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MENA LANGUAGES PROGRAM

Welcome to our Program

 

Learn Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, or Persian

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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.  

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.

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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."

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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.  

 

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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.  

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Upcoming Events

 
Sep
29
2023
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!  

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Latest MENA Languages News

 
Congratulations to our Promoted Faculty Members: Rana Raddawi, Oya Topcuoglu, and Hanna Tzuker Seltzer
Congratulations to our Award Winning Students
The MENA Student Association organized many events on campus to celebrate Arab Heritage Month
Northwestern will offer an Arabic Minor
Northwestern language programs see enrollment across most programs decline

All News