense, satellite television stations, and a growing number of strategic research centers.  Because Arabic is considered a critical language at the national level, the number of Arabic language teaching programs here has exponentially increased in the past twenty years, and landing a teaching job in one such institution is a real possibility.

I am majoring in History, International Studies, Anthropology, Journalism, Political Science, Religion, Philosophy, Petroleum Engineering, Fine Arts, or Business. Is Arabic for me?

Academic disciplines are not islands. Before you can have a degree in internal medicine, you need to be a general practitioner.  Oftentimes, you will find that knowledge of the Middle East, Islam and Arabic culture adds innovative perspectives to your research and work, in academe and elsewhere.  Arabic is your passport to multiple perspectives.

Why learn Arabic at the University of Wyoming?

Whether you just need to accomplish UW’s basic foreign language requirements or are looking to take a wider range of Arabic courses, the Arabic program is tailored to meet your needs.  Beyond the first five courses, ARBC1010 through ARBC3050, we offer Intensive Arabic writing at the level of WB2 (ARBC3060), and a topics course at the 4990 level.  Within the next 18 to 24 months, we are hoping to be put a place a minor three courses of which will be secured through partnership with academic institutions in the Arab world in the context of a study-abroad program. Where feasible, we accommodate students wishing to undertake independent study to complete components not covered by regular course offerings.

Need further information about Arabic?

Get in touch with us. We’re a team of three Arabic instructors and one supplemental instruction leader, in addition to our Global & Area Studies Program Director, Prof. Jean Garrison. We’re fully committed to providing adequate advising and a quality academic Arabic program.  Our program is designed to help you attain a mid-intermediate level of proficiency in Arabic speaking, reading, and writing, as well as Arabic digital literacy. Whether you’re thinking of taking an Arabic course now or in the future, we love to hear from you.  Call us or drop us a line. 

Arabic Courses

ARABIC AWARENESS WEEK on the Morocco World News:

http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/03/84218/us-university-of-wyoming-to-celebrate-islam-awareness-week/

Want to know what our Arabic students do?

Follow Amanda King, international studies major who received a Critical Language Scholarship by the US Department of State, was in Morocco in the summer 2013!

On her Blog you can read about her incredible adventures.

Amanda King on a rooftop in Casablanca

Amanda visited the King Hassan II Mosque