by: Khalil, USA
“I participated in a 7-week intensive course of Levantine Arabic in Germany. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. As an Arab-American, it felt in many ways to be a deep dive into my identity. My father spoke Arabic to me growing up, but I always responded in English and never learned to read or write.
Upon learning the alphabet and all of the forms of each letter, piecing together basic words and sentences (through writing and reading) was a deeply meaningful privilege. I loved learning the Arabic language; it felt like slowly working towards solving a puzzle. I love the inherent artistic qualities of the language, which allow for individual creativity in writing and ease with constructing poetic phrases with double meanings and the like.
My teacher Muaz created a rich learning environment filled with numerous methods to cement classroom concepts, such as studying Arabic songs, delivering comical presentations, acting in everyday scenarios, and ordering food from local restaurants in Arabic. Furthermore, I particularly liked the well-rounded education we received because there were many opportunities to learn about Arab and Levantine history, culture, food, customs, and music, to name a few. I believe that this circular style of teaching encouraged a more lively learning environment because we could see the practicality of the language in real-life scenarios instead of just rote memorization from a textbook (though there was some of this traditional style learning as well).
As for the center itself, I became very fond of Rafat Shantir’s innovative idea to bring together people from all over the globe in a highly participatory and communal manner. Suppose you sign up for language study (Arabic or German). In that case, you will have ample opportunities to meet local Germans and/or Arab immigrants/refugees, and you will become part of the Engage in Germany global community. There are many activities, such as weekly soccer games, social outings, visits to neighboring cities, and chances to interact with others at the center, most notably the daily delicious group breakfasts, which I always looked forward to.
If you haven’t finalized your decision yet, as I hadn’t in the spring of 2024, I encourage you to go ahead and apply. It was truly one of my favorite life experiences where I met some amazing people, got to experience a small German town with delicious food, parks/green spaces, cultural events, and made some life-long friendships. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Rafat, Muaz, Ali, and all of the other employees, volunteers, and others I met and interacted with at the center!”
