Setting a New Stage for The Arabic Program

The Arabic Program at Deerfield will experience important developments starting in the 2013-2014 school year that will alter and expand upon the learning and communicating done in Arabic classes.

The Arabic Program at Deerfield will be combined with the programs of the Five Colleges: Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, University of Massachusetts, and Hampshire College. The goal of this program is “to develop the Arabic program more fully, building awareness, interest, and increasing enrollment,” says Academic Dean Peter Warsaw.

“The Five Colleges have a robust Arabic program,” Mr. Warsaw continues, “and we would like to learn as much as we can from them.” As a part of this new program, Arabic Teacher Samar Moushabeck will work closely with Arabic professors from the Five Colleges. In addition, the professors from the other colleges will come to campus to work with Deerfield Arabic students.

Arabic is a language where “the dynamic of the classroom causes the students to develop the ability to not only comprehend material, but also formulate elaborate responses to what is presented in class,” says Chase Swinerton ’15.

“Because it is a small program, we want to create links to a larger community, so we can exchange resources, participate in social events, and widen the visibility of the program at Deerfield,” says Samar Moushabeck.

The ultimate goal of this program is to involve our program into “part of a group of colleges to make Arabic at Deerfield more significant academically and socially,” says Dean of Faculty John Taylor. The co-heads of this program, including Ms. Moushabeck, will plan a suitable, efficient curriculum together.

Chase further explains, “Each of these visiting teachers has the potential to bring a whole new perspective to cultural discussions in the classroom.”

The Arabic Program will take this new plan as a stepping-stone to both increase the popularity among the students and bring awareness to this exotic culture.

Peter Warsaw concludes, “We’re hoping that students will become more globally aware and take a greater interest in important issues in the Middle East.”