The events of Sept. 11 have sparked a national interest in the Middle East, and University students are moving that trend into academia.
Enrollment has more than tripled in the Yamada Language Center’s Arabic Self-Study Program. Seventeen students are currently enrolled in the three classes, compared to the five who participated in the program fall term.
“I believe the rise in the number of students is because of Sept. 11,” said Wed Abdul-Jawad, an assistant instructor for two introductory Arabic language classes. “People are realizing they do not know much about that part of the world, and so they became interested in the language.”
The Self-Study Language Program began in 1997 with the goal of teaching students less-common languages, Yamada graduate teaching fellow Chris O’Connor said. With small classes and an emphasis on developing communication skills, the program is an opportunity for students to learn both the language and culture of a particular country, he said.
“Self-motivation is key to succeed in the program,” O’Connor said.
The program offers eight other language classes, including Shona, Hindi/Urdu, Thai, Swahili, Turkish, Portuguese, Cantonese and Nepali. The Arabic program has the largest enrollment this term of the self-study languages.
Chris Holman, an instructor for the program whose experience with Arabic includes serving in the U.S. Army as an interrogator and Arabic linguist, said that while the sudden increase in Arabic study is partially due to the events of Sept. 11, there are additional reasons students participate in the program.
“I’m part Lebanese,” senior Gabrielle Kary said. “My family is in Lebanon, and I want to be able to communicate with them. I’ve always wanted to learn Arabic, so this term I enrolled in the program.”
With increased interest in Arabic language courses, Middle Eastern and terrorism studies and Islamic-religion classes, the University and OSU are expanding their ability to accommodate students.
* O’Connor said the University is planning to hire an Islamic scholar who will teach Islamic Religious Studies.
* International studies Professor Anita Weiss is currently teaching a seminar on issues relating to the attacks. “In the Wake of September 11: Issues and Concerns” explores topics including the causes of the attacks and the history of the Arab/Israeli conflict. There are more than 80 students enrolled in the seminar.
* Oregon State University’s philosophy department is implementing an Islamic Religious Studies course beginning spring term, and there is an expected increase in the number of students who will participate in the Arab and French study-abroad program, OSU history Professor Jon Katz said.
University political science professor Jane Cramer , who participated in the “After September 11” teach-ins fall term, is teaching a class called “Terrorism, Weapons, Mass Destruction and Non-Proliferation” spring term. Cramer said that while Islamic studies have not been a top issue, the focus has shifted since Sept. 11.
“There is an overwhelming interest to study these subjects,” Cramer said. “Islamic and Middle Eastern studies are receiving greater national interest by both students and faculty.”
Katie Ellis is a freelance reporter for the Emerald.