CAIRO: Recent years have witnessed an upsurge in the number of foreign scholars of Arabic and Middle Eastern studies. Whether struggling with glottal stops and gurgling ‘ayns’ and ‘khas’ for business or pleasure, Cairo appears to be a beloved destination for Arabists in-progress.
During a few sunny days at the beginning of the summer semester, The Daily Star Egypt went out to meet a few of them.
At Kalimat Language & Culture Center in Mohandiseen, The Daily Star Egypt met Maxellende Lebras, a 22-year-old student from Lyon, France currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Political Affairs. She has spent almost a year in Cairo juggling her scholarship program at Cairo University with daily classes in classical Arabic.
“I chose to study Arabic for several reasons. Importantly, I believe my knowledge of Arabic will serve a useful purpose in my future career. I hope to work in international affairs either for an NGO or for the French government, Maxellende said.
Maxellende says that she also became interested in studying Arabic due to the strong presence of Arab culture in her own country.
“I see a gap in understanding between the French and our immigrant Arab population. It’s of utmost importance that we understand and respect each other and each others’ traditions; especially if we live on the same soil. Comprehension and acceptance of different cultures and religions are crucial in today’s international affairs, Maxellende continued.
But why did she decide to study in Egypt instead of Lebanon, Syria, or Jordan?
Maxellende says that she initially planned to go to Beirut because of the “strong ties between Lebanon and France. However, last summer’s war in Lebanon made her reroute to Cairo.
“Cairo University appeared to offer a good program on EU-Arab relations which is part of my degree, so that helped me decide on Egypt, Maxellende added.
When the course at Cairo University dropped below her expectations, Maxellende decided to concentrate more on her Arabic studies and enrolled at Kalimat Language Center; a program she has been “totally satisfied with.
Rob Tattersall, a 23-year-old English young man pursuing a BA in French and Arabic at Durham University in the UK argues that Arabic is “definitely tougher than any European language he has ever studied.
Just like many other young students with an adventurous spirit, Rob was attracted to Cairo’s buzzing life and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making him pick the land of the Pharaohs as a base for his Arabic studies.
Furthermore, Rob emphasizes that the “power of the Egyptian dialect also played an important decision in his choice.
“I chose Cairo particularly because I wanted to come out speaking a dialect that would be understood everywhere. They may well laugh at me but at least they’ll understand me everywhere from Syria to Morocco, Rob said triumphantly.
An avid sportsman with a taste for Latin dancing, Cairo offers Rob fulfillment not only in the field of Arabic studies but also in his leisure activities.
“Cairo is great because it has so many different things to offer. I have been able to vary my Arabic studies with both rowing and classes in salsa dancing here, he added.
Arabic, he says, has become a popular language for foreigners to learn because “knowing Arabic opens many doors for jobs.
While Rob is “very happy with his Egyptian experience, he maintains that he would not consider Cairo a place to live on a permanent basis.
At the American University in Cairo (AUC), The Daily Star Egypt chatted to Ian Renner, a 21-year-old American student who is just finishing his year-long study abroad program.
“I am studying Arabic because of the large problems between America and the Middle East at the moment. I believe learning Arabic is the first step towards solving those problems, he emphasized.
For him Egypt was the “only country in the Middle East his American university allowed him to go to for security purposes.
Ian emphasizes that Arabic studies have become “increasingly common and important among Americans following the events of September 11.
Eman Zahran, an Arabic teacher with over 10 years of teaching experience in various language institutions in Cairo, including the International Language Institute (ILI) and Kalimat, reaffirms that there has been a “significant increase in American students in her classes over the past few years.
“The majority of my students are from Europe or the US. There are always a lot of students from Germany, Italy, and Britain in particular, Zahran told The Daily Star Egypt.
According to Zahran, most of her students are young foreign diplomats and people who come to work in the region.
“Then there are of course a considerable number of those who come to simply improve their Arabic skills because of a mere interest in the language, she added.
For Jordan Reiter, an 28-year-old American computer programmer, the purpose of his Arabic studies are perhaps more cultural than anything else.
“Part of the reason I’m studying Arabic is because I’m Jewish, and somehow I think learning Arabic will lead to some kind of better understanding between Jews and Arabs, he said.
Just as in the case of Maxellende, Jordan initially had his focus on Lebanon, but changed his mind in the wake of last summer’s war.
“I think it would have been difficult to reassure my family about me going there long term, he added.
When asked about the reason behind the upsurge in Arabic studies, Jordan agrees with Ian arguing that “the current tensions between the West and the Middle East definitely play a role in it.
However, he reaffirms that he never found Arabic “sexy due to the recent conflicts.
“My mom has always been strongly involved in the Jewish-Palestinian dialogue and peace building, and she often talked about how she would have liked to learn Arabic and do peace work in Palestine. I guess I’m sort of doing that, although I don’t know if I’ll be following the same exact path, Jordan said.
Although Jordan doesn’t find his Egyptian experience different from his expectations, he emphasizes that the large poverty divide was a big surprise for him.
“Of course I knew it would be poorer here than in my home country but I didn’t expect to see the huge differences in wealth that exist here, he added.
While Jordan says that he would “consider living in the Middle East if a job came by that I really enjoyed, he stresses his plan right now is to go back home and see his family.
“But I don’t know if I’ll come back to Egypt or somewhere else in the Middle East after that.
