BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University students can now receive in-depth knowledge of Arab language and culture, which may help them understand current world affairs.
The university’s first Arabic language course just finished its first quarter, and instructor Linda Istanbulli is thrilled with how it went.
“I am so impressed,” she said. “The students are interested, seriously interested and seriously excited.”
In the new course, Istanbulli has combined language studies with cultural studies, using real people, events, songs and literature as topics and examples in exercises.
“It’s not a separate thing,” she said. “It’s culture through language.”
Before leaving the university to fly home to Syria for the holidays, Istanbulli took time to give an overview of teaching Arabic in Bellingham.
Why is the course important to offer?
Because of the international attention being focused on the Arab world, she said.
“People are hungry to know about the Middle East and language is one of the main ways to know that place,” she said. “All over the world now, people want to learn this language.”
Istanbulli grew up in Syria and has taught Arabic language courses in Syria and Kuwait and at American University in Cairo, Egypt.
What challenges are there in teaching Arabic at Western?
“The first challenge … is not having a big Arabic community in Bellingham,” she said. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 420 people in Whatcom County marked their ancestry as being from an Arab country.
The small Arab population is a shortfall because students don’t get to immerse themselves in the language, or even to watch a live conversation between two native speakers.
When Istanbulli taught in Cairo, students got language experience in class and at home watching television, reading the newspaper or walking through the market.
“The experience was totally different there because those students were there in the Middle East surrounded by Arabs,” she said. “I always thought about those not there and how difficult it is for them to get the language and understand what’s behind it.”
Istanbulli tries to compensate for the lack of native speakers by having “Arabic Corner,” a weekly meeting time with the students when they visit in Arabic. But she’s still the only native speaker.
How popular is the course?
Two sections of Arabic 101 were offered this quarter, with about 25 slots per class, all of which filled, Istanbulli said. On the first day of class, about 40 students wanted to sign in.
“I felt bad saying no,” she said. “But they can take 101 next year.”
The plan is to offer Arabic 102 winter quarter and Arabic 103 and a colloquial Arabic course in the spring. Next year, second-year classes will be added to the schedule, giving students eight courses to choose from.
Reach Kira Millage at kira.millage@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2266.
