Learning Arabic in Central Europe

As an educator, researcher, and native speaker of the Maltese language, I have always had an interest in studying Arabic because it helps me better understand the origins of my mother tongue and allows me to make linguistic comparisons between these two Semitic languages. Having studied Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) for years, I felt the urge to practice what I had learnt in class through an immersion experience in a real Arab community.

I learnt about The Excellence Center in Europe, which is located in the middle of the German city of Halle (Saale), a city that is home to many migrants, including Arabs. Such an environment offers a great opportunity for Arab language learners to immerse in both the Arabic language and culture while remaining within a European country.

I completed intensive training—which was tailor-made for my needs—in the Levantine Arabic dialect (Shami). The professional but flexible methods used during this training impressed me. The approach included one-on-one classroom instruction from a native Lebanese speaker; however, it also included several opportunities for real-life practice, such as communicating with Arabic restaurant staff, discussing various topics with Arab nationals, watching and discussing short Syrian and Lebanese films with native Levantine speakers.

I opted to live with a host family, sharing an apartment with an Arab national. This gave me first-hand experience receiving a warm welcome as a guest in an Arab community. I also received a warm welcome from Mr Rafat Shamir, one of the centre’s co-founders, who addresses the specific needs of every student at the centre. Every morning, learners and staff members have breakfast together in the Arabic way—a great way for people of different nationalities to share experiences and start the day.

My experience at the centre was enriching and fruitful. What’s my next step? Who knows? Perhaps a full immersion course at the Excellence Center’s facility in Hebron, Palestine.

Dr Charles Daniel Saliba, PhD (Sheffield, UK)
www.charlesdanielsaliba.com
19 May 2023

This experience was funded by the Erasmus accreditation in the field of education at Sir M. A. Refalo Sixth Form, An Institute for Further Education, located in Victoria, Gozo, Malta.