2008 Woodie Awards
New Arabic language course offered for fall semester
Ben Pettegrew
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
At the end of the Spring 2006 semester, it was made known that Embry-Riddle's foreign language department was adding a new course, Basic Arabic. The new Arabic course generated plenty of interest, as both sections being taught this semester are completely full. Arabic joins Mandarin Chinese as a strategic language, or a language thought to help Embry-Riddle students for future experiences and job opportunities.
Interest in the class, perhaps fueled by current world events and other concerns, prompted university officials to cap class enrollment. This was done, according to Dr. Richard Bloom, to "make sure each student gets the full educational experience" as only one professor, Dr. Leila Martin, is teaching the class
The decision to offer the Arabic course here at the university was made three years ago. As with all new courses, a new curriculum had to be established and a new professor hired. Also, there were several budgetary and political concerns that had to be addressed. These and various other concerns seem to be handled as Dr. Bloom commented that the class certainly has "long-term potential" here at the university.
Aimed primarily at Global Security and Intelligence Service majors, the class also provides valuable information to anyone that may one day work in any Arabic speaking nations. Dr. Bloom commented that "ROTC students, pilots, and business majors" will benefit from the class as several new opportunities are cropping up in the Middle-East. One student noted, "It's a fun class" and that it was "interesting" learning a brand new alphabet and writing from right to left as opposed to from left to right.
For the future, there are plans to offer new intensive courses in Arabic and Mandarin Chinese over the summer sessions. Lasting five weeks and worth six credits, these new courses will not only provide lessons in writing and speaking the language, but also the cultural, historical, and social factors behind the language. While not quite immersive, where the student is not allowed to speak or listen to any language other than the one being taught, these new summer course are designed to be extremely intensive to give students a better way to learn the language. There are also plans to expand the Foreign Language Department into the Foreign Language Institute, with free-standing language labs and new courses on Middle-East and Asian studies.
As for new languages to be offered in the future, the possibility of bringing a Farsi course to the university is currently being debated. Dr. Bloom also commented that there will always be at least one romance language, or Latin-based languages such as French or Spanish, to accompany the strategic languages.
Interest in the class, perhaps fueled by current world events and other concerns, prompted university officials to cap class enrollment. This was done, according to Dr. Richard Bloom, to "make sure each student gets the full educational experience" as only one professor, Dr. Leila Martin, is teaching the class
The decision to offer the Arabic course here at the university was made three years ago. As with all new courses, a new curriculum had to be established and a new professor hired. Also, there were several budgetary and political concerns that had to be addressed. These and various other concerns seem to be handled as Dr. Bloom commented that the class certainly has "long-term potential" here at the university.
Aimed primarily at Global Security and Intelligence Service majors, the class also provides valuable information to anyone that may one day work in any Arabic speaking nations. Dr. Bloom commented that "ROTC students, pilots, and business majors" will benefit from the class as several new opportunities are cropping up in the Middle-East. One student noted, "It's a fun class" and that it was "interesting" learning a brand new alphabet and writing from right to left as opposed to from left to right.
For the future, there are plans to offer new intensive courses in Arabic and Mandarin Chinese over the summer sessions. Lasting five weeks and worth six credits, these new courses will not only provide lessons in writing and speaking the language, but also the cultural, historical, and social factors behind the language. While not quite immersive, where the student is not allowed to speak or listen to any language other than the one being taught, these new summer course are designed to be extremely intensive to give students a better way to learn the language. There are also plans to expand the Foreign Language Department into the Foreign Language Institute, with free-standing language labs and new courses on Middle-East and Asian studies.
As for new languages to be offered in the future, the possibility of bringing a Farsi course to the university is currently being debated. Dr. Bloom also commented that there will always be at least one romance language, or Latin-based languages such as French or Spanish, to accompany the strategic languages.
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