A Des Moines high school has received a federal grant to expand an Arabic language program this summer.
Lincoln High School is receiving $100,000 from the National Security Language Initiative for the third consecutive year. The program was started by President George Bush in 2006. It seeks to expand and improve the teaching and learning of strategically important world languages that are not widely taught in the United Sates.
This summer Arabic course will be held from June 6 through June 28. Students who complete the course will earn one semester of high school credit.
About 50 students have participated in the program in each of the first two years. This year the grant funds will accommodate 100 students.
Instructors are native speakers from Iraq, Morocco, Sudan, Palestine, and Jordan.
