Interest in Middle Eastern affairs in the United States has grown since September 11, 2001. However, some Purdue students studied the Arabic language more than 20 years ago. As more students become interested in the Arab world, more classes become available at Purdue.
The chair of Purdue’s Foreign Language Department said the Arabic program began as an informal language class. Now it’s a program headed by full time faculty Ahmed Idrissi Alami.
“The kind of classes that we offer besides language are classes that try to introduce students to the culture, to the mentality, to the kinds of problems that existed in the Arab world throughout history,” said Ahmed Idrissi Alami, an Arabic professor at Purdue.
Alami said students relate what they learn in Arabic class to other academic courses and see the Arabic culture benefiting them in the near future.
“It is also something that is driven by students who are interested in having certain careers. People who are, for instance, thinking of working with the government. They think that if they take classes of Arabic Language and Arabic Culture they probably boost their chances of getting hired,” said Alami.
Students in Alami’s new Arabic Culture class agree.
“I took it to get a better appreciation of Arabic and a better insight to modern Arab world,” said Gopaul Kaushal, one of Alami’s Arabic students.
“I’m learning a lot about the overall history of the area and the literary history,” said Micah Kesselman, another one of Alami’s Arabic students.
Some students said the course draws interest for political reasons.
“I think a lot has to do with the War in Iraq and how a lot has been said that President Bush didn’t understand the culture of the people and that is why it’s taking so long,” said Johanna Ciezczak, an Alami Arabic student.
Alami said with more students adding Arabic studies to their plate, Purdue must respond.
“We are thinking of expanding the program and we are thinking of offering a minor. We are working on that because a lot of students who are taking Arabic right now or Arabic culture are interested in being able to use those courses towards a minor,” said Alami.
The chair of the Foreign Language Department says students should be able to minor in Arabic in a year and a half and major in Arabic shortly thereafter.
