2008 Woodie Awards
Popularity of Arabic program growing at universities
Students realize the future benefits of Arabic language
by Brian Anderson
Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: News
Joyce Dennis Henderson, assistant director of the Bank of America Career Services Center, said she acknowledges the fact that Arabic can open doors for people.
"The CIA and FBI were here last semester looking for people who spoke foreign languages," Henderson said. "There are a lot of opportunities when you speak another language."
Henderson said she felt knowing another language, like Arabic, could be beneficial for jobs in the media, law enforcement and governmental libraries, as well as being a translator or interpreter.
Masmoudi said knowing some Arabic would also be helpful on other job searches.
"Even if you major in engineering and work in oil, it is important even to know a little bit," he said. "Political science, international relations, communications, anything you go into that you want to do."
While the university builds its Arabic program, other schools, such as Duke, Princeton, Georgetown and Middlebury, have larger Arabic programs, which teach Arabic and prepare students for the future.
"One day I hope we'll be there," Masmoudi said. "But right now, no, we're too small."
While the program is in its beginning stages, Masmoudi said he does see hope for the future.
"We have 24 students registered for the lowest Arabic class," he said. "Double digits in the next two courses. Hopefully we [will] add a fourth class soon."
"The CIA and FBI were here last semester looking for people who spoke foreign languages," Henderson said. "There are a lot of opportunities when you speak another language."
Henderson said she felt knowing another language, like Arabic, could be beneficial for jobs in the media, law enforcement and governmental libraries, as well as being a translator or interpreter.
Masmoudi said knowing some Arabic would also be helpful on other job searches.
"Even if you major in engineering and work in oil, it is important even to know a little bit," he said. "Political science, international relations, communications, anything you go into that you want to do."
While the university builds its Arabic program, other schools, such as Duke, Princeton, Georgetown and Middlebury, have larger Arabic programs, which teach Arabic and prepare students for the future.
"One day I hope we'll be there," Masmoudi said. "But right now, no, we're too small."
While the program is in its beginning stages, Masmoudi said he does see hope for the future.
"We have 24 students registered for the lowest Arabic class," he said. "Double digits in the next two courses. Hopefully we [will] add a fourth class soon."
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