Arabic students immerse themselves in Middle Eastern culture at Brunswick

Written by Greenwich Post Staff
Thursday, 02 June 2011 13:28

Every spring, Brunswick School Arabic teacher Ali Al-Maqtari encourages his students to “Live the language to learn it.” As part of Arabic Immersion Week earlier this month, students dressed in traditional clothing from Arabic speaking countries, spoke to one another in Arabic inside and outside the classroom, and participated in a variety of activities involving use of the language, including traditional Arabic dances, music, film and television.

Brunswick School’s Arabic program, under the auspice of Mr. Al-Maqtari, has continued to evolve since it was launched in 2006. The program now offers Arabic I to IV and goes from introduction to the alphabet, vocabulary and conversation skills, to mastery of the language, working towards fluency and striving for comprehension.

This spring, Brunswick School launched an initiative called the Foreign Language Immersion Program (FLIP). The endowment will enhance the Upper School Modern Language curriculum — which includes Arabic, Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Latin and Spanish — by offering study abroad opportunities to every Upper School student, regardless of financial need, so that they can practice their language skills, live with host families and further their understanding of the world.