Sustaining Growth in Arabic Language Education
From just five schools partially funding their Arabic programs in 2020 to 25 schools in 2024, QFI is helping drive a powerful shift: Arabic is no longer viewed as a niche subject but as a vital component of a globally minded education. The number of schools fully funding Arabic teacher salaries has doubled since 2020, clear evidence that institutions are investing in Arabic for the long term and embracing sustainability in language education.
This momentum underscores the importance of expanding Arabic offerings, especially at the primary and secondary levels. Waiting until university to introduce Arabic limits access and impact. Through professional development, community-building initiatives, and grants, QFI empowers schools, educators, and students to recognize Arabic as a global language.
Here are some of the Arabic offerings we have supported.
2020 - 2024:
increase in schools with cost shares of 50% or more
increase in teacher salaries fully funded by school partners
Summer Programs
Summer Programs
QFI supported 16 Arabic summer programs in 2024
These programs reached 651 students across the US, UK, Ireland, and Italy.
They provided Arabic language learning opportunities outside the classroom, addressing language deserts, fostering intercultural understanding, and promoting cultural appreciation.
Learn about three of the 16 programs below.
Expanding Access to Summer Study in Underserved Regions
QFI’s commitment to making Arabic accessible extends to regions with limited language learning opportunities.
In 2024, QFI supported a new summer program at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY, addressing the need for Arabic education in underserved regions.
Good World Citizen LEARN Project Summer Camp
The LEARN Project Summer Camp, held at Villani Primary School in Florence, Italy, concluded the LEARN project for the school year.
Through engaging workshops and activities, students explored Arabic music, arts, and games, immersing themselves in the linguistic diversity of the Arab world.
Second Annual QFI Summer Arabic Immersion Programme in the UK
The second annual QFI Summer Arabic Immersion Programme was held at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK.
Sixty secondary students from across the UK participated in the four-day camp, which provided immersive Arabic language instruction and cultural activities.
Arabic Speaking Competition
Arabic Speaking Competition
QFI Celebrates Student Learners of Arabic with the Annual Arabic Speaking Competition
Two hundred students from across the UK participated in QFI's annual Arabic Speaking Competition.
The Arabic Speaking Competition is a productive way for students to engage with the language outside of a classroom setting and motivate them to seek out new opportunities to use Arabic.
QFI hosted the 28 student winners at an awards ceremony at the Department of Education, University of Oxford.
Classroom Connections
Classroom Connections
QFI Facilitated Continued Exchange Between Virginia High School and QA Al-Wakra
In November 2024, 16 students from a high school in Virginia, US, accompanied by three chaperones, traveled to Qatar for an educational exchange as part of QFI’s Classroom Connections Program.
This exchange marked the next chapter in a partnership that began in early 2020, was temporarily interrupted by the pandemic, and has since regained momentum with renewed commitment.
The ongoing collaboration between these two schools now continues to strengthen Arabic language learning and sustain lasting connections across continents.