Monday, August 07, 2006
Besides getting a personal tutor or going to Kalimat, other options abound in Cairo. There are quite a few private tutors available, many very experienced. There are also several other language schools with the same price range as Kalimat, such as ILI, the Fajr Center, and AUC’s CACE (Center for Adult and Continuing Education) program, which is actually quite reasonable. If you want to go very intensive into FusHa for an academic year, you could enroll in Dar Camboni, located in Zamalek. Their program begins in the fall and lasts until the end of May. I’m not sure of the exact prices, but I know they are very reasonable.
Finally, even after living in Cairo for three years, I still find myself retreating into my apartment from time to time. Sometimes the craziness or the heat get a little too unbearable! During these times it’s good to have other resources to keep your Arabic going (assuming you’ve ran out of homework to do). Besides a few basic books (I found some good ones on Egyptian colloquial at Barnes and Noble in the states) and a dictionary (preferably one containing both Arabic-English and English-Arabic), I have found some Arabic learning software helpful as a way to supplement and reinforce my classroom and street learning. You can check some of this out at www.egyptianarabic.com and www.learn-arabic-now.com. And if all else fails, you can always watch Egyptian soap operas to freshen up on your colloquial- sometimes they even have English sub-titles!
Had I studied Arabic at a school in the states, I would have learned only Classical Arabic, and in a very artificial setting. I wanted to be able to speak, read, and feel Arabic- as much as humanly possible considering that I am basically a backwoods redneck hick from the heart of Georgia... So a couple of years ago, I moved my family here to Egypt. Of course, everyone said it was impractical. If I was studying Arabic for diplomatic purposes, then it would make perfect sense, but for the purpose of expanding my mind, exploring a new culture and language, and learning how to understand and dialogue with members of one of the largest religions on the earth? Where’s the money in that?
I’ll be the first to admit I’m an idealist, but honestly, I can think of few things more practical in our day and time. Current events in the Middle East demand a response from us isolated and introspective westerners. We simply can’t ignore this region any longer. We must engage- and seek to understand this fascinating culture and its people who have so much to offer. More often than not, violence and hatred are bred by ignorance and misinformation (perpetuated, unfortunately, by both eastern and western media outlets), but we no longer have this excuse. We have other options than CNN and al Jazeera. For one thing, there are a lot of blogs out there to read- like mine! Let’s stop sucking down the propaganda like its candy and try to find some answers ourselves. Sadly, there are precious few westerners who really take the time and effort to understand this region and its people. (There are some encouraging signs, however, as Arabic programs are multiplying in American institutions of higher learning. I read an article the other day highlighting this fact at http://www.fcnp.com/620/language2.htm This is one of the few positive results of 9/11).
The few public figures who have invested time and resources in this part of the world have seen some fantastic returns. Bill Gates comes to mind. As does former US president Jimmy Carter (from the great state of Georgia!). People here love Jimmy Carter, because he took an interest in this region and its people. Every time I mention his name to a taxi driver, I get an instant smile. Usually the response is, "He was the best president America has ever had!" Admittedly, Carter’s political persuasions help him in this respect, but the point is that he was engaged. He was very active in the peace process in the Middle East, and contributed personally to it. Remember Camp David? Finally, I do think most Egyptians respond more to his southern charm and hospitality than to his political beliefs. He’s a people person. As a southerner here, I can testify that my relational skills and as well as my ability to sit talking to people for hours on end have helped me immensely in Egypt.
Unlike many westerners I meet here, I have no interest in politics or diplomacy. While I think it’s necessary to understand these processes as much as possible, I don’t have much trust- or hope- in them. Far from it. I hate politics, and I would rather not sell my soul, thank you. (Don’t get me wrong- I know that politics for the most part are a necessary evil, and at least they preserve a modicum of illusory stability). Rather, the religion and culture have drawn me here. As I mentioned before, I studied Religion and Philosophy at my undergrad, Berry College. By the way, this is in northwest Georgia and happens to have the largest campus in the world. Check it out at http://www.berry.edu. My degree included a course on Islam, in which we read the Qu’ran and a couple of other books, but the class wasn’t even taught by a Muslim. The professor was actually Baha’i!
Honestly, I believe that living here among Muslims for a year or more is better than enrolling in any program in the states. Maybe it’s not as academic, or scholarly- I don’t care. I’m not after degrees or recognition. I want knowledge and understanding. I can figure out what to do with it later. A few weeks ago, I met a professor at Cairo University. In the course of our conversation, I told him my reasons for coming to Egypt: to learn about the religion and culture. "Well, don’t try to learn about Islam from the people," he warned. "You’re better off sticking to books." I disagree. Books are great as a resource. As are courses, software, etc. But in the end they are just tools. You have to get out there and meet people. Religion and culture don’t exist in a vacuum. They are alive and dynamic- always changing. My friend was afraid that many Egyptians Muslims may not actually truly represent Islam. But I believe that the followers of any religion are the truest representatives of it. Of course, in every religion you have nominalism- people who are believers "in name only". (Case in point: America. Most Egyptians believe that America is a Christian country. I would disagree). But in spite of this, the most insight into any religion is to be gained by observing and interacting with its followers. This is why I’m here.
