Sharjah 24: The Arabic Language Academy (ALA) in Sharjah hosted a panel discussion on "Challenges of Arabic Language Education in Europe" during the 2024 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Dr. Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy, hosted the session and conversed with Dr. Charlotte Coquery Vidrovitch, an eminent French historian and professor in the Arab Studies department at Lyon 3 University, and Dr. Ignacio Gutiérrez, head of the Arabic and Islamic Studies department at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
In his opening keynote address, Dr. Al Mosteghanemi remarked on the bright future and promising present of the Arabic language. He highlighted the distinction between learning Arabic and truly immersing oneself in an Arabic-speaking culture, noting that Arabic has qualities that make it a unique global language.
Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the city of Sharjah spearheaded groundbreaking efforts to promote Arabic and elevate its status on the global stage, as he emphasised.
In his many endeavours, His Highness hopes to bring people from different parts of the world together, help those who are learning Arabic outside of an Arab geographical setting, and inspire the next generation to learn more about Arabic and its rich history.
Dr. Charlotte Coquery's love of Arabic music inspired her to study the language and culture.
She began studying Arabic as a foreign language because of Arabic music. However, the cultural and linguistic diversity of Arabic immediately captivated her, fueling her desire to pursue additional linguistic specialization.
Dr. Coquery, when asked about the difficulties of teaching Arabic in France, stated that French educational technique differs from that of Arabic language instructors. Because of this disparity, French students studying Arabic encounter obstacles while trying to engage with and interact with the language, calling for pedagogical adjustments to meet their demands.
Dr. Ignacio Gutiérrez spoke highly of Arabic, saying that it is superior to other languages because of its profound and rich history of cultural exchange with Spain, which began in the Andalusian period and continues into the present day.
He made it clear that learning Arabic is more than just a class decision; it's a quest to learn about Spain's past and present through the language. Furthermore, he highlighted the underappreciation of the Arabic language and culture in Europe, emphasising that this will contribute to a greater understanding of the influence of Arab civilisation on modern European civilisation.
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