On Wednesday, March 5, SUNY Broome Community College hosted its first of eight Arabic Language and Culture workshop. The workshops will all be led by Mr. Barwar Ibrahim of the American Civic Association of Binghamton, New York, thanks to the support of Binghamton University’s Center for Middle East and North African Studies.
The nineteen workshop participants gathered in the Gallery@SUNY Broome, located in the The Cecil C. Tyrrell Library. The group included students and faculty from both SUNY Broome and Binghamton University, coordinators and caseworkers from the American Civic Association, teachers from local area Elementary, Middle and High Schools, retirees, and the general public.
The first workshop focused on the Arabic alphabet and basic pronunciation, and a few basic phrases. Participants also got to know one another during introductions. Several expressed an interest in connecting with their own heritage, and hoped to be able to speak with family in a way they never could before. Others wanted to be able to connect with neighbors. There were five teachers from the area who all wanted to communicate on a new level with their students. There were participants who volunteer in the community, and others who work in the social services fields. They saw this as an opportunity to learn about other cultures, in order to provide better support. Finally, several learners indicated that as retirees, they now had time to explore a new language.
The workshops are free and open to the public, and will take place on Wednesdays throughout the Spring 2025 semester. For those interested in joining the group, please contact Lynda Carroll at Carrollla1@sunybroome.edu for more information.
Submitted by: Lynda Carroll
Tags: Diversity
