Master both standard and colloquial (spoken) Arabic, a global language of culture, scholarship, and diplomacy. Spoken by over 300 million people worldwide, Arabic is an official language of the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa, including several African countries. It plays a central role in fields such as international relations, Islamic studies, law, political science, and global business, and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
Learn Arabic with
Bilal Al-Omar
Senior Lecturer Ph.D. Arabic Language with a focus on Post-colonial and Comparative Literature, The World Islamic Sciences and Education, University in Amman, Jordan
Bilal Al-Omar is a senior lecturer of Arabic in the African Languages and Translation Program at the Africa Institute. Prior to this role, Al-Omar was a Lecturer of Arabic Language and Literature at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York (2017 to 2022). He has taught a diverse range of courses at Cornell University including Modern Arabic Literature, Current Events in Arabic Media, Elementary Arabic I/II, Intermediate Arabic I/II, and Advanced Arabic I/II. Currently, Al-Omar is working on a website dedicated to teaching modern Arabic literature to non-Arabic speakers as well as curating a dictionary with over 10,000 keywords.
Abdel-Fattah Shahda
Adjunct Lecturer of Arabic (Intermediate Level)
Ph.D. in Arabic Language and Literature, Cairo University
Abdel-Fattah Shahda is an Arabic language instructor specializing in Arabic linguistics, with extensive experience teaching non-native speakers across leading institutions including Cornell University, The American University in Cairo, the Middlebury College Arabic School, and International House Cairo. He holds an M.A. in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language from The American University in Cairo and teaches across proficiency levels, integrating language, literature, culture, and media into his courses. His teaching approach is grounded in the Communicative Language Teaching method, incorporating elements such as Arabic calligraphy and music to enhance engagement and cultural understanding. His research focuses on Arabic syntax, the conceptual organization of the Arabic sentence, and broader questions in linguistic analysis.
On Completion of This Program, You Will Acquire
- Language Proficiency: Develop the skills to speak, read, and write an African language, enabling effective communication with native speakers and enriching your understanding of authentic texts from the target culture.
- Cultural Understanding: Immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural landscapes of the African continent, fostering cultural sensitivity and creating opportunities for engagement with diverse communities.
- Global Career Opportunities: Gain a valuable skill that enhances your career prospects. Language proficiency is highly sought after in various professional fields, including translation and interpretation, international relations, social services, and business.
Register Your Interest
✕For personalized guidance on course selection, placement tests, or registration, book a consultation with an advisor or email languages@gsu.ac.ae.