Finally, even after living in Cairo for three years, I still find myself retreating into my apartment from time to time. Sometimes the craziness or the heat get a little too unbearable! During these times it’s good to have other resources to keep your Arabic going (assuming you’ve ran out of homework to do). Besides a few basic books (I found some good ones on Egyptian colloquial at Barnes and Noble in the states) and a dictionary (preferably one containing both Arabic-English and English-Arabic), I have found some Arabic learning software helpful as a way to supplement and reinforce my classroom and street learning. You can check some of this out at www.egyptianarabic.com and www.learn-arabic-now.com. And if all else fails, you can always watch Egyptian soap operas to freshen up on your colloquial- sometimes they even have English sub-titles!
Had I studied Arabic at a school in the states, I would have learned only Classical Arabic, and in a very artificial setting. I wanted to be able to speak, read, and feel Arabic- as much as humanly possible considering that I am basically a backwoods redneck hick from the heart of Georgia... So a couple of years ago, I moved my family here to Egypt. Of course, everyone said it was impractical. If I was studying Arabic for diplomatic purposes, then it would make perfect sense, but for the purpose of expanding my mind, exploring a new culture and language, and learning how to understand and dialogue with members of one of the largest religions on the earth? Where’s the money in that?
I’ll be the first to admit I’m an idealist, but honestly, I can think of few things more practical in our day and time. Current events in the Middle East demand a response from us isolated and introspective westerners. We simply can’t ignore this region any longer. We must engage- and seek to understand this fascinating culture and its people who have so much to offer. More often than not, violence and hatred are bred by ignorance and misinformation (perpetuated, unfortunately, by both eastern and western media outlets), but we no longer have this excuse. We have other options than CNN and al Jazeera. For one thing, there are a lot of blogs out there to read- like mine! Let’s stop sucking down the propaganda like its candy and try to find some answers ourselves. Sadly, there are precious few westerners who really take the time and effort to understand this region and its people. (There are some encouraging signs, however, as Arabic programs are multiplying in American institutions of higher learning. I read an article the other day highlighting this fact at http://www.fcnp.com/620/language2.htm This is one of the few positive results of 9/11).
The few public figures who have invested time and resources in this part of the world have seen some fantastic returns. Bill Gates comes to mind. As does former US president Jimmy Carter (from the great state of Georgia!). People here love Jimmy Carter, because he took an interest in this region and its people. Every time I mention his name to a taxi driver, I get an instant smile. Usually the response is, "He was the best president America has ever had!" Admittedly, Carter’s political persuasions help him in this respect, but the point is that he was engaged. He was very active in the peace process in the Middle East, and contributed personally to it. Remember Camp David? Finally, I do think most Egyptians respond more to his southern charm and hospitality than to his political beliefs. He’s a people person. As a southerner here, I can testify that my relational skills and as well as my ability to sit talking to people for hours on end have helped me immensely in Egypt.
Unlike many westerners I meet here, I have no interest in politics or diplomacy. While I think it’s necessary to understand these processes as much as possible, I don’t have much trust- or hope- in them. Far from it. I hate politics, and I would rather not sell my soul, thank you. (Don’t get me wrong- I know that politics for the most part are a necessary evil, and at least they preserve a modicum of illusory stability). Rather, the religion and culture have drawn me here. As I mentioned before, I studied Religion and Philosophy at my undergrad, Berry College. By the way, this is in northwest Georgia and happens to have the largest campus in the world. Check it out at http://www.berry.edu. My degree included a course on Islam, in which we read the Qu’ran and a couple of other books, but the class wasn’t even taught by a Muslim. The professor was actually Baha’i!
Honestly, I believe that living here among Muslims for a year or more is better than enrolling in any program in the states. Maybe it’s not as academic, or scholarly- I don’t care. I’m not after degrees or recognition. I want knowledge and understanding. I can figure out what to do with it later. A few weeks ago, I met a professor at Cairo University. In the course of our conversation, I told him my reasons for coming to Egypt: to learn about the religion and culture. "Well, don’t try to learn about Islam from the people," he warned. "You’re better off sticking to books." I disagree. Books are great as a resource. As are courses, software, etc. But in the end they are just tools. You have to get out there and meet people. Religion and culture don’t exist in a vacuum. They are alive and dynamic- always changing. My friend was afraid that many Egyptians Muslims may not actually truly represent Islam. But I believe that the followers of any religion are the truest representatives of it. Of course, in every religion you have nominalism- people who are believers "in name only". (Case in point: America. Most Egyptians believe that America is a Christian country. I would disagree). But in spite of this, the most insight into any religion is to be gained by observing and interacting with its followers. This is why I’m here.
