A one-on-one study session between a student and staff-member, has grown into a weekly class in the Language and Communication Village. 

These weekly sessions, held every Tuesday, now have two different sections based on student’s Arabic levels: beginner and intermediate. 

The class began when English Professor Kim Palmore told her student Leyan Naboulsi, 17, computer science major, who is fluent in Arabic, that she was interested in learning, 

“I offered to teach Kim Arabic one-on-one,” Naboulsi said. “I honestly thought it would be just the two of us, but it quickly became a weekly class.”

When asked to reflect on the class’s growth, Palmore said that language is a powerful way to build community.

“The Arabic lessons started when Leyan and I agreed to help each other: she’d teach me Arabic, and I’d help her with French,” Palmore said. Palmore added that with support from MSA the exchange grew into a group of multiple students.

Naboulsi said she didn’t expect the lessons to grow into something bigger. 

“But now, the intermediate class usually has six to nine people each week. It’s a pretty pleasant surprise,” Naboulsi said.

Naboulsi said the class is able to offer something more unique than your usual course.

“It’s very laid back and personal. If someone can’t make it one week, that’s fine,” Naboulsi said. “People come because they want to, not because they have to. We can even adjust the schedule, because it’s a pretty small group.”

Naboulsi said it is not a traditional classroom environment and that people can come and go as they wish.

Aamna Farooqui, 19, Biomedical engineering major, attends the class regularly, she said she feels “the class is a nice way to learn a new language.”

“I also like that it is not too crowded or too formal, so it is not stressful. At the same time, it’s fun,” Farooqui said.

Looking ahead, Naboulsi hopes to continue teaching the class next quarter, and beyond. 

“I plan to teach the class if students are interested. I would love to see it grow and welcome more students,” Naboulsi said.

In the fall quarter, the Arabic class met on Tuesdays from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Students interested in attending the class in winter can follow the Muslim Student Association on Instagram for updates.

Palmore said she hopes the class will be part of the monthly Language Café in the winter quarter, an event where students and staff share dozens of languages. 

Palmore said “Inclusion happens when we make space to learn from each other.”