Arabic, one of the world's most challenging languages, could become a staple for some public elementary school children for the first time in
And foreign language advocates couldn't be happier.
The initiative comes from a group of
Arabic is considered one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn, but it is increasingly essential for national security and global awareness, said Elizabeth Webb, the state's coordinator for foreign language education.
The
Arabic seldom is taught in the nation's public schools, Webb said, and rarely at the elementary grades. Only two public schools in
Students there said they wished they'd had some exposure to the language as children.
Arabic has 28 letters, just two more than the English alphabet. But they change shape as they are grouped together to form words and phrases. Arabic text is read from right to left, back to front. And it requires sounds that are not found in English, Spanish, French and other European-based languages.
"It's really hard adjusting yourself reading right to left," said Najeeba Abdullah, a third-year student at
The opportunity for young children makes the
"I could make a great case that Arabic is every bit as useful as Spanish, French, Latin, but in a different way," she said. "It's really important for us to begin to have a strong cadre of students coming through schools with this language."
Most Americans who are learning Arabic were exposed to it in college, too late to gain proficiency for professional purposes, said Antonia Folarin Schleicher, president of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages, and a professor of African languages at the
"If you want the level of proficiency the government wants for translators, it's not going to happen in four years of college," she said.
If the proposal is approved, the organizers plan to model their Arabic program on
The name,
Charter schools are public schools that receive public money but operate independently of school systems. The structure allows them to offer unique programs. Amana proponents want students to learn by participating in group projects rather than relying on classroom lessons. They advocate the separation of boys and girls, and community volunteerism. A facility has not been chosen, but Amana proponents hope to locate in
Arabic initially wasn't a central theme in the design of the charter, Jaleel said. But as the proposal evolved, parents became excited at the idea of students learning a language that is spoken by 300 million people, yet unfamiliar to most Americans, Jaleel said.
"It gives you a different perspective on learning in general," Jaleel said. "There's a halo effect on other subjects."
A native of
The school board is expected to vote on the charter application next month.
At North Atlanta High, part of the
The program began 15 years ago, and now has about 80 students. Few of the students come from families where the language is spoken at home, said teacher Ahmed Elghotni.
His classes are small, and challenging. On a recent morning, students reviewed basic vocabulary, pronunciation and sentence structure. Most stumbled frequently on pronunciation, which Elghotni said is the most difficult aspect of Arabic.
Some of his students have continued with the language in college on federal scholarships. But it's still a short time frame, he said.
"We spend too much time trying to get students to start practicing these sounds," he said. "If they are younger, they are not already programmed. They can accept it much easier."