Arabic Studies Minor
The demand for Arabic speakers in the United States has continued to soar in the past decade, while knowledge of Arabic language and culture presents unparalleled opportunities to make a difference in the world.
Arabic offers a blend of critical language skills and applicability in over 20 countries with roughly 300 million native speakers. You will develop the skills to live, work, and interact with a more diverse set of countries, allowing you room to shift focus as you progress in your career.
Why should I learn Arabic?
Learning the Arabic language today can help you do the following:
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Distinguish yourself in the professional world with a high demand language.
U.S. government agencies are seeking proficient Arabic speakers now more than ever. Learning Arabic won’t only get you ahead in a government career, but it will also give you a leg up in any industry in business, engineering, medical, nonprofit and international relations.
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The Arabic language can help you earn money.
The economy in the Middle East is growing. There are also many job opportunities. Knowing Arabic will help you learn the Middle Eastern business culture and equip you to make strong, key personal business relationships.
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Gain critical language skills useful in over 20 countries.
There are 20 countries in the Middle East where Arabic is the national language. It gives you travel and work opportunities to different countries, yet it is still specific to not be widely spoken by your peers.
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Gain insights into the second-largest religion in the world.
Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and the first largest religion in the Arab world. Islam is not only a religion to many Arabs, but also a lifestyle. When studying Arabic, you are not only learning a language but you also gain insight about Islamic beliefs and traditions.
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Help create a better understanding of Arab culture in the United States.
Learning Arabic can help you better communicate with both Arabs and other Americans. In studying Arabic, you’ll have a better grasp of the Arab culture. The more you know about these, the better equipped you’re apt to educate people about Arabs.
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Act as an ambassador.
Just as there are negative sentiments among Americans towards Arabs, Arabs tend to have a negative view of Americans. Knowing both English and Arabic will help you spread awareness and more accurate view of both Arabs and Americans toward each other.
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Arabic offers great travel opportunities.
No matter if it is through school in the form of a study abroad or language immersion program or simply business travel, knowing Arab will expand your travel horizons to include the Middle East and Africa.
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Study abroad through scholarship opportunities.
Students benefit from scholarship opportunities to study Arabic abroad at little or no cost. The Critical Language Scholarship Program, Arabic Overseas Language Flagship Program, and the National Security Education Program's Boren Awards each provide focused, immersive experiences that enable you to reach much higher levels of linguistic and cultural proficiency than is achievable through US-based study alone.
Explore the Critical Language Program Scholarship here.
Find National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Study Abroad Opportunities here.
Discover the language Flagship Program here.
For more information contact:
Dr. Ahmed Bekhet, Instructor of Arabic
Office: HL Griffin 463
Email: ahmed.bekhet@louisiana.edu