• Photo Courtesy of Danish Shaikh
Two members chat during the MSA Fall 2014 picnic.
هل تريد أن تتعلم اللغة العربية؟
Or, “Do you want to learn Arabic?”
The Arabic Program at the University of Tennessee, which currently consists of language courses from elementary Arabic to third year studies, hopes to expand in the coming years to include fourth year studies as well as an Arab Studies major and minor.
The Arab Studies minor, which will be offered starting next fall, will be a more holistic, interdisciplinary study of the Arab world that will include courses taught in history, religious studies and political science, alongside traditional Arabic language courses.
“What is interesting and unique about the Middle East studies group of professors is that we come from various disciplines, and not only that but different time periods,” said Douja Mamelouk, director of the current Arabic Program who teaches both French and Arabic language courses.
By taking a new approach to studies of the Arabic language and culture, Mamelouk said UT is “on the right track” to catch up with other SEC schools. These schools offer contemporary Arabic programs, rather than a more in-depth historical and religious approach to studies of the Arabic culture that UT hopes to offer.
“Typically if you find a Middle East institute, you’ll find that they are contemporary,” Mamelouk said. “Everyone is contemporary. But, in our situation, we have professors from history, religious studies and political science.”
However, the program’s ability to grow and expand depends on the number of students interested in taking the courses and potentially pursuing a major or minor in Arab Studies.
“We need to have the customers before we can supply the product,” Mamelouk said. “Unfortunately, I think that not enough people at the university know about us.”
For students who are currently enrolled in the Arabic Program, it serves as a useful skill to understanding the developing world in a more direct, personal way.
“It’s always good to know what’s going on in the Arab world, and the language is the most intimate and personal way to figure that out,” said Kelsey Ray, a senior in Mamelouk’s Intermediate Arabic class. “I just feel like it’s very important, especially in today’s time, to understand the literature and the history in the Arab world because it’s so diverse.”
Shelby Cundiff, a sophomore who is taking Mamelouk’s Arabic course, said that understanding the language is crucial to developing an informed perspective on current conflicts taking place in the Middle East.
“I think it’s important that before we develop opinions and become passionate, that we understand what’s happening and the perspectives of the people that are in the middle of the conflict,” Cundiff said.
Mamelouk noted the opportunities for employment that accompany a degree in Arab Studies. Job prospects and areas for students to apply their understanding of Arabic and the Arab world include working for government agencies such as the State department, FBI and CIA.
“We always need Arabic at the government level,” Mamelouk said. “All of those agencies are always looking for an Arabic linguist.”
Before students can take advantage of any of these opportunities or expand their thinking, potentially finding a career through Arabic, first they have to make it through the door.
“We need to get up there,” Mamelouk said. “We need to be on the map. Our students need to be more aware of (the program).”
For more information on the Arabic Program, visit: (LINK: http://arabic.utk.edu/).