Explore new worlds through Arabic and Persian online language courses
Learning another language opens up worlds of possibilities, from understanding other peoples and cultures to gaining new skills.
ANU students of Arabic or Persian, two of the Middle East’s dominant languages, say they enjoy the challenge of learning a new language and believe it will help further their careers.
Students can choose to study Arabic and Persian online from anywhere in the world, through the suite of flexible and innovative online courses catering to all language proficiency levels
“I chose ANU because I believed it was the best place for university education in Australia,” says Bachelor of International Relations student, Hyun Chul Sim, who’s eyeing a career in the Korean foreign service after graduation.
Hyun Chul says he had to choose a language course as a part of his international relations major and Arabic stood out.
“Since not many Asians and really few Koreans speak Arabic, I thought Arabic would really make me stand out,” he explains.
“I also had studied Arabic for a year in my previous university. Coming back from my military service in Korea, I wanted to strengthen and further my forgotten knowledge.”
Arabic is an official language of the UN and is spoken by more than 300m people across the Middle East and beyond. The ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (Middle East and Central Asia) (CAIS) offers Arabic in-person and online. Sam Horsfield chose the latter option and has completed first year.
“I live in Melbourne, however there are no non-award Arabic language courses available through universities here,” Sam says.
“I want to learn a second language and as 10 percent of the community I live in speaks Arabic, this was the obvious choice.”
Sam works as a consultant advising government and the public and community sectors.
“Having a second language gives me access to new markets. Expanding my capacity to communicate with diverse Australian and international communities is also generally a rewarding experience.”
Sam and Hyun Chul say Arabic is not as difficult as some might think, stressing it can be learned with many hours of practice and study, just as they learned English as children. Hyun Chul says Arabic grammar is systematic and logical, while Sam recommends learners should be prepared to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week on study, and find Arabic speakers outside the course to practice with.
“Learning online Arabic offers flexibility to those who wish to broaden their horizon while in the workplace, whether in Canberra, in Australia, or anywhere else in the world,” says France Meyer, an associate lecturer in Arabic at CAIS.
“For a lecturer, it is both thrilling and challenging to teach online, as students are eager to achieve their goals and use their skills while sometime working full time.
“Arabic online courses allow students to fulfil their dream of learning a language spoken by 22 countries in the world, or to get to know better those in their community who come from the Arab world, in a spirit of understanding, tolerance and cross-cultural communication.”
Lecturer in Persian language and Iranian studies, Dr Zahra Taheri, says the ANU is the only university in Australia which offers a Persian program and began it more than a decade ago.
“Our students in the introductory course learn quickly to hold a conversation in Persian and also write in beautiful Persian script.
“When our students reach the advanced level, as well as reading Persian literature, they can fluently speak in Persian and hold a conversation on general topics or the topics of personal interest.”
Sam Horsfield describes online Arabic as a “fabulous” course.
“Arabic is a challenging language for an English speaker, however this course is the way to learn it,” Sam, says.
“The academics are very good at what they do and are available when needed. The lessons are considered and each builds on the one before.
“I am really looking forward to second year.”
Find out more about online Arabicand online Persianand enrol now for semester 1, 2016