Welcome to our Program
Learn Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, or Persian

Our students and our faculty welcome new and current students to our unique language and culture program. We hope you will choose to begin or continue studying with us. In addition to scheduling an array of interesting language and culture courses in Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, and Persian every quarter, we offer tutoring services to help you advance your language skills and regular cultural programming such as language tables, movie nights, and guest speakers (we regularly collaborate with the MENA Student Association and the MENA Studies Program). If you study with us, you will acquire important language skills and a fresh perspective on the cultures and people of the MENA region. The MENA region stretches from Morocco to Iran, and it is one of the most diverse regions with more than sixty languages being spoken throughout.
This quarter, on October 25, 2023, MENA Languages is pleased to co-sponsor two workshops and a concert that will appeal to everyone interested in languages, music, and culture. Featuring the acclaimed Jerusalem Youth Chorus, Uniting Voices Chicago, and the work of Dr. Nina Kraus, the free evening concert will be held in the beautiful Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, and it is titled Music Connects Us. Click here for more information on the events.
QUICK LINKS:
- Register for the October 25, 2023 Concert - Music Connects Us
- Fall 2023 Class Schedule
- Why study MENA Languages
- Learning Arabic
- Learning Hebrew
- Learning Persian
- Learning Turkish
- Understanding another Script
- Join the MENA Student Association
- Visit the MENA Studies Program for additional Courses on the MENA Region
NOTEWORTHY
We have a unique program

PROGRESSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Our program recognizes that students are diverse learners from racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse backgrounds. To encourage students to excel, we offer a variety of learning situations and scenarios including the frequent use of new technologies and opportunities to practice with native speakers of the target culture. The goal is for students to acquire the new language efficiently and thoroughly while being engaged.

ENGAGING STUDY-ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
Many of our students take advantage of the various study abroad opportunities the University offers and all come back with engaging stories to tell. Mara Kelly spent her summer in Jordan learning Arabic: "During my time in Amman, Jordan, I lived with a Jordanian host family, which was the highlight of my experience. My host family helped me feel at home and was incredibly welcoming."

AWARD WINNING INSTRUCTORS
Our program has exceptional teaching faculty who regularly receive awards and accolades for teaching. Every faculty member makes a concerted effort to offer classes that are engaging, motivating, intellectually fulfilling, and have an interactive learning environment.
News and Events
HIGHLIGHTS
MENA Languages Welcomes Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants
Northwestern University was chosen to host four Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants for the 2023-24 Academic Year. MENA Languages is excited to welcome two of them: Akrem Karoui, who will work closely with the instructors and students in the Arabic Language program; and Selin Tanis, who will work in the Turkish Language program. Read more about Akrem and Selin here.
Upcoming Events
MENA Languages Student Mixer
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Evanston
All students in MENA Languages are invited to a lunch mixer. Play games, eat great food, get to know each other!
MENA MONDAYS | Virtual Roundtable | Pasts and Futures of MENA Gen...
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM, Online
Beth Baron, City College CUNY; Maya Mikdashi, Rutgers University; Mejdulene Shomali, University of Maryland Baltimore County; moderated...
Book Talk with Dr. Mostafa Minawi: Arab-Ottoman Imperialists and ...
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM, Evanston
Join the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Program, the Nicholas D. Chabraja Center for Historical Studies and author of Losing Istanbul Ar...