USD 408 offers Arabic as critical foreign language years ago
Sports reporter
Marion High School took a chance, and now it's paying off. As just one of six districts in the state that offers Arabic as a foreign language, Marion-Florence USD 408 and MHS are part of what could be a growing trend toward "strategic" or "critical" foreign languages being offered in United States schools.
Eight MHS students, Mara Prescott, Joe Norris, Jon Nesser, Cassey Legg, Hank Collett, Andrew Regalado, Michelle Vinduska, and Seth Banning, are enrolled in an IDL (Interactive Distance Learning) class, formerly ITV, called Arabic I.
The students are taught via satellite television by former Pittsburg and Missouri State professor Khalil Mekkaoui from Greenbush Service Center in Girard.
Mekkaoui teaches Pleasanton High School at the same time. He has two other sections with two classes each that form the group of six districts.
So far he has enjoyed teaching the students from Marion.
"They are very mature and ask intelligent questions," he said.
Arabic, which is spoken in 22 countries and is the official language of all the countries of northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and in much of the Middle East, also is one of eight languages that make up the National Securities Language Initiative.
Congress passed a bill allowing $114 million to help provide Americans with knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Farsi (Iran), Urdu (Afghanistan), Korean, and Japanese languages in this time of turmoil.
Knowledge of languages leads to knowledge of other cultures, and could lead to Americans accepting foreign cultures, according to Marion County TEEN director Shelli Elliott.
She also wanted to stress that acceptance of other cultures does not always mean agreeing with them, but it does help bridge the gap of stereotypes on both sides.
Elliott sent out an e-mail this past year to the schools in the TEEN network (Marion, Herington, Centre, Peabody-Burns, and Hillsboro) asking if any would be interested in having their students take a "critical" language course.
USD 408 jumped at the chance right away, opting for Arabic.
"[Phoebe Janzen] did a great job," Elliott said of the school's counselor. "She played a big role."
USD 408 superintendent Lee Leiker also had to get the approval of the board of education.
Students had to step up and want to take it — and they did.
Elliott said having a positive influence who speaks Arabic in Mekkaoui, was different than what the students see on television.
"They really respect him," Elliott said of Mekkaoui.
The students echo the same sentiments.
"I'm excited I have the chance to take [the class]," Nelson, who plans to go into international journalism when he is out of school, said. "[Professor Mekkaoui] is really nice."
Nelson said he feels the American news coverage of the Middle East is not always accurate.
"He is addressing us on a level playing field," Nelson said.
Prescott and Regalado said they were interested in learning the language, but also the prospect of earning more money or getting into a better colleges by taking this class. Also, Regents Scholars must have taken two foreign language levels to be accepted.
"Even if you know just a little bit it can help you," Elliott said.
But while the class respects Mekkaoui, he also has respect for the group of eight who are learning at a fast pace, he said.
"I am amazed with their motivation," he said. "I have no agenda except for them to know [the language and culture]. I expose them, and leave it up to them."
The benefits
Any knowledge of the eight critical languages can help a student looking for a job in an international relations field. From translator, to businessperson, to Major League Baseball scout, the United States works with foreign countries on a day-to-day basis.
Mekkaoui, who has been an American citizen for 26 years and holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in Linguistics, knows that first-hand. Nearly three years ago he applied to be a translator for the CIA. He passed all the tests, and feels he has a good chance to be hired.
However, he has lived in many foreign countries, and was born in the heavily Muslim-populated Morocco, which has caused an extensive background check.
"I understand that," he said of the background check. "But two and a half years is a little ridiculous."
Mekkaoui said if there were more Americans who were fluent in Arabic, it would be an easier process for them to be hired as a translator, or other similar profession. "Arabic is essential," he said.
Preparing for the future
Wanda Williams has gotten to know Mekkaoui well the past six weeks, and has been able to see the students in his class progress. She works as IDL facilitator at MHS and has been a part of the program since its inception 14 years ago. She also is present for each class.
Williams thinks the opportunities of learning a foreign language are enhanced greatly by IDL.
According to Carol Woolbright of Greenbush, and Mekkaoui's boss, there aren't enough students in some rural districts to justify paying a full-time, critical language teacher. Throw that on top of the fact there are a limited number of teachers in those fields, and IDL becomes a necessity in some districts.
It is the first time a foreign language has been taught outside a regular classroom setting at MHS, but Williams doesn't see a problem with it at all.
"Students roll really well with whatever happens," she said of the class.
Williams did say every once in a while there is small glitch with the IDL system, but for the most part, the audio and video, secured by a $241,000 grant, work great.
"They seem to hear [Professor Mekkaoui] just fine," Williams said.
Mekkaoui understands the importance of learning the language as well. He agreed with Elliott, that to understand a culture you must understand the language and vice versa.
"I always tell them no culture is better than another. If you look at any culture from within, it won't look that bad," he said. "If you look from the outside, it will, no matter what it is."
Still, Mekkaoui stresses he is not trying to persuade any of his students to believe or not believe in anything. They do talk about Arab culture, but only to help understand how the language is used.
"You cannot learn a language without culture," he said, "and [the Marion students] are very interested."
That is obvious by watching the students in a class that is not long after lunch, and could easily be a time where sleeping sounds better than learning.
Instead, they are wide awake, asking questions, repeating Mekkaoui in Arabic, and answering him in the language as well. He tells them he is amazed at their perfect pronunciation, and must continue to talk with each other outside of class in order to stay on top of the difficult language.
The Arab population in the state of Kansas is less than one percent, and an English-speaking person takes four times longer to learn Arabic than other "traditionally" taught languages such as Spanish or French.
But he tells them he doesn't want to hear about the fact it is "hard" to learn — he has faith in them. He knows they are learning, and he feels it's because they want to, not because of any certain way he teaches them.
"I am not in the business of changing the Arab image. If they ask my opinion, I give it to them," he said. "They have learned so much. I am so proud of them."
