Few students learning Arabic in state schools

A lot has been said in the past years about the role Malta should play as a bridge linking Europe and North Africa.

One factor which would help achieve this vision would be a knowledge of Arabic. But only a handful of students are opting to study this language, which is an optional subject. In fact, fewer than 20 students are learning Arabic in state schools in Malta and Gozo.

In Form III there are only three - all of them girls. Two chose Arabic in Form II and the other has been studying it for three years, having chosen it in Form I.

The two who chose Arabic in Form II attend St Theresa Girls Junior Lyceum, in Mriehel and the student studying it for the third year attends Maria Regina Girls Junior Lyceum, in Blata l-Bajda.

This is in stark contrast to the number of students studying Arabic until the late 1980s, when it used to be a compulsory subject.

The Mriehel students who chose Arabic are Amy Farrugia, of Rabat, and Josefa Farrugia, of Qormi, both 13 years old. The Blata l-Bajda girl is Nadine Boughrara of Bugibba, also 13.

The Mriehel girls are taught by Egyptian-born Lucy Zarifa, of Naxxar, who has been in Malta since 1980 and is now a Maltese national. Frans Cassar teaches at Blata l-Bajda.

Ms Zarifa said all students choosing Arabic today did so because they were really interested in learning the language. It is one of seven languages taught as an optional language in state schools. The others are Italian, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Latin.

Mr Cassar said that Arabic, which he has been teaching for over 20 years, was a fantastic subject especially to people who did not have any connections to the Arab world. However, unfortunately, there was prejudice against the language.

Ms Boughrara, who was encouraged to choose Arabic by her Libyan father, agrees. Although she loves the language, she said she would choose French given the opportunity again. This was because of the comments her colleagues passed which made her feel uncomfortable with her choice.

Even though her father is Libyan, the girl speaks Maltese at home. One of the reasons for choosing Arabic was to be able to communicate better with her father's family.

Before she started learning the language, she used to think it was difficult but she now finds it easier than she thought.

Her father helps her in her work but the Arabic her father speaks - the Libyan dialect - is different from the classical Arabic she is learning at school. Both versions are however written in the same way.

Classical Arabic is the link between Arab states as each country then has its own particular dialect.

While Ms Boughrara would like to become an interpreter, both Amy and Josefa want to become airhostesses with an Arab airline.

Amy and Josefa said they had always been interested in Arab culture so it was only natural for them to choose Arabic.

Josefa said she had wanted to choose Arabic as her optional language in Form I but had opted for Spanish. Prior to starting Form III she again considered choosing Arabic. Her mother did her utmost to discourage her, telling her learning Arabic would not help her find a job. But she persisted.

Amy's mother also discouraged her but the girl found support from her father who pushed her to go ahead.

Amy said her father had Arab friends and she was now trying to communicate with them, practising what she learns at school.

All three students have sat for their half-yearly examinations in the subject and their teachers said they have done well.

Amy and Josefa said that at first they found the language quite difficult but the more they took an interest in the subject the more they were able to learn.

"It is just a subject which needs more time and attention," Josefa said.

"My friends express amazement at me for having chosen Arabic but I am proud of it," said Amy.

They agree that were they to be offered the same opportunity they would repeat their choice especially now that they were feeling they were able to communicate with a person provided he spoke slowly.

Josefa pointed out that many people wrongly assumed that Arabic was just for Muslims. This was definitely not the case.

Ms Zarifa pointed out that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs.

Neither of the two girls has been to an Arab country but Josefa looks forward to visiting Tunisia this summer, where she hopes to put her studies into practice. Amy has also been promised a visit to an Arab country.

Ms Boughrara has been to Libya and Tunisia but this was when she was only three. Now she looks forward to a promised trip to Libya next summer to visit her father's family in Tripoli, the first real opportunity she is going to have to practise the language.