Arabic and Kiswahili Being Taught in Mercer Schools
Classes in elementary Arabic and Kiswahili are underway as of August in Mercer County schools, taught by native speakers who are visiting Fulbright language teaching assistants at Bluefield State College.
Arabic I is being taught by Noura Zaouli of Tunisia; Emmanuel Ndulila of Tanzania is teaching Kiswahili I. The courses are offered for dual credit to Mercer County high school students and for college credit at Bluefield State College.
In January, second level classes will be offered in both languages and by the end of the 2009-10 academic year, students will have had the opportunity to complete four levels, fulfilling the world language requirement for admission to West Virginia higher education institutions.
"Aspiring healthcare and social service workers, teachers, engineers, computer scientists, politicians, journalists—all are well served when they learn languages spoken elsewhere in the world,” says Dr. Sudhakar R. Jamkhandi, coordinator of the Office of International Initiatives at Bluefield State College. “Learning a new language helps to unlock the world.”