Step over, Mandarin Chinese. Arabic is gaining momentum as the next big thing in language courses.
Brunswick School and Greenwich Academy added a joint Arabic program last year, and Convent of the Sacred Heart added a beginner's Arabic course this year. Other schools, including Whitby School, are considering adding Arabic in coming years.
A few years ago, Mandarin Chinese was the popular choice to add to world language programs, with the thought that the American business world was becoming more integrated with Asian culture. But with the ongoing political and military presence in the Middle East and a growing need for Arabic translators in the job market, schools are now adding the ancient language to their curriculum.
"Arabic kind of got ignored in the 20th century," in schools, said Fanning Hearon, chair of the modern language department at Brunswick. "But it's important for the 21st century. People are realizing it's just not Spanish and French anymore. The menu is much more diverse than it was even a few years ago."
Interest in the Brunswick-Greenwich Academy program has grown immensely since it was introduced last year with a class of five students. Now about 20 students take Arabic classes and there are plans to expand the program and study abroad.
Sacred Heart's program introduced Arabic this year to five students and it is quickly catching on. After seeing how quickly and passionately students have caught on to the language, school officials decided to add a more advanced Arabic class next year.
"They are already writing in Arabic and speaking it," said Graziella Sidoli, chair of the school's world languages department. Arabic and Mandarin Chinese, also recently added, have created a more contemporary language program, she said. "We're in the vanguard by doing Chinese and, particularly, Arabic."
But why sign up for a class to learn a language seemingly so different than more familiar Latin-based languages? Some say Arabic is more exotic than the foreign languages traditionally offered. Others cite the dire need of translators.
June-Ann Greeley, director of Sacred Heart University's new Middle Eastern studies program, said both answers are true, as Americans are realizing the need to know languages from other parts of the world.
"We're at a loss because we only have the English language," Greeley said. Jobs are readily available for those who speak Arabic, especially for those seeking a position with a government agency like the Department of Homeland Security, she said. "Arabic is an absolute necessity. We don't have a lot of fluent Arabic speakers."
The language is not an easy one to learn, according to educators. Arabic writing goes right to left, and the 28-letter alphabet resembles a series of squibbles and dot. Each letter, with just a small variation in the stroke of the pen, can take on a completely different meaning and sound.
The unfamiliar look and sound has not deterred interest, students and educators say.
Sacred Heart junior Bryar Falvey, 16, said she signed up to have another language in addition to Spanish. The New Canaan resident said she is still getting used to writing Arabic words to the left.
"My hand gets covered in ink," Bryar said.
Bryar's teacher, John Martone, who is fluent in several languages, said it takes some time to get students used to the alphabet, but grammar is not as difficult as some other languages.
"A lot of it is completely new for the girls," Martone said. Even though they've only had a few weeks of training, Martone's students, in a lesson Friday, were already reading and writing basic phrases. "They've had a lot of fun with it. They've been successful."
Even Greenwich adults are getting into Arabic. A course was added this year to the Greenwich Adult Continuing Education curriculum. Teacher Rabia Mairech, who also teaches at Norwalk Community College, said she has about 25 students.
"With what's going on now in the Middle East, it's easier for (the students) to follow the news," said Mairech, a former Western Middle School French teacher.
Despite the popularity in town, Greenwich Public Schools won't be jumping on the Arabic bandwagon just yet because educators need more time to fully implement Mandarin Chinese, added two years ago. But there has been interest in adding Arabic, according to Chris Winters, director of curriculum, instruction and professional development.
"Arabic has come up in discussions. It would be wonderful to have it É but I think we need a little more time to settle into Mandarin before we look into another language to add," said Winters, the former foreign language program administrator.
Winters and officials at other schools said one challenge in adding Arabic is finding qualified instructors.
"It's not like trying to hire a Spanish teacher," Winters said.
However, Hearon said it's just a matter of time before colleges begin producing more Arabic instructors, as they are catching up to the trend.
The students who have decided to study Arabic are already ahead of the curve, he said.
"They're smart in looking ahead," Hearon said.