Chapter 3
Student Access to Arabic Programs and Immersive Opportunities
Through immersive summer schools, speaking competitions, the Arabic Honor Society (AHS) and international exchange programs, QFI has provided a platform for students to enhance their language skills, discover cultural nuances, and celebrate their achievements.
- In 2023, 56 international events developed for Arabic students engaged over 8,000 students, significantly promoting Arabic language learning and cultural appreciation.
- The Arabic Summer Immersion School at Warwick University in the UK catered to over 80 Arabic language learners.
- The Arabic Speaking Competition showcased the talents of 31 student winners out of over 500 applicants from 60 schools across the UK.
- In-person Arabic language exchange programs resumed, involving 148 students from the US, UK, and Qatar, facilitating direct cultural and linguistic exchanges.
Arabic Summer Immersion School
Inspiring future pursuits
We hosted an Arabic Summer Immersion School at Warwick University in the UK, welcoming over 80 enthusiastic Arabic language learners.
For many attendees, this experience marked their first time on a university campus, sparking contemplation about future academic and professional pursuits related to Arabic studies.
Watch the video for a glimpse into the vibrant experiences of our participants.
Arabic Speaking Competition 2023
Unveiling new talents
The panel of judges presiding over the Arabic Speaking Competition had the challenging task of selecting 31 student winners across 15 proficiency categories. The talent displayed was remarkable, with 500 applicants representing 60 schools from across the UK.
Each student delivered a compelling two-minute virtual presentation in Modern Standard Arabic on a topic of their choice, followed by a rigorous Q&A session assessing communication skills, fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. The Arabic Speaking Competition provides a platform for students to demonstrate their language achievements and cultivates a spirit of celebration and motivation to excel.
The most significant takeaway for participants? According to the judges, it’s confidence.
Classroom Connections
Resuming in-person language exchanges
QFI’s Classroom Connections program resumed its in-person Arabic language exchanges in 2023, facilitating interactions between students at primary and secondary schools in the US, UK, and Qatar. Between February and November 2023, a total of 148 students participated in exchanges between Qatar and three schools in the US (in Georgia, New York, and Virginia), as well as one school in the UK.
This experience enriches all participants, fostering new connections among students and providing opportunities to learn, discover, and explore lives outside their communities.
Arabic Honor Society
Empowering Students
QFI provides support for the Arabic Honor Society (AHS), a fully autonomous and locally organized network run by Arabic teachers in their schools, where both teachers and students have full independence in organizing this extracurricular program to support the learning of Arabic language and culture in a manner best suited to each school’s needs.
Annually, we recognize high-achieving students from QFI’s AHS network through two categories: “First Year University Awards” and “Summer Scholar Awards.” In 2023, we recognized 14 students from seven US schools, empowering them with academic and personal confidence while enhancing their intercultural skills.
Through engaging events like the Arabic Summer Immersion School in the UK and the Arabic Speaking Competition, we have boosted students’ language proficiency and cultural understanding as well as build confidence and intercultural communication skills.
