In a significant educational initiative, the Qatar Foundation has launched a groundbreaking Arabic language course called "Discover Arabic". This course is available to both native and non-native speakers and is offered free of charge to students affiliated with Education City universities. It combines traditional classroom instruction with modern online teaching methods to develop comprehensive Arabic language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course caters to a diverse range of proficiency levels, accommodating beginners to advanced learners effectively. The Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University has introduced a distinctive curriculum that integrates linguistic learning with cultural understanding.
By blending language learning with the diverse cultural landscape of the Arabic-speaking world, the course provides students with a comprehensive and immersive experience. Numerous students from various backgrounds have successfully engaged in the program. Individuals like Firdavs Fayzillaev from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Ibtisam Haseeb from HBKU have found the course to be not only linguistically enriching but also culturally enlightening. For many participants, particularly those who are not native speakers, the motivation to learn Arabic is rooted in a desire to read and comprehend the Holy Qur’an or to integrate more effectively into Qatari society.
Against the backdrop of an increasingly interconnected world, the Qatar Foundation's launch of Discover Arabic represents a strategic initiative. The Foundation aims to instill a culture of cross-cultural awareness, tolerance, and empathy by ensuring that all graduates from Education City universities achieve a specific level of proficiency in Arabic. This endeavour underscores the Foundation's dedication to advancing integration, cultural exchange, and a more profound comprehension of Qatari culture and the Arab world.
